Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

Our prayers and thoughts are with the family and co workers of Darla.

Knowing each day when we walk through the perimeter gates that we all are at risk, but the risk we take makes the world a better place.

Correctional officer Pamela Corbin
Marion Correctional, Fl. DOC

My fiance, Dennis McElderry, was the first law enforcement casualty of 2003. It saddens me to know that Dennis was not the first to die in the line of duty, nor will he and Darla be the be the last to die this way.

Having gone through the pain of losing Dennis I can truly understand and feel the pain that Correctional Officer Lathrem's family, friends, and co-workers must be feeling. My heart goes out to you all. I wish I could give you a few words of wisdom to help you through this tough time, but there isn't anything I can really say or do to make the situation better. Just know that my thoughts are with you.

Please accept my condolences on behalf of the McElderry family and remember that Darla is part of huge law enforcement family. If you ever need anything any number of them will be there for you (as I've quickly found out!) From reading the many reflections posted here, I am certain Darla was well respected and well loved. Thank you for a job well done and for helping to make this world a safer place for us all. Please take care of my fiance Dennis.

Peace, Love, Luck, and Happiness!

Jocelyne Brar (Drakesville, IA)
Dennis McElderry's fiancee - E.O.W. (01/03/03)

FROM THE MEN AND WOMEN OF SARASOTA S.O. REST IN PEACE OFFICER LATHREM AND GOD BLESS ALL MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN LAW ENFORCEMENT....

DEPUTY CORRECTIONS
SARASOTA SHERIFFS OFFICE

Our thoughts and prayers are with the Lathrem family and all our brothers and sisters in FDOC. May God comfort you all in this trying time
Gary Lyons

C/O G. Lyons & C/O L.Lyons
Florida DOC

Darla, my hat is off to you as I pay my respect to you. You did a job that most people shun. It takes a certian individual to work inside a correctional facility with the scum of this earth. You upheld the law in assuring the community that justice is being served. You and your family and your co-workers are in my thoughts. Watch over them and the rest of your law enforcement as we do our jobs and keep us safe, rest easy...........

Officer W.C.Sellers
BWXT PD

BUFFALO, NEW YORK

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS POLICE OFFICERS
WISH TO SEND OUR CONDOLENCES. OUR THOUGHTS
AND PRAYERS ARE WITH OFFICER LATHREM, HER FAMILY
AND CO-WORKERS.

GOD BLESS...

PO ERNEST G. PENN
DEPT. OF VETERANS AFFAIRS POLICE

I would like to thank all of you for your comments and prayers, I can not make any comments regarding my aunt. I will say she was the most kind hearted person, who never judged any one in her whole life she will be missed very much and our lives will never be whole again and your thoughts and prayers are greatly appriciated and very much needed please keep us in your thoughs and prayers as we need them very bad. with love always
Lindsay,Charles and Mary Best

YOU WILL BE IN OUR HEARTS FOREVER DARLA WE WILL NEVER FORGET HOW MUCH YOU TOUCHED OUR LIVES IN THE LITTLE TIME YOU WERE HERE WITH US I WILL SEE YOU AGIAN AT THE CROSS ROADS TILL THEN I LOVE YOU I MISS YOU love
everyone!

Lindsay Best
niece of darla lathrem

dear Darla, I was on duty wednesday night. Im not good at this, but the entire prison loves you. As I stay here I know you are now safe, may God bless you. I feel the loss, as so many of us do, I must say goodby. CO LATHREM is 10-7 out of service. may God bless you---Sgt WENTZ CCI Fl.

sgt Wentz
Fl Dept of corrections

Rest in peace your tour of duty is done. God Bless

Anonymous

OUR DEEPEST SYMPATHY GOES OUT TO THE FAMILY AND FRIENDS OF OFFICER LATHREM. MAY GOD BE WITH YOU. THE SHORT TIME I HAD TO WORK WITH OFFICER LATHREM, IT IS A TIME I'LL NEVER FORGET. ALL OUR PRAYERS.

OFFICER CIOFANI AND FAMILY
CCI

Some of our squad members are former corrections employees and we feel for the loss of this young officer. May God rest her soul in peace until the second coming of Jesus and may her attackers come to know the forgiveness and salvation that is in Jesus Christ.

Special Operations Group
FBI Detroit Division

We are deeply saddened by this senseless murder. Rest in peace Officer Lathrem. Your service to you community is appreciated by all of us. May God bless you and the survivors of your family.

Trooper
Pennsylvania State Police

God Bless

LEO Wife
NJ

The four hours I worked with you were so short yet I will cherish them. In that short time I found a friend. A friend that was so easy to talk to...so full of joy.
Her loss has left an emptiness inside of me. I will cling to that four hours...that short time we talked and shared things...that time we laughed....
You are missed.
Ken

Ken lowman CoSgt
Charlotte

Rest in peace. God bless those left behind to carry on.s

Shannon
concerned citizen

Despite the never-ending budget cuts and the special interest groups who fight for the rights of inmates, there are people who put on the uniform of justice every day. They ignore the sneers and the bad publicity. They tolerate the low pay and the aweful shift work. They face the worst that humanity has to offer every day. They are the heroes and the angels that walk among us.
To the family of the fallen heoes, I offer my prayers of peace. To the men and women who wear the uniform, I offer my pride and gratitude.

Proud Wife of a Correctional Officer
Orlando, FL

My deepest sympathy to the Family, friends and co-workers of Officer Darla Lathrem. You will be missed my sister in Brown, but not forgotten.

"The Angel bent over and ran her finger across the cheek of the Peace Officer. There's a leak, she pronounced! That's not a leak, said the Lord, It's a tear. It's for the bottled-up emotions, for fallen comrades, for commitment to that funny piece of cloth called the American flag, for Justice."
You're a genius, said the angel.
The Lord looked somber. "I didn't put it there," he said.

SGT. J. CURCIO
FLA D.O.C.

Correctional Officer's Farewell

We all know it can happen,
When we put our Colors on.
It only takes an instant,
Then one of us is gone.

Day to day we walk our beat,
In God we put our faith.
'Cause we're the law inside the wall,
We keep the Public safe.

You've done the job that few can do,
Your shift is at an end.
Farewell my Sister, Rest in peace,
On you we could depend.


Keep watch over us on our day to day, hour by hour trials until we meet again in that Big Institution.

Lt. W. R. Phillips
CCA-LCCF

Words only falter in times like these, and to hear of such an outrageous tragedy being perpetrated by vicious animals, boils the blood in all of our veins. However, vengeance and anger only bring down those of us humane enough to protect the world from itself. So, in a time like this we bond, share, and morn. My prayers go out to the family and friends of Darla Lathrem and with deepest sympathy I will share a little of your loss with you. Rest in peace sister, for God has prepared a special place for you. God Bless those left to immortalize your memory.

Det. D.L. Akins
Liberty Police Dept., Randolph County

Rest in peace Sister Darla, you will not be forgotten


Son of G. Truman Wortham EOW7/15/73

Assistant Chief Carl Wortham
Sand Springs PD OK

To the family, friends and co-workers of Officer Lathrem, I'm so sorry for your loss. We are all out here, grieving with you. May God bless and comfort you.

Jamie Johnson, surviving sister of
Officer Jon Cook
San Francisco Police Dept.

Deepest sympathy to the family of Correctional Officer Darla Lathrem.

Anonymous

God bless, you will not be forgotten.

Officer S.W. Harrell
Richmond (VA) Police Department

Darla, may you rest in peace...and may your family and friends stay strong and survive....in this terrible time of loss. I pray that JUSTICE will be swift....Your sacrifice to society will never be forgotten by your brothers and sisters......

Ranger,Ohio
HCPD

Rest easy for your watch is now over!

Ofc. Culver
Holly Hill Police Department