Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

I saw the Heavens open up.
The Earth shook with Fear.
For Evil, knew of God's Army.
They were Heroes, Men on steel horses.

Cpl. James J. Crawford
Lower Providence Twp Police Motor Unit , Montg. Co. PA.

My prayers and deepest condolences are with your Department, and especially
with the friends and family of your fallen hero.
Stay strong, stay focused, and know that Officer Small
will never be forgotten.
Mike Bradford; Tallahassee Police Dept., Ret.

Mike Brdford, Invest. Ret
Tallahassee Police Dept

From the men and women of the Wasilla Alaska Police Department, our condolences and deepest sympathy to the family, friends and co-workers of Officer John Small.

God speed our brother

Lt Craig Robinson
Wasilla Police

May God grant your family a comforting peace as you transcend this earthly bound. I have no doubt that God will meet you with open arms as you go forth to patrol the streets of heaven under his command. May God bless you, your family, friends, and all of the remaining peace officers who will continue the watch here in your absence. Good night, Warrior.

Concerned Military Member
USAF

You helped countless people
As they cried and bled
You saw the worst nightmares
Aren't those in your head

You took on a mission
To protect and serve
Showed kindness to strangers
Some didn't deserve

You saw record hot days
As well as the lows
And alarms that go off
Each time the wind blows

You battled with evil
And fought off dispair
You entertained angels
Were you unaware?

You had many dinners
So rushed and so cold
To be there for others
Through horrors untold

You missed time with family
To answer that call
For the unknown person
You always risked all

You gave us your best years
For not enough pay
Your life was cut too short
We know that today

Your wife saves your shirts
'Til they lose your smell
And we cling to memories
Will they fade as well?

We cherish each moment
No matter how small
Your smile and your laughter
Were gifts to us all

We take comfort knowing
You now see God's face
Yet beside us is still
This sad, empty space

For a few days at least
The media shows
The grief that engulfs us
The pain as it grows

The public pays homage
To a hero lost
For our safety and lives
We now see the cost

What so many won't see
Past your uniform
Was someone so special
With his heart so warm

People comfort each other
As best as they can
How can we get over
The loss of this man?

Today we say goodbye
Hero, "Brother in Blue"
You are so loved and missed
We won't forget you!

******************************

To the family and friends of Officer Small:

I am so sorry to hear of your loss! I hope that in this time of sadness you can find some comfort in each other and in the Lord. God bless you all!

Anonymous
Mountain View, CO

A king without a sword
A land without a king
A truth without a voice
One song left to sing

A wise man told me there's something you should know
The way you judge a man is to look into his soul
And you'll soon see everything.

A voice from the past cried "Give peace a chance"
He paid our price now he's free at last
Imagine, we called him a dreamer!
How many times must good men die?
How many tears will the children cry?
'Til they suffer no more sadness
Stop the madness,


If ashes are ashes and dust is dust
At our journey's end then return we must
To the sands of the shore
White doves in flight
Peace to all
But tell me why the peacemakers fall
Must we bury anymore?

The hush of the crowd as the horse rode by
A black lace veil hid the tears from her eyes
And we all wept in silence
How many times must good men die?
How many times will the children cry?
'Til they suffer no more sadness
Oh, stop the madness. MH

Sleep well brother.

Detective James Leitholf
Oceanside Police Department

May God be with the family of Officer Small at this unfortunate time. It is always sad to hear of the loss of one of our own. The entire Law Enforcement Family is grieving with you ,the Family and the members of the Inglewood Police Dept. We lost one of our Brothers too in Newark NJ on the same day and we are all feeling the pain. They will never be forgotten. God Bless.

No rank, No Name, Just Blue
Newark PD SCTF/NEST

May all those affected by the death of Officer Small be comforted.

"who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God." - 2 Cor 1:4

Darin Paul, Special Agent
FBI Detroit Division

God Speed, Brother.

P.O.K. Murphy
Union PD, NJ

My prayers go out to the entire Smalls family. I moved down the street from Fred a year ago. I met his wife and often saw him driving by as we waved to each other. As most cops, our schedules prevented us from taking the time to have a real chat. Now I will never get the chance. This tragic incident should remind to live each day to the fullest.

Fred, rest your head neighbor, your job is done. I promise to do everything in my power to look out for your family in their time of need.

Sgt. Beverly Lewis
LAPD

Sergeant
LAPD

You will always be remembered. We will do our best to serve the community and keep other families from suffering the same pain. Semper Fi.

Officer T. Walters
VBPD

I just want to wish the family of Officer Fred Small my deepest sympathy. I grew up next to Fred for a few years and looked up to him as I was a youngster. He lived in the same neighborhood as I did and helped me with all of my school fund raisers. He collected newspapers so that I could help my school raise money for equipment. I believed he was going to be a huge football player, so I got his autograph...but this is not how I thought he would become famous. Rest in peace friend, you are a good man! Peace be with you and your family in this hard time. Thanks for your guidence early in my life... You are my hero and I will never forget you! I am crushed that we have lost a citizen like yourself...God Bless!

Mike Joos
Contract Federal Security, Washington State

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 John 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 Officer Small'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 John 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 John 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 - EOW (01/03/03)

MAY GOD BLESS FAMILY, FRIENDS AND COWORKERS. REST IN PEACE MY BROTHER.

CHIEF RONNIE WATFORD-RETIRED
JEFFERSON POLICE DEPT,S.C.

GOD BLESS THE FAMILY, FRIENDS AND CO-WORKERS OF OFFICER JOHN FREDERICK LEE SMALL. THE THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS OF THE MEN/WOMEN OF THE GONZALES POLICE DEPARTMENT ARE WITH YOU ALL. GOD SPEED.

officer duane carpenter
gonzales pd (louisiana)

We recently lost one of our own,Officer M.Lisojo, we know what family,co-workers and friends are going through, stay strong and God Bless...

Newark Police S.C.T.F/N.E.S.T

Officer Small thank you for your dedication and service, you will not be forgotten. To the family of Officer Small our prayers are with you.

Anonymous

Rest easy brother, we have the watch now.
God bless Officer Small. You are a hero and will not be forgotten.

Officer S.W. Harrell
Richmond, VA Police Department

Our hearts go out to the Small family....your brothers and sisters in Virginia Beach feel your grief more than you know.

In Valor There Is Hope

Detective Tom Shattuck
Virginia Beach Police Department

Please remember the fallen officers we have lost. Remember the men and women who died trying to make this world a safer and better place for us all to live in. Thank you Officer Smalls for a job well done. Please continue to watch over us and protect us as only you can. You will forever be at our side and in our hearts.

For those of you who still have loved ones with us please take the time to tell them how much you appreciate and care about them.

IF I KNEW

If I knew it would be the last time
That I'd see you fall asleep,
I would tuck you in more tightly
and pray the Lord, your soul to keep.

If I knew it would be the last time
that I see you walk out the door,
I would give you a hug and kiss
and call you back for one more.

If I knew it would be the last time
I'd hear your voice lifted up in praise,
I would video tape each action and word,
so I could play them back day after day.

If I knew it would be the last time,
I could spare an extra minute
to stop and say "I love you,"
instead of assuming you would KNOW I do.

If I knew it would be the last time
I would be there to share your day,
Well I'm sure you'll have so many more,
so I can let just this one slip away.

For surely there's always tomorrow
to make up for an oversight,
and we always get a second chance
to make everything just right.

There will always be another day
to say "I love you,"
And certainly there's another chance
to say our "Anything I can do?"

But just in case I might be wrong,
and today is all I get,
I'd like to say how much I love you
and I hope we never forget.

Tomorrow is not promised to anyone,
young or old alike,
And today may be the last chance
you get to hold your loved one tight.

So if you're waiting for tomorrow,
why not do it today?
For if tomorrow never comes,
you'll surely regret the day,

That you didn't take that extra time
for a smile, a hug, or a kiss
and you were too busy to grant someone,
what turned out to be their one last wish.

So hold your loved ones close today,
and whisper in their ear,
Tell them how much you love them
and that you'll always hold them dear

Take time to say "I'm sorry,"
"Please forgive me," "Thank you," or "It's okay."
And if tomorrow never comes,
you'll have no regrets about today.

My thoughts and prayers are with Officer Smalls' wife, children, family, friends and co-workers. We all grieve together when one of our law enforcment family members go down. We will continue to lift you up. Pslam 55:22

Denise Nichols - surviving spouse
Alabama State Trooper Brian Nichols EOW 2/17/2002

My deepest sympathy to the family and friends of Officer Smalls.

Linda Craig, survivor of Capt. Tom Craig
Arkansas State Police , E.O.W. 12-14-00

My deepest sympathy to the family, friends and co-workers of Officer Smalls.

Sr. Trooper Keith Miller
Oregon State Police

REST IN PEACE BROTHER. YOUR SACRIFICE WILL NOT BE FORGOTTEN. MAY GOD BLESS YOUR FAMILY AND MAY YOU KEEP A WATCHFUL EYE OVER THOSE LEFT BEHIND.

POLICE OFFICER
NYPD

May god look over your little angels like you looked over us. You are our guardian angel and give us the strength to keep going out there to do this job....Thank you dear sir....

Richmond VA Police Dept.