Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

Linda,

I just wanted to say that it was great to meet you at Police Week this year, though I am sorry for the reason we met. I am truly sorry for the loss of your fiance and that you have to feel the same pain I felt, and still feel, in losing Dennis. From hearing you speak about Douglas, and your relationship with him. he sounds like a great guy. You were lucky to have been able to be a part of his life. It is apparent that Douglas brought a lot of love into your life. Treasure all those "little gifts" that Douglas gave you and the time you shared together. They, combined with the love you shared, will give you a source of strength to keep moving forward in life. I wish you the best in wherever life takes you. I hope that someday you will again acheive the level of happiness that Douglas so desired for you. Thank you again for reaching out to me in your time of grief, when I needed a shoulder to cry on. Your compassion will never be forgotten. You truly are an amazing lady. I wish you luck as you work through your loss. If you ever need anything, remember I am only ever a phone call, letter, or e-mail away.

Peace, love, luck, and happiness to you.

Jocelyne Brar (Winnipeg, MB Canada)
Fiancee of Deputy Sheriff Dennis Ray McElderry, Davis Co. Iowa - EOW (

June 12, 2004

DEAREST DOUG FROM YOUR MOM AND DAD WE JUST CAME BACK FROM HONORING YOU IN RICHMOND AND WASHINGTON DC WE ARE SO PROUD OF YOU THE MEDAL OF HONOR AND YOUR BUDDIES WERE THERE THEY MISS YOU SO NOT HALF AS MUCH AS YOUR DAD AND I AND YOU BELOVED FAMILY GARRY IS DEVASTATED GOD BLESS YOU KEEP YOU AND WATC H OVER US YOUR CHILDREN MISS YOU SO THEY LOVE YOU SO VERY MUCH WE WILL DO OUR BEST TO WATCH OVER THEM YOU ARE OUR OUR ANGEL LOVE MOM AND DAD FOREVER AND EVER LOVE YOU MMMMMOOOOORRRRR

MOTHER AND FATHER

May 25, 2004

douglas
you are in our hearts, always. the man you were is a legacy to your children.
you will be honored in your hometown by those who knew you and by those who would have been proud to know you.
i hope you are at peace.
with love and great memories............

April 26, 2004

doug i miss very much and think about you every day you are missed by so so many and even though you are not here to day as a solid person we all still love and miss you very very much and think of all the memories we shared
victoria misseri step daughter

April 24, 2004

Happy Birthday and Easter Doug. Your family love and miss you very much. Not a day goes by that your not thaught of. Your legacy will carry on in your beloved children who miss you greatly. Have a great day always look after your brothers and sisters in blue.

Anonymous

April 11, 2004

YOUR WEERY ROAD HAS COME TO AN END NO MORE LONG DAYS NO MORE WORRY JUST ETERNAL REST AND PEACE WE LOVE AND MISS YOU IT IS NOW 1007 APRIL 11 2004 YOUR BIRTHDAY A PRAYER AND TOAST WILL BE TO YOUR MEMMORYGOOD NIGHT LOVE DAD AND MOM

April 11, 2004

YOUR WEERY ROAD HAS COME TO AN END NO MORE LONG DAYS NO MORE WORRY JUST ETERNAL REST AND PEACE WE LOVE AND MISS YOU IT IS NOW 1007 APRIL 11 2004 YOUR BIRTHDAY A PRAYER AND TOAST WILL BE TO YOUR MEMMORYGOOD NIGHT LOVE DAD AND MOM

April 11, 2004

DEAREST DOUG MY SON THIS IS THE FIRST BIRTHDAY THAT WE WILL NOT SPEND TOGETHER I MISS THIS WITH ALL MY HEART.. THIS IS EASTER AND YOU 42 BIRTHDAY AND MUCH TO SOON TO HAVE GONE AWAYNOT A DAY GOES BY THAT YOUR NOT IN MY THOUGHTS I HEAR YOUR VOICE SAY I LOVE YOU MOM. GOD KNOWS I LOVE YOU SAVE A PLACE FOR DAD AND I GOD BLESS AND KEEK YOU NO ONE CAN HURT YOU ANY MORE YOUR LOVING MOM

nun

April 10, 2004

DOUGLAS E. WENDEL ARLENE MISSES YOU VERY MUCH SHE LOVED IT WHEN YOU CAME TO SEE US SHE TALKS ABOUT YOU AND CAN NOT BELIEVE YOUVE GONE SHE WILL ALWAYS MISS YOU LOVE ARLENE

March 7, 2004

DOUGLAS E. WENDEL RICHMOND POLICE DEAREST DOUG OUR BELOVED SON WE DAD AND I MISS YOU MOREAND MORE EACH DAY WE HOPE YOU ARE AT PEACE WHERE NO ONE CAN EVER HURT YOU AGAIN YOU WERE A GOOD DAD SON AND BROTHER TO GARRY AND THE LOVE OF YOU R LIFE MISSES YOU KEEP YOUR GRANDPARENTS IN TOW AND WATCH OVER US WE WILL HONOR YOU IN WASHINGTON THIS MAY ALL OUR LOVE MOM AND DAD GOD BLESS3

March 7, 2004

Doug, I never met you, but feel close to you not only because you're a fellow police officer, but because you were a Richmond (VA) Police Officer. I've read every tribute and reflection to you. I only wish I could have known you. You obviously had a tremendous positive impact on everyone you met. I'm so sorry you were taken from us. I honor you. With brotherly love and respect, Jim Crotty (former Richmond, Virginia Police Officer 1972 - 1975).

Special Agent Jim Crotty
ATF (Retired)

February 12, 2004

Uncle Doug,
When i found out that you were gone ... i was totally shocked.......and i just couldnt picture you not being able to come visit us anymore. And not being able to bring us to Go Cart City like you always used too !! I think this has been our familys hardest year EVER !! this is really hurting dad.......and i could understand why...because u were is only brother....when u used to come down here for Bike Week with your new bike and my dad being able to ride with you .... i think that he was totatally happy..happy as ever and him not being able to ride with you this year...is going to be REALL hard on him........i would just like you too know that even tho i was talkin about dad alot there is not enough words that can explain my feelings.....i would like you to truly know how i feel but i cant seem to put it in words......every time i see your picture like i said i cant believe your gone and i wont see you in our house anymore...... i remeber when you wanted to go some where and we all started cleaning .... that was funny.....but i know that your watching out for me !! if you read this can u tell uncle ronnie i said Hey and we imiss him and love him........ill write again later.......I love you...miss you....Your Niece, Katerina........(God Bless You)

Katerina Wendel
Niece

February 10, 2004

Doug-I know you are with everyone who loved you-keeping a watchful eye. You know how much you are thought of and missed. That wonderful smile and great laugh...and yes...you really did speak the same language as God...it is everyone else with the accent.
Please know that the world was made so much better because you were in it and the lives you touched were countless.
If the message was real...it was received. 45683968.

Anonymous

February 2, 2004

Merry Christmas Doug

December 25, 2003

You gave the ultimate sacrifice on my birthday. May God bless you and your family.

Ray Zabetta
Richmond Co. Sheriff

December 25, 2003

OUR BELOVED SON THIS YOUR FIRST CHRISTMAS IN HEAVEN YOU LEFT US ALL TO SOON WE HAD SO MUCH TO DO WITH YOU AND YOUR CHILDREN BUT GOD HAD A GREATER NEED FOR YOU WE GUESS OUR HEARTS ARE BROKEN AN WILL NEVER WHOLE AGAIN UNTIL WE ARE WITH YOU GOD BLESS AND KEEP YOU IN HIS CARE FOREVER WE WILL LOVE AND MISS YOU ALWAYS YOUR BELOVED MOM AND DAD

December 25, 2003

This is my second time viewing Officer Wendel's memorial, and it has been almost 5 months since he was killed. I'm glad to hear his killer recently got put away for good, but wish he had gotten the death penalty for this brutal murder.

It was nice reading reflections from Officer Wendel's family members, I'm sure he was a great man. I'm looking at police departments to apply to, and I will be proud to wear the badge because of the sacrifice that he made. God bless his family and may he rest in peace. Very sorry to hear that he was killed before his wedding, words cannot express my sorrow for you. Stay strong.

Pat
Baltimore, MD

December 14, 2003

To the family, friends and co-workers of Officer Wendel - my heartfelt condolences to all of you. I pray that our Lord wraps you in his embrace and holds you close in this awful time. Words are few but know you are not alone. Doug is a hero!

Officer Wendel, I never had the pleasure to meet you but you are now holding the watch with my cousin, Pat Maher, eow-8/2/03- Federal Way Police Dept, WA. Rest easy my brother in blue -we will continue walking the thin blue line.

Sincerely,

Cpl. Mary Huggins
Orange County Sheriff's Office, Orlando,Fl.

Cpl. Mary Huggins
Orange County Sheriff's Office

November 21, 2003

officer douglas wendel was going to be my sep dad doug and my mom wher going to be married in octorber of this year but three months be for they got to get married he was shot in the back of the neck and killed.



sincerly
dwmyd victoria

November 16, 2003

douglas
i still can not believe i will never open my door and see your big grin, never pick up the phone and hear you laughing. i miss you. i think back over all the memories we shared and i can't help but smile, but my heart breaks too.
your memories live on in all of us and we will share these with your children...douglas will live on!
your ashes in forest city at the "shanty" are visited daily, a peaceful place to visit and smoke a cigarette and think of you. sometimes i even think you are here.
rest in peace douglas and know you made a difference in many lives!
we love you!

Anonymous

November 14, 2003

As I was in the middle of working last night I found myself just thinking about you. Things are a little crazy around here right now. As I listen to everyone on the radio I just wish we would hear you again. We just don't laugh the same since you left. It's kind of weird. Every talks about you so much. It makes us feel better at least for that moment. I just needed to tell you I was missing you today.......I miss you my friend!

Your friend and Co-Worker
Richmond Police Dept.

November 5, 2003

Douglas -you are always in our hearts. You touched more lives than you could have ever dreamed. All need to remember that this is the place to honor you. You are a true hero-but you were before you left us, and your children and the people you loved most already knew that. Rest well-you have earned your peace. We have the watch now.

Anonymous

October 8, 2003

Doug, My love and prayers are with you and ALL the family. Your heaven is full of love from so many of our family who have gone on before us.... Grandma and Grandpa Wendel and Grandpa and Grandma Ashfolk and Uncle Robert.....give them our love, and shine your loving spirits to us here on earth. Till we all get together again......love & peace.

Laurie,cousin

cousin from new jersey

October 4, 2003

Rest in peace Doug. You will never be forgotten. You were truly an original and I apologize for not leaving a reflection earlier, but I could not bring myself to do it until now. A police siren will always wake me at 0532 hours for the rest of my life letting me know that you are watching over all of us now. Love ya man. Kevin

Patrolman Kevin S Wright
RPD

September 22, 2003

We said goodbye to a friend today. The day was spent re-living childhood memories about Doug with those who new and loved him from the time we were kids. We cried, we laughed, we told stories of the days when life was simple and we didn’t have a care in the world. We honored his memory and said goodbye.

Lets remember this is a place to say farewell and honor the memory of Douglas. It is not a forum to display grievances, ease our guilt, justify our actions or validate our place in his life. We know what each of us meant to Doug and that should be enough.

Go in peace my friend and know that you are loved by many and will be missed by all those whose lives you touched.

Anonymous

September 21, 2003