Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

OFFICE WENDEL:

YOU GAVE YOUR LIFE SO OTHERS COULD BE SAFE.
AFTER THE GUNFIRE WAS OVER AND THE SMOKE HAD CLEARED
GOD CAME AND TOOK ANOTHER BLUE ANGEL HOME AGAIN.

GOD BLESS AND KEEP YOU. THANK YOU FOR A JOB WELL DONE.


VIRGINIA AND TOM

Virginia and Tom
private citizen

My husband and I would like to express our sincere condolences to the family of Officer Douglas Wendel. Our thoughts and prayers are with you in your time of great sorrow, but you can be sure he will never be forgotten by those who knew and worked with him. He was a fine, upstanding police officer who will be missed by all.

Brenda and Vernon Korb
Richmond Police Department
Organized Crime Division and Emergency Communications

Mrs. Brenda C. Korb
Richmond Police Department

Again, news of another officer who has paid the price for us to live in this world. May you rest in peace. I know God needed another angle or you would still be with us. You are a true hero and you will live in our minds and hearts. I know your children loved you and they will always carry you in their hearts. I pray for the officers you worked with, I know this is very hard on them. Rest in Peace. Thank you for your hard work in Richmond.
Cathy-Chesterfield CO. VA

Mama, take this badge off of me
I can't use it anymore.
It's gettin' dark, too dark for me to see
I feel like I'm knockin' on heaven's door.

Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door

Mama, put my guns in the ground
I can't shoot them anymore.
That long black cloud is comin' down
I feel like I'm knockin' on heaven's door.

Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door

Doug, when you get to heaven say Hi to Jerry and Mongo,
you'll be in good company. To Linda, I don't have the words, just know that you have the love and support of your extended family. To Doug's Brothers in Blue, my heartfelt sorrow for your loss.

Barbara
WEVRS

Rest in peace blue angel.

Rest in peace blue angel. God bless

Shannon

"Do not stand at my grave and weep,
I am not there, I do not sleep.

I am a thousand winds that blow.
I am the diamond glint on the snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the gentle autumn rain.

When you wake in the morning hush,
I am the swift, uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circling flight.
I am the soft starlight at night.

Do not stand at my grave and weep.
I am not there, I do not sleep.
Do not stand at my grave and cry.
I am not there, I did not die!"
(Mary Frye, 1932)

"Do not stand at my grave and weep.
I am not there, I do not sleep.

I am the song that will never end.
I am the love of family and friend.
I am the child who has come to rest
In the arms of the Father who knows him best.

When you see the sunset fair,
I am the scented evening air.
I am the joy of a task well done.
I am the glow of the setting sun.

Do not stand at my grave and weep.
I am not there, I do not sleep.
Do not stand at my grave and cry.
I am not there, I did not die."
(Wilbur Skeels, 1996)

To Officer Wendel's family, I extend my deepest sympathies and I pray for you nightly. To Richmond-be it officers, dispatchers, or fire/EMS personnel-know that Chesterfield has cried with you. Know that we are thinking about you, and that you can call any of us if you need us, anytime, anyplace.

A Chesterfield Midnights Dispatcher
Chesterfield Police, VA

I pray for comfort and healing for Officer Wendel's family, friends and co-workers in the Richmond Police Dept. I pray also for justice to be swift and sure in the resolution of this case. May the family find some comfort in remembering how faithfully he served his community. He will not be forgotten.

Anonymous
Honolulu Police Dept.

Doug, I have met your family and watched as they and our many fellow officers and spouses, friends, coworkers, firemen, EMS personnel, people from other agencies have all filed past to pay their respects, you cannot help but see the hurt in the expressions on their faces. Without a doubt, you DID make a difference in your short life here on earth to each of those who lives you touched and those you left behind. Now as you walk a new beat, where all the the streets are paved with gold, I am sure you will keep " the eye of villigance, the ever watchful eye" on those you left behind. In many FOP Memorial Services for officers just as you, who died in the line of duty, they play a very fitting song, "You'll Never Walk Alone". I am sure those you left behind "will never walk alone". For those officers who will read through the many reflections here, I offer this prayer:

A Police Officer's Prayer

Lord, I ask for courage
Courage to face and conquer my own fears...
Courage to take me where others will not go
And please, Lord, through it all,
Be at my side...
Amen

Doug, may you find comfort and peace walking side by side with the Lord. One day we will meet again. Until then, rest in peace and may God continue to bless those you left behind.

Lynda M. Cooksey Retired Badge #25/Code #1181
Richmond Police
Richmond, VA

Lynda M. Cooksey--Retired Police Officer
Richmond Police Department

July 31st, 2003
Another fine officer paid the ultimate price
Why you choose him to pay the ultimate sacrifice I don’t know
The newspapers will print a story of a hero
The community will mourn the loss
Once again hundreds will unite to say goodbye
To a fellow Brother in Blue
First, Ryan now you
Hundreds of us will cry
And say our final goodbyes
Taps and Twenty-One gun salute
Bagpipes will cry out over the land
Bringing us all to tears
Over another Brother in Blue
That day God called you
Doug, come walk my beat
You stood before St. Peter at those Pearly Gates
Remembering all the greats
Here we stand honoring you
All the brass, uniforms pressed
Badges covered in a Black band
You were a true man
One slow, long salute
But my Brother this is not goodbye
For we will see you again
As for now, you will join
Craig, Ryan, Michael, George, and Mongo guarding Heavens beats
Goodbye, my friend another Brother in Blue

God Bless the Wendel family, in this tragic time. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

Michael P. Kiniry
Chesterfield County Police Explorers, Son of a Richmond Officer

Doug, i am very happy to say that i knew you. you are a great person an excellent police offer. your brother loves you dearly and so does the rest of your family. i am very sorry that your life ended so short. Because of your bravery you made the streets safer, you made a difference in your community that i am sure no one will ever forget.

To the wendel family, i been praying for you ever since i found out from jenn. I don't know what to say to make you feel better, except that i am sorry for your lose of your brother, your son, your father. my prayers are out to you all.

Andrea
Long Island, NY

Anonymous

Officer Wendel, thank you for your life of dedication to making this world a better place for all of us. My deepest condolences to the family, and the fiancee. I ask that you now watch over your brothers and sisters in blue to guide us and keep us safe.

Anonymous

Ann,
Our prayers go out to you and your children. You lived the life of a police officers wife and now face the more difficult life of a police officers widow. Left to raise your children alone. May God give you the strength to do this and we know you will do your best to see they grow up to be the sons and daughter their father would be proud of.

Anonymous

Doug, thank you.

For your family, my deepest sympathy.

For those of you that must endure this loss and continue the good fight, may god bless you and keep you safe

These lyrics come to my mind whenever one of our best is harmed while protecting the rest,

"There's another world inside of me
That you may never see
There're secrets in this life
That I can't hide
Somewhere in this darkness
There's a light that I can't find
Maybe it's too far away...
Maybe I'm just blind...

Maybe I'm just blind...

So hold me when I'm here
Right me when I'm wrong
Hold me when I'm scared
And love me when I'm gone
Everything I am
And everything you need
I'll also be the one
You wanted me to be
I'll never let you down
Even if I could
I'd give up everything
If only for your good
So hold me when I'm here
Right me when I'm wrong
Hold me when I'm scared
You won't always be there
So love me when I'm gone
(Just)Love me when I'm gone...

When your education x-ray
Can not see under my skin
I won't tell you a damn thing
That I could not tell my friends
Roaming through this darkness
I'm alive but I'm alone
Part of me is fighting this
But part of me is gone

So hold me when I'm here
Right me when I'm wrong
Hold me when I'm scared
And love me when I'm gone
Everything I am
And everything you need
I'll also be the one
You wanted me to be
I'll never let you down
Even if I could
I'd give up everything
If only for your good
So hold me when I'm here
Right me when I'm wrong
Hold me when I'm scared
You won't always be there
So love me when I'm gone

(just) love me when'm gone...

So hold me when I'm here
Right me when I'm wrong
Hold me when I'm scared
And love me when I'm gone
Everything I am
And everything you need
Wants to be the one
You wanted me to be
I'll never let you down
Even if I could
I'd give up everything
If only for your good
So hold me when I'm here
Right me when I'm wrong
Hold me when I'm scared
You won't always be there
So love me when I'm gone

(just) Love me when I'm gone...

(just) Love me when I'm gone...

When I'm Gone...
When I'm Gone...
When I'm Gone..."

Jeffrey Znotens
Richmond Magistrates Office

To Officer Wendel's Family, Friends and Co-workers;
Our thought's and prayer's are with you, that God will give you the help and strength you need to get through this time of great sorrow, and thanks to Officer Wendel and all the other Hero's that have given there lifes for us, God Bless Them All....

Betty
Sister of Officer Glenn H. Hicks- EOW 02/20/03

Thanks for all the good times we had Doug. Sorry I never got to go motorcycling with you. Sorry you never made it K9. I hope we meet again one day and maybe we can take that ride together. We'll do the best we can down here while you take a break up there after all you deserve it. Thanks for being a friend and a buddy we shall all miss you but we all know that you have gone on to bigger and better things. Take care Doug and we'll try and keep the peace and be of good behavior. God speed

Officer Harry E. Pherson, Jr.
Richmond Police Dept., K9 Unit

Doug: You will be missed by all. You were a part of our graduating class of 1980 and we had a lot of fond memories from Forest City Community growing up. It is so sad that it had to end this way. You were a fine officer and doing a great service to your community. May you find peace in Heaven and may God Bless your children and take care of them.

Love, Diane (Chianchiano) & James Moore and family

James & Diane Moore and family

Doug,
As I write this I still cannot believe that you are no longer with us. I can still hear you telling your kids "Goodnight" over your cell phone with your deep voice and New York accent. I can still see you riding beside me in the patrol car smoking your cigarette. You taught me a lot about policework after I graduated from the academy and I even learned something from you when we were paired up again 3 years later on the WAVE. You were a good cop Doug and an even better daddy. I don't think I've ever met a person that showed their love for their children more than you! A night never went by without you calling them on your cell phone to tell them how much you loved them and missed them. You were a good person and you did not deserve all the adversity that life threw your way and you certainly did not deserve to have your life cut short. Rest easy brother, we have the watch now. You've served your time in hell.

Police Officer Nathan V. Ayers
Richmond Police Department

I met Wendel at the Richmond City Sheriff's Office in 1997, where we graduated from the same academy. I would see Wendel when he came to the city lock-up, and he would always greet me with a hug and a smile. When I heard about Wendel, I was in disbelief. The only thing I could do was look at our academy picture and pray for his family. Wendel loved being a Police Officer. He had a positive impact on many, and he will be missed. We love you.

TO THE FAMILY:
We never say how we feel about a person until it is too late. It is imperative that we let our family and friends know how much we love and appreciate them everyday. Wendel was a great man, and he is now looking down on us. My prayers are with you. May God continue to strengthen and keep you always and forever.

Sharita Y. Scott
Richmond Public Schools

We are once again saddened by the loss of another brother, we are still healing from Ryan's tragic death. Doug your family, fiance, and brothers in blue are in our thought and prayers. Rest in peace brother.

Officer K.M. Pope
Chesterfield POlice Dept.

I did not really know Officer Wendel, but I shared "small talk" with him many mornings in the hallway of the daycare (we often dropped our children off at the same time). He always struck me as a friendly, kind, and good person.
To his family, I hope you gain a small amount of comfort knowing that he is a Hero, and that he will be sorely missed by so many.

May God bless you and your family. May His angels protect your loved ones now and in the years to come. Thank you for your service and your sacrifice.

Virtute Et Armis

Inv. John Creamer
Tallahassee Florida Police Department

To the family and co-workers go endless thoughts and prayers, stay stong like this hero did every day. A hero is one who sacrafices it all.

God bless those who lost a friend, a father, a family member.

Area 05 Trooper
VSP

God's Speed Brother

Sergeants McNamara
Richmond PD

My deepest sympathies go out to the family of Officer Wendel. I too have three children loath the thought of not being able to watch them shine and share our lives together. I hope that the killer is caught, found guilty in court, and sentenced to death for this crime. Take care.

Det. Doug Teachworth
Lynnwood, WA PD