Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

As I sit here and try to gather my thoughts to somehow give honor to my former Chief and my friend, my heart is heavy and my eyes overflow with tears of sorrow. Verlon LeMaster gave his life for his community, his friends, and his fellow officers. Not necessarily in his death but rather more in his life. Verlon's life dream was to serve and protect and he did in many ways. This small community has lost a friend, a father figure, a mentor, a kind face to see in a time of trouble. And us a police officers have lost a brother in blue. My children asked me today if God needed a policeman to help him in heaven. My eyes filled with tears as I thought about Verlon and all the many other brothers and sisters in blue that now watch over us. Verlon will be greatly missed and I pray that his family will be comforted in some way.

Verlon, I miss you my friend. You will always remain in my thoughts.

Officer Mark Wright
Arab Police Department, Arab, Alabama
(Former Grant Police Department Reserve Officer)

Officer Mark Wright
Arab Police Department

Day is done,
gone the sun.
From the hills,
from the lake,
From the skies.
All is well,
safely rest,
God is nigh.

Godspeed to you and your family.

Lt. James A. Williams N.Y.P.D.

LT. JAMES A. WILLIAMS
N.Y.P.D.

Your death diminishes us all. Thank you for your many years of service
and your final sacrifice. So sorry your career ended so tragically. I
extend love and sympathy to your loved ones, both near and far. God
bless all those who mourn your passing.

Lynn Kole
Washington State

"...and often the bravest of men fall by the hands of cowards" Tacitus

Thank you Chief, we have the watch.

Special Agent
Homeland Security

Hello darkness, my old friend,
I've come to talk with you again,
Because a vision softly creeping,
Left its seeds while I was sleeping,
And the vision that was planted in my brain
Still remains
Within the sound of silence.

In restless dreams I walked alone
Narrow streets of cobblestone,
'Neath the halo of a street lamp,
I turned my collar to the cold and damp
When my eyes were stabbed by the flash of
a neon light
That split the night
And touched the sound of silence.

And in the naked light I saw
Ten thousand people, maybe more.
People talking without speaking,
People hearing without listening,
People writing songs that voices never share
And no one deared
Disturb the sound of silence.

"Fools" said I,"You do not know
Silence like a cancer grows.
Hear my words that I might teach you,
Take my arms that I might reach you."
But my words like silent raindrops fell,
And echoed
In the wells of silence

And the people bowed and prayed
To the neon god they made.
And the sign flashed out its warning,
In the words that it was forming.
And the signs said, The words of the prophets
are written on the subway walls
And tenement halls.
And whisper'd in the sounds of silence.


Sleep well, we buried a friend today.

Patrol
Georgia

Verlon was a fine man, I have known him for 5 or 6 years and worked with him as a part time Police Officer for about 2 years. He will be "GREATLY MISSED". He was a friend to everyone he met and dealt with. People would call the Police Department and if it wasn't an emergency they would wait untill Verlon came back to work to talk to him. He was that kind of man, anyone could call and he made time to talk to them.
" Law Enforcement has lost a fine man"

SGT. SCOTT H. WHITED
SCOTTSBORO POLICE DEPARTMENT

REST IN PEACE BROTHER. YOUR SACRIFICE WILL NOT BE FORGOTTEN. MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.

POLICE OFFICER
NYPD

I HOPE THEY FRY THESE LITTLE BASTARDS!!!ITS A TERRIBLE THING WHAT HAPPENED TO THIS FINE OFFICER. I AM SO SORRY FOR THE LOVED ONES HE LEFT BEHIND.I HOPE JUSTICE IS SLOW AND PAINFUL FOR THESE SOBs.GOD BLESS THIS OFFICER.

DETECTIVE
NYPD-BRONX NARCOTICS

My deepest sympathies go out to Chief Lemaster's family, colleagues, friends, and citizens of the Great State of Alabama. May God bless you as you keep the peace from the golden streets.

Anonymous

Chief your shield will shine forever. Your dedication and inspiration will never be forgotten. Rest in peace Chief we will take it from here. Sincerely OFC Ryan Leach.

Officer Ryan Leach
Grand Blanc Township

ANOTHER BROTHER OFFICER WHO HAS FALLEN DOING HIS DUTY.....MAY YOU REST IN PEACE AND WE WILL CONTINUE THE WATCH.......YOU ARE NOW WALKING ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE LORD........MY PRAYERS FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY

CPL LARRY FERMIN
CUMBERLAND COUNTY SHERIFF OFFICE, NORTH CAROLINA

CHIEF REST IN PEACE MY BROTHER!!
My prayers are with your family and friends

ASST. CHIEF D. SHELLEY
WILLIAMSBURG PD. KENTUCKY

The urgent calling of nature longs to be tested, seeks to be challenged beyond itself. The warrior within us beseeches Mars, the god of War, to deliver us to that crucial battlefield that will redeem us into the terrifying immediacy of the moment. We want to face our Goliath so we may be reminded that the warrior David is alive, in us. We pray to the war gods to guide us to the walls of Jerrico so we may dare the steadfastness and strength of our trumpet call. We aspire to be defeated in battle by powers so much greater than ourselves, so that the defeat itself will have made us larger than when we arrived. We long for the encounter that will ultimately empower us with dignity and honor....Be not mistaken: the longing is there and it's terrible and beautiful and tragic.

Anonymous

To the family, friends and coworkers of Chief LeMaster may God be with you all in this terrible time of loss. My heart and prayers are with you all. Rest in peace Chief, and thank you for a job well done.

Deb Azure
Mother of Deputy Renee Danell Azure, EOW 08/06/02

I'm saddened to learn of the death of this brave police officer. It is an appalling tragedy to say the very least . His death underlines the dangers that our police and security forces face on a daily basis in these times .
My thoughts and prayers go out to the family and his colleagues . May God send you peace and comfort you .

C. Kaye Hunley
Maynardville , TN

Your memory will live on forever. We all know that you will guide us and protect us from above. God Bless you and your family. May you rest in peace.

Special Agent
Department of Homeland Security

Yesterday, my shift started like many others in the past. However, within four hours, I lost my former police chief, during this incident. As officers throughout our country read this memorial, we all feel the same emotions, which run through our blood. We all made our choice to serve in this profession. Whether you work in a 3 officer department, or a 3000 officer department, no officer deserves to die during the line of duty. We as police officers try to make a difference in our areas, each and every day. Chief LeMaster was making that effort of change.

As officers read through Chief LeMasters memorial, we all need to remember one thing.. We are not guaranteed our roll call, at the end of the shift.

Chief Verlon LeMaster will be missed within Marshall County, as well as the State of Alabama, and our country. We pray for the officers, and Chief LeMasters family..

Arab Police Department

Corporal Mitchell Stone
Arab Police Department

There are no words to describe the loss of Chief LeMaster. To the family, friends & co-workers please accept my condolence. Another sad day to loose a brother in blue.

Sr. Trooper Keith Miller
Oregon State Police

Verlon, you were so special and loved by so many people. Your dedication, loyalty, and courage will not be forgotten. My prayers go out to your daughter and the rest of your family and friends. God Bless you and thank you for your friendship and your sacrifice. You worn the uniform with pride and we are all proud to call you "brother".

Daphne Godwin, Dispatcher
Rainsville Police Department

May God bless the family of Chief LeMaster, as well as his friends and co-workers. Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this time of grief.

Sincerely,
Lyndell & Elizabeth Taylor (Murrieta, Calif.)
Parents of
Deputy Sheriff
Morris Lyn Taylor (Douglas County,Oregon)
EOW 09-14-02

Anonymous

This is a sad day in Alabama. We have lost a man dedicated to his family. We have lost a man dedicated to his community. We have lost a Brother in Blue.
Verlon, You were a friend to all who worked by your side. You were a friend to those you served. All mourn your loss.
My prayer to God is that He bestowe His blessings on your family, community, and brother officers.
Rest in Peace Chief LeMaster
(friend and former Marshall County Deputy Sheriff)

Ptrolman Robert C. Pettit
Hartselle Alabama Police Dept.

May God Bless you for all that you have done, and may your family be blessed by what you have meant to them and your community.

Allen Moulson
Richmond Police Police Ret.

To the family, friends and colleages of Chief LeMaster:

May God bless you and keep you strong during this tragic time. Chief, you will not be forgotten.

Special Agent
FBI New York

We are sorry for your lose. Rest in peace blue angel.

Shannon
private citizen

Deepest sympathy to the family of Chief Verlon LeMaster.

Anonymous