Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

Rest easy my friend, our prayers are with you and your family.

Wake County Sheriff's Office

September 25, 2003

John Strickland proudly served his country for more than twenty years in the military. He then continued to serve his fellow man as a Deputy Sheriff with that same pride and honor. This was surpassed only by his strong dedication to his family. Our entire department now pulls together in this time of great loss. GOD will ease our grief with the comfort that only He can provide. Our prayers go out to his family.

Detective C.L. Galloway
Harnett County Sheriff's Office

September 25, 2003

I never knew you,
But we are brothers,
I never met you,
But we are brothers,
Our paths never crossed,
But we are brothers,
I have never patrolled in your town,
But I know we have been on duty together,
I just in Cumberland County,
And we are brothers.
And as a brother,
I feel the pain,
I feel the hurt,
And I feel the sadness that only a brother can undergo.
The sacrifices that each of us make everyday in nothing compared to the one you and your fellow officer have accepted.
One that everyone one of us is aware could happen
Any day, any moment, any second.
You have made me proud,
You have made my job easier because
I am more aware.
I am more cautious
And I will never forget you.
May God hold you in his hand and have you rest in peace.

Cpl Lawrence Fermin
Cumberland County Sheriff Office, NC

September 25, 2003

MAY GOD BLESS FAMILY AND FRIENDS AT THIS TIME OF GRIEF

DIRECTOR OF TRAINING, DAVID BEASLEY
SUMNER COUNTY SHERIFF DEPARTMENT

September 25, 2003

May god bless your family in this time of grief. And rest in peace brother. We'll take it from here.

Michael Krobatsch
South Easter Public Safety Institute (Police Academy)

September 25, 2003

It is with great sadness to see another fellow officer go in a traffic accident. Our sympathy to the family and the department. There will be many questions and few answers. A saying that I look to in these times:
If GOD brings you to it,
GOD will help you through it.
It is simple but may help those who are in need.
Rest in Peace Brother.

Lt. Gary Smith
Spokane County Sheriff Office, Honor Guard Unit

September 25, 2003

God Speed, Brother.

P.O.K. Murphy
Union PD, NJ

September 25, 2003

Yet another hero has had their life taken too soon. My deepest sympathy to the family, friends and co-workers of Deputy Strickland. May the Lord give you strength and bless each of you during this time.
Rest in peace for your watch here is over walk in heavens beat and guide us all to protect and serve others safely.

US Ranger Catroppa
National Park Service Kennesaw GA

September 25, 2003

We feel your loss here in Florida. 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 Police Department

September 25, 2003

To the family, friends, co-workers of Deputy Sheriff John F. Strickland

I am so deeply sorry and sadden to hear of the loss of your love one. I
pray that you will find comfort knowing, that like our love one (Deputy
Frank James), John is now in the arms of an angel. He watched over his
country and county while he was here with us and he is now watching
from haven above.

Our thoughts and prayers are with you all.

Melinda Blankenship
Wake Co Citizen

September 25, 2003

Rest in peace brother in blue.
The watch is ours now.

God bless your family.

Trooper
Pennsylvania State Police

September 25, 2003

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.

September 24, 2003

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 Deputy Strickland 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.

Anonymous

September 24, 2003

The Valley Police Departmement staff offer our sincere words of comfort on the loss of Deputy Strickland. May his family and agency know there loss is felt by many. May you rest in peace brother.

Valley Police Staff
Valley Police Departmment Ne.

September 24, 2003

Rest easy brother as we have the watch. You are not nor will not be forgotten. Another hero for above.

Deputy M. Moore
Warren County S.O. (OH)

September 24, 2003

To watch the list of names on this web site grow larger every week causes me a great deal of sorrow. However, after reading about the sacrifices each of the men and women listed here made, and reading the reflections left for each of them, I have come to the conclusion that God is forming an army.. and he is only taking the best soldiers. I am certain Deputy Strickland will be one of God's finest soldiers. Deputy Strickland, please watch over us and protect us from above, as we honor your life and the sacrifice you made. Your memory and your dedication will not be forgotten so long as there is a single law enforcement officer left on this planet.

Deputy B. Jones
Wake County Sheriff's Office

September 24, 2003

Rest easy. Although your tour was cut short, you are a brother in blue and we all mourn your passing. God bless.

Ptlm
CPD, NY

September 24, 2003

To the family, friends, and co-workers of Deputy Strickland,
I am so sad to read another name on this website. One just starting his career as a angel on earth. It breaks my heart!!
I wish for you peace in this terrible time. Lean on God and He will comfort you. You are on my mind and in my prayers.
Thank you Deputy Strickland, your job (and life) were taken from you WAY TOO SOON!! It may have been short, but you are still a hero for doing your job and sacraficing everything for it!! God bless you!!
Kristi Robinson
Girlfriend of Officer S. Linen, CA Highway Patrol, EOW 8/12/01

Kristi Robinson
Survivor 2001

September 24, 2003

To Deputy Strickland family and friends our hearts and prayers go out to you


God Bless you

Terry Miyares, surviving spouse
Officer Emilio F. Miyares, Hialeah PD, FL, EOW 11/6/86

September 24, 2003

FINAL ROLL CALL

DEPUTY JOHN STRICKLAND, HARNETT CO. SHERIFFS OFFICE

JOHN...REST IN PEACE BROTHER, FOR YOU HAVE DONE YOUR PART TO MAKE THIS A BETTER PLACE FOR ALL...GOD HAS A SPECIAL PLACE FOR YOU...FOR THERE IS NO GREATER LOVE THAN THAT OF A MAN LAYING DOWN HIS LIFE FOR ANOTHER...BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS, FOR THEY SHALL BE CALLED SONS OF GOD...WATCH OVER US AND RIDE WITH US ALWAYS...OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS GO OUT TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY...GODS SPEED TO YOU...

YOUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN LAW ENFORCEMENT
WAKE COUNTY SHERIFFS OFFICE
RALEIGH, NC

Deputy David A. Wilson, A-636
Wake County Sheriffs Office

September 24, 2003

Rest in peace my brother—You will not be forgotten. You have done your duty.

You, your family, and all those that have been affected by your passing are in my family’s prayers.

See you some day my brother.

CPL Jodie L. Warren
Prince George County Police Department, Virginia

September 24, 2003

My sincere condolences go out to Harnett County SO and the family of Deputy Strickland. I truly understand the pain that you are going through, our department lost an officer recently in a vehicle pursuit. The pain will ease slowly, lean on those close to you-they will help during this sad time.

Rest in peace young warrior-your brothers and sisters in blue have your watch now. Protect us from your seat in heaven.

Elizabeth Tatum
West Memphis Police Department

September 24, 2003

Brother, May God bless you and your family. Your sacrifice will not be forgotten.

Special Agent
FBI New York

September 24, 2003

To the family of Deputy John Strickland,

Our thoughts and prayers are with you all. Please know that John will never be forgotten.

Sergeant David McGee
Wake County Sheriff's Office

September 24, 2003

On behalf of the men and women of both the Butte County Sheriff's Office, and First Responder EMS, I would like to extend our deepest sympathies at the loss of Deputy Strickland, to his family, friends and the dedicated men and women in the Harnett County Sheriff's Office. May he rest in peace.

Tactical Paramedic
Butte County Sheriff's Office

September 24, 2003