Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

I would like to extend my condolences to Deputy Williams family and friends, and to the men and women of the Green Lake County Sheriff's Office. Rest in peace. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

Deputy Sheriff
Butte County Sheriff's Office

October 23, 2003

Rest in peace brother.

Police Officer
Burlington Township PD NJ

October 23, 2003

MAY GOD BLESS YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS

LT. DAVID BEASLEY
SUMNER COUNTY SHERIFF DEPARTMENT, GALLATIN, TENNESSEE

October 23, 2003

As quoted by the Rev.Michael Gerlach

(name changed)

"A reflection on a Life of Service to the Community....An Officer of the Peace."

"Every community functions well because of its citizens. Every citizen needs that assurance of safety & protection as they go about their day. As an Officer of the Peace, Deputy Sheriff Bruce M. Williams, was an essential person empowering people to be free, to do what they do best.
"Though we often fail to acknowledge the positive effect law enforcement has on our society, everyone knows on some level what happens when an officer is not on the job.
"When you are on patrol, I sleep better at night. We all do. For all those strange & inconvenient hours of shift work & unpredictable overtime, we thank you. For every danger you have confronted & every fear you have stared down-thank you. For every duty that took you away from family-thank you.
"Essentially, in maintaining the peace, the officer maintains our most basic freedom. You have given us the confidence to move about our neighborhood without hesitation or fear. Your gift is one of courage. For what many have only dreamt about, you have accomplished, the practical application of a free society: Law and Order.
"We should have told you sooner, however our last farewell is upon us: From the community of the elderly, the working man and woman, the teenager, the toddler, and our youngest mother with her baby, Thank You !!!"

May You Rest in Peace !!


10/23/03

Officer Matthew Kelly
Haverford Twp Police, PA

October 23, 2003

The Hobart/Lawrence Police Dept. and the Municipalities of Hobart and Lawrence are deeply saddened by the loss of Deputy Bruce Williams. We know full well the emotional chaos that the family, friends and Sheriff's Dept. is experiencing right now. It was a little more than a year ago when Officers Bob Etter and Stephanie Markins from our department were killed in the line of duty.

Our hearts and prayers go out to all who knew Deputy Williams. God is with all of you.

Lorie Kmiec
Hobart/Lawrence PD

October 23, 2003

Deputy Williams, My heartfelt sympathy to your family during this loss. We all know this may someday be the sacrifice we make. Yet, each shift we leave our loved ones, saying I will see you after the shift. Deputy Williams WILL be seen by his family. In rememberances and in mannerisms of those he helped to create, with God's help. He will be seen by the public of Green Lake County when they observe members of GLSD on the highway, doing "the job". He will be felt on long lonely nights by those who loved him. And, hopefully this will bring us all a little peace. We are all better off for having had Bruce here doing the job and being the guy he was. For Bruce will not see the one who took his life and sent him to Heaven, because that one will not be there. Rest in Peace and Godspeed.

Deputy Sheriff
Wood County Sheriff's Dept. Wisconsin

October 23, 2003

Rest in peace Brother Bruce, you are an true hero and will not be forgotten.

Son of G. Truman Wortham EOW 7/15/73

Assistant Chief Carl Wortham
Sand Springs Police Dept. Okla

October 23, 2003

I would just like to say that Deputy Williams was a role model for me when I started in Law Enforcement. He was very intelligent, made good arrests and had a sense of humor that was second to none. I am extremely saddened by his untimely passing and wish his family the strength to carry on. I was fortunate enough to tell him 5 weeks prior to his death that he was one that I had put on a pedestal and admired. I am very thankful that I had the opportunity to say "Thank You" to Goose before he passed on. Rest in Peace my friend!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Nick Garro
Slinger Police Dept.

October 23, 2003

Deputy Bruce Williams: Although your life was taken in a senseless and violent act of a coward, your memory will live on forever in the hearts and minds of your loved ones, fellow dputies and employees, and your law enforcement family. God Bless you.

Lieutenant Jeffrey Schmidt
Shorewood Police Department

October 22, 2003

Our depest sorrows to the loss of a fine officer, many knew him and will miss him.

Constable Douglas M. Samens
Osceola Township Police Department

October 22, 2003

Bruce,

I miss you! You always had a way of making the worst situation tolerable. The funny gestures or things you said are fresh in my mind. How you utilized your own style of Verbal Judo. We always managed to keep each other abreast of the latest gossip. You some how managed to find out things about me I never wanted released.

I’m going to remember watching you play softball on Wednesday nights. One of the best parts of my shift is driving through your neighborhood, seeing what your up to. I will still continue to drive through, although it will be different now. My heart goes out to your wife and daughters. I hope I can someday be half the father you were. God, your daughters love you so much.

I just talked to you on the overtime shift we worked together. What could I have said?

All the times you were there for me as back up, my only response was “thanks Goose”. Bruce you’ve been and will always be a great friend. Your sense of humor and acts of overall goodwill always will be remembered. Of all things I sat down to say, I find myself at a loss of words. I hope you know how much I enjoyed working with you. I knew then and know now your irreplaceable.

God Bless You! I know your up there looking down and smiling! Until we meet again, please continue to watch over me!

Officer Ryan M. Glime
Berlin Police Department, Green Lake County, WI

October 22, 2003

Yet another Deputy has given his life doing what he loved.
Thank you Deputy Sheriff Bruce M. Williams for your service Sir.
Rest now Brother the watch is ours.
May God Bless you and your family.

Deputy Constable LC Downing
Wharton County Texas Pct 2

October 22, 2003

See you on the other side, brother.

Ptl. Williamson
CCPD

October 22, 2003

God bless you brother. Your sacrifice will not be forgotten. Peace be with you.

Patrolman, Timothy G. Coe
Grayling City P.D. Michigan

October 22, 2003

TO MRS. WILLIAMS AND CHILDREN AND EXTENDED WILLIAMS FAMILY

PLEASE ACCEPT MY DEEPEST SYMPATHY TO YOUR ENTIRE FAMILY AND MAY GOD BE WITH ALL OF YOUR FAMILY AT THIS TRYING TIME. DEPUTY WILLIAMS SACRIFICE WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN AS HE NOW STANDS WITH THE REST OF THE PEACEKEEPERS IN THE HEAVENS ABOVE US. MAY YOU BE WITH ALL OF US DEPUTY WILLIAMS AS WE BEGIN EACH ONE OF OUR SHIFTS ON THIS EARTH TO CARRY ON THE JOB IN WHICH YOU SO VALLIANTLY PERFORMED.

GOD SPEED...AS YOU HOLD YOUR HEAD HIGH AND GO FORTH TO ETERNITY AS WE WILL ALL MEET UP AGAIN WITH YOU SOMEDAY.

Police Officer
Nekoosa Police Department

October 22, 2003

May God bless your family and friends. My heart goes out to all of your co-workers during this difficult time.

Officer Dave Lewandowski
Rome Police Dept. Adams Co. Wi.

October 22, 2003

POLICEMAN'S PRAYER

LORD GRANT ME COURAGE
FOR WHAT I'M CALLED TO DO
IN THE KEEPING AND DEFENSE
OF INNOCENCE AND TRUTH
MAKE ME STRONG AND WILLING
A PROTECTOR OF WHAT'S RIGHT
AND I KNOW I WILL NOT FAIL
IF YOU GUIDE ME WITH
YOUR LIGHT.

YOUR FAMILY WILL NOW SEE JUST HOW BIG YOUR EXTENDED
LAW-ENFORCEMENT FAMILY REALLY IS. GOD BLESS YA'LL.

TROOPER
VIRGINIA STATE POLICE

October 22, 2003

We mourn with you.....

Family of Officer Eryk Todd Heck EOW 08-15-97

Anonymous

October 22, 2003

To the family of Sheriff Williams, I send to you my prayers. We must keep the memories of all the heros alive. Sheriff Williams served his community making it a safer place for families to live. Giving himself in service is noble, making the ultimate sacrafice makes a hero. May God be with this family and the department. To all the men and women who are still serving....be safe.

Peggy Maher-Dreher
Sister of Patrick Maher EOW 8-02-03

October 22, 2003

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

God bless your family and your department.
Thanks for your dedication and service.

Trooper
Pennsylvania State Police

October 22, 2003

My thoughts and prayers are with the family and co-workers of Deputy Williams. May God comfort each of you during this tragic time.

Captain Scott Wright
Mount Holly Police Department, NC

October 22, 2003

To the family, friends, and co-workers of Deputy Bruce Williams, you are in our thoughts and prayers.

Sgt. Chris Culler
Sarpy County Sheriff-Nebraska

October 22, 2003

We are deeply saddened by this senseless murder. I hope the community will show its outrage, as well as appreciation for this officer's sacrifice. My deepest sympathies and prayers to the family, friends and brother/sister officers of Deputy Sheriff Williams. Rest in Peace brother. AC

Trooper
Pennsylvania State Police

October 22, 2003

Thank you brother for you service to your community and your country, your bravery will be remembered. God bless your family and your department.

Investigator Ronnie Austin
State Attorney's Office, Tallahassee, FL

October 22, 2003

My fiance, Dennis McElderry, was the first law enforcement casualty of 2003. Dennis died doing a job he loved, just as I'm sure Bruce did. It saddens me to know that Dennis was not the first to die in the line of duty, nor will he and Bruce be the last to die this way.

Having gone through the pain of losing Dennis I can truly understand and feel the pain that Deputy Williams' family, friends, and co-workers must be feeling. My heart goes out to you all, especially to his family. No one can truly understand the pain of our loss until they've walked in our shoes. 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 Bruce 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 Bruce 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 say "hello" to my fiance Dennis for me.

Peace, Love, Luck, and Happiness!

Jocelyne Brar (Drakesville, IA)
Fiancee of Deputy Dennis McElderry - EOW (01/03/03)

October 22, 2003