Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

Big John who always greeted me with a big smile and a big hug to match. I will miss you! Sadly you are not the first officer I have known to be taken from us, your friends and family. I pray you will be able to send your comforting spirit to those who need it. You taught many over the years and a little of you will go on with them. God Bless those you left behind .. I know you are safe now and in a place of peace and beauty, but still I wish you had been able to stay. Give a Big John hug to Bob, Kevin and John B. who no doubt welcomed you when you arrived.

Chris Tilly, former Dispatcher
Kenai Police Department

December 28, 2003

Dear Family of Officer John Watson,

The 109th Cadet Class of the Austin Police Department feels much sorrow and sadness for your loss. Your loss is felt throughout the law enforcement family, those in the field and those preparing to venture into the field. God bless your family and God bless Officer John Watson.


The 109th Cadet Class of Austin, Texas

Cadet Jose Tovar
Austin Police Department, Texas

December 28, 2003

You all are in my thoughts and prayers

donna Hicks wife of Glenn Hicks EOW 02-2

December 28, 2003

I am sending my sincere thanks to you Officer Watson for your service to the citizens of Alaska and this great country. You will never be forgotten. My thoughts and prayers are with your family and others around you.

Trooper James J. Soper
Indiana State Police - Dist. 13

December 28, 2003

Rest in peace.

Sr.Cpl Hunt
Dallas PD

December 28, 2003

BUFFALO, NEW YORK

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS POLICE OFFICERS
WISH TO SEND OUR CONDOLENCES. OUR THOUGHTS
AND PRAYERS ARE WITH OFFICER WATSON, HIS FAMILY
AND CO-WORKERS.

GOD BLESS...

PO ERNEST G. PENN
DEPT. OF VETERANS AFFAIRS POLICE

December 28, 2003

John, My brother, I am so grateful to God that he gave me the opportunity to work with and to be your friend for so many years. We have shared so much over those years, and the memories will never die.

Life has been taken from you much to soon, my friend. The emptiness it has behind is almost unbearable. God will give us strength to carry on and the sun will shine again, your memory will live on in me and everyone else you have touched.

Thank you for a job well done. Rest in Peace, my brother.

Mike Anastay
Kenai Police Department(retired)

December 28, 2003

It was but a few short years ago that we had a tragic incident like this one. I pray you will find comfort in God and his grace. Our prayers are with you and your family.

Sgt. Ron Bowers
Fairbanks Police Department

December 28, 2003

There are but two persons who protect the sinful human race from destroying itself. One is God's Holy Spirit. The other is the Peace Officer. Without them, we would all perish at each other's hands.

You were called into this profession and our Lord and Savior has blessed you because:
According to Romans 13.1-5...
God ordains the Peace Officer’s profession.
The Peace Officer is sent by God.
The Peace Officer is vested with God's authority to enforce the law.
A Peace Officer's badge is to be honored by us, because it is honored by God.

You gave the ultimate sacrifice, your life for your fellow man, while serving, defending, and protecting others in your community.

To the family of Police Officer John Watson and the Kenai Police Department, your extended family of Law Enforcement Officers grieves with you during this time. I pray that God will wrap his loving arms around each of you and comfort you during this most difficult time.

To all my brothers and sisters, 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. Please pray for this officer's family and friends as they struggle with this tragedy.
May God be with you every day, please remember, we are a part of the largest family in the world and when one hurts we all hurt.

Though our badges and uniforms may be different, our mission is the same. Rest in peace with our other fallen Brothers and Sisters. We will continue the fight in your honor.

Florida Deputy Sheriff

December 28, 2003

May the spirit of all law enforcement shine down upon the family of Officer Watson. To the family of Officer Watson let it be known that he is walking the streets of heaven watching down on you. To all of Officer Watson's brothers and sister in blue, know that he will always be by your sides when you need someone to talk too.

Fellow Brother of Deputy Kevin Sherwood EOW 09-Oct-03

Officer John S. Wilson
Saginaw Chippewa Tribal Police

December 28, 2003

On Christmas Day the Kenai Community Lost Police Officer John Watson who was my friend. I have tears in my eyes as I write this. John Protected our community for 18 years and gave is Life much too early in doing so. He will be missed greatly.

God Bless John & his Family

James Baisden, Fire Marshal
Kenai Fire Department

December 27, 2003

Rest in peace, you served us well. He did the job everday, even on Christmas while his wife and children celebrated without him, because the job must always be done. Our world is a better place thanks to him. God bless his family and friends, and may their pride in Officer Watson overshadow their pain. I hope that his killer is given the death penalty for this dispicable crime.

"For those who choose to uphold it, freedom requires a sacrifice that the protected will never know." ~ Unknown

Pat
Baltimore, MD

December 27, 2003

John,

As I got the news, all I could think about is meeting you at 8 years old, as you helped me get books from the KPD library...Then at thirteen when i joined the Explorers and rode countless hours with you over the next five years...Then as a supporter during the hiring phase...then as a co-worker and a fellow officer.

Thankyou for all you have done for me, shown me, trained me and saved me (in the courtroom).

It was truly a pleasure on my friday, when I knew i would cross your path in the mornings...Or when we would see each other at the end of shift.

You are a geat man, wonderful Officer and outstanding person. You will be greatly missed as a co-worker, but more a Friend.

John, I ask that you watch over each and everyone of us At KPD and with every Oficer in the world, and help us in those moments of sheer fear...when the world expects us to stay brave in the face of danger...please help protect us.

John you are truly loved and missed, See you on the other side...
Aaron Turnage K-20

Kenai Police Department

Police Office Aaron Turnage
Kenai Police

December 27, 2003

To the family, friends and partners in blue of Officer John Watson we share with you the tremendous saddness of his senseless loss. Officer Watson served his country and community with courage and valor and those of us left to carry on the task will forever be inspired by his example.
OMY/COP

Chief of Police Olen M. Young
Wauneta PD NE

December 27, 2003

"Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, 'Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?' And I said, 'Here am I. Send me'".

-Isaiah 6:8

A Minnesota Cop
U of M PD

December 27, 2003

John,

On behalf of Police officers everywhere, thank you for your sacrafice. It will not be forgotten. Now that you've cleared your last call, you can step into your new sqaud, on the streets of heaven. God bless you John.

Ronald J. Thomas
Patrolman
WCSO, Massachuesets
Squad 311 Tango

"10-7, 10-42" Rest in Peace Brother

Ronald J. Thomas
WCSO

December 27, 2003

Anytime is a sad time to lose a loved one, but at the holidays, it
seems to be the worst. I am sickened that you had to lose your
sweetheart and the kids their Dad and his parents their son... and it goes
on and on. My heart is heavy with your pain and sadness. May God
comfort all those who are grieving your passing. Life is difficult at times
and the Lord Jesus wants to help carry our burdens. He gives us many
beautiful promises in His Word to help us through our valleys. I pray you
will feel His presence and know His peace. Thank you for your service,
dedication and mostly, your sacrifice, Officer Watson. We ache from
missing you.

Lynn Kole
Washington State

December 27, 2003

John: So many people have expressed their deep sorrow and anguish at your sudden and untimely death. We all know that you were a great officer, a true hero, an asset to the Kenai Police Dept. and our community as a whole.
I think of all the shifts that you worked for just a paycheck, not receiving much thanks from the citizens that you gave your life, protecting.
You were a good man, with a big, soft heart. I say that because one of my last memories was of you, Kathy and two other “bikers” up in North Pole, Alaska this summer. The family and I were up in Fairbanks for a Midnight Sun soccer tournament. After the tournament we took the boys to “Santa Claus Land” at North Pole.
Five hundred miles from home, I see this big, biker cop decked out in his leathers, with his wife, friends and the Harley Davidson’s nearby. You were eating an ice cream cone at a picnic table under the watchful eye of a 30 ft. tall Santa Claus cutout. To me this was funny, and I enjoyed our conversation that evening under the midnight sun. You mentioned you only had two years until retirement and that you’d be doing some more riding, etc. Only too soon were you taken from us, and we will all miss you so much.
Farewell my brother, until we meet again.
Sgt. Roy Smith

To the family and co-workers of John: I feel how weak and fruitless must be any words of mine that would attempt to beguile you from the grief of a loss so overwhelming. I pray that our heavenly father may assuage the anguish of your bereavement and leave you only the cherished memory of the loved and lost, and the solemn pride that must be yours to have laid down so costly a sacrifice upon the alter of freedom.
Paraphrased from a speech by Abraham Lincoln.

Sgt. Roy Smith
Wildwood Correctional Center Kenai, Alaska

December 27, 2003

I am deeply sorry for your loss of such a fine Officer . We can ill afford to lose officers of his quality.

Garda ken Harrington
An Garda Siochana , Ireland

December 27, 2003

The loss of a fellow officer brings strong emotions, one of which is intense pride for John, for KPD and for all in the business of public safety.

Captain John Tanguy
Doyon Universal Services

December 27, 2003

Rest In Peace Brother

Constable Dave Austin
Dekalb Co. Alabama Constable/K9 Handler

December 27, 2003

There are no words to express my sympathy, but truly, there are none. Heartbreaks,tears are shed, loved ones mourn.It will take a long time for grief to settle, but you will make it, and the sun will shine again. God will give you strengt to carry on, so will Officer Watson as he looks down on you and his children.To Officer Watson, Thank you for the sacrifice you made to protect us. Thank you for a thankless job so hard to do.

Teresa Goss
Shadco. Jax.Fl

December 27, 2003

John,
Though I did not know you very well I remember you as a friendly and genuinely kind person. We’d recognize each other around town and chat a bit before going our separate ways. Nothing really much more in common other than we deal with the down side of society…

I now know you are more a brother to me than I understood during those casual meetings. We both have families and friends. We both pay taxes, grumble about the price of bread and yell at the quarterback on Sundays. And some of us leave one day without warning… and too often it happens to one of the many, like you, that have taken up the oath not to walk away from helping a citizen in need.

John, thank you for doing the job. Rest easy and in peace.

To his family, my prayers that you find some consolation in knowing he was a respected and appreciated by the community.

Sgt. Richard Sitbon
Department of Corrections

December 27, 2003

On behalf of the men and women who serve and work for the Georgia Perimeter College Police Department, our thoughts and prayers are with Officer John Watson's family, friends, and co-workers with the Kenai Police Department.

God bless may you rest in peace. Now you can walk Heaven's beat.

Officer Johns
Georgia Perimeter College Police Department

December 27, 2003

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the friends and family of this fine officer. Heroes are never forgotten. God Bless You.

Deputy Jerry Hooker
Roanoke County Sheriffs Office

December 27, 2003