Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

RIP -

THE POLICEMAN'S LAST ROLL CALL ...

THE POLICEMAN STOOD AND FACED HIS GOD, WHICH MUST ALWAYS COME TO PASS. HE
HOPED HIS SHOES WERE SHINING, JUST AS BRIGHTLY AS HIS BRASS. "STEP FORWARD
NOW, POLICEMAN. HOW SHALL I DEAL WITH YOU? HAVE YOU ALWAYS TURNED THE OTHER
CHEEK? TO MY CHURCH HAVE YOU BEEN TRUE?"

THE POLICEMAN SQUARED his shoulders and said, "No, Lord, I guess I ain't.
Because those of us who carry badges can't always be a Saint. I've had to
work most Sundays, and at times my talk was rough, and sometimes I've been
violent because the streets are awfully tough. But I never took a penny that
wasn't mine to keep, though I worked a lot of overtime when the bills just
got to steep. And I never passed a cry for help, though times I shook with
fear. And sometimes, God forgive me, I've wept many unmanly tears. I know I
don't deserve a place among the people here, they never wanted me around
except to calm their fear. If you've a place for me Lord, it needn't be so
grand. I never expected or had too much, but if you don't, I'll understand."

There was silence all around the throne where the Saints had often trod. As
the policeman waited quietly, for the judgement of his God. "Step forward
now, policeman, you've borne your burdens well. Come walk a beat on Heaven's
streets, you've done your time in hell."

Author Unknown

Deputy
Dane County Sheriff's Office, Wi

January 3, 2004

May GOD bless the family of Sergeant Larry Russell.


The Men and Women of the Amtrak Police Department extends our deepest sympathy to the Athens Police Department and to the family of Sergeant Russell.


GOD bless!!!

Criminal Investigator
Amtrak Police Department NY & NJ Division

January 3, 2004

most people would tell you that law enforcement is a dangerous job. i never listened. I was always afriad when there was a domestic call or when i heard dispatch say use caution with someone. My husband was a little man but his size never mattered to him. He wanted to be a policeman, he wanted to make the small town we lived in a safe place for everyone. i never thought that directing traffic would be the worst thing that he could do. I just want to say to all the officers that read this "To be careful out there and watch out for other drivers and be careful so you can go home to your family" GOD BLESS

Wife of Officer Toby Dirickson
EOW 11-2-03

January 3, 2004

The circumstances surrounding your death lead me to ponder if you've saved the lives of fellow Agents. Rest In Peace, servant of God. ~Romans 13:4 NIV

Darin Paul
FBI Agents Association

January 3, 2004

Such a sad way to start the New Year. My heart and prayers are with the wife, children, family, friends and coworkers of this fine officer. May his children know what a true hero their dad is. Rest in peace Sgt Russell and thank you for a job well done.

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

January 3, 2004

BUFFALO, NEW YORK

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

GOD BLESS...

PO ERNEST G. PENN
DEPT. OF VETERANS AFFAIRS POLICE

January 3, 2004

When God Made Police Officers . . .

When the Lord was creating Police Officers, He was into his sixth day of overtime when an angel appeared and said,
"You're doing a lot of fiddling around on this one."

And the Lord said, "Have you read the requirements on this
order? A Police Officer has to be able to run five miles through alleys in the dark, scale walls, enter homes the health inspector wouldn't touch, and not wrinkle their uniform."

"They have to be able to sit in an undercover car all day on a stakeout, cover a homicide scene that night, canvass the neighborhood for witnesses, and testify in court the next day."

"They have to be in top physical condition at all times,
running on black coffee and half-eaten meals, and they have to have six pairs of hands."

The angel shook her head slowly and said, "Six pairs of hands . . . no way!!"

"It's not the hands that are causing me problems," said the Lord, "it's the three pairs of eyes an officer has to have."

"That's on the standard model?" asked the angel.

The Lord nodded. "One pair that sees through a bulge in a pocket before they ask, 'May I see what's in there, sir?'"
(when they already know and wish they'd taken that accounting job) "Another pair here in the side of their head for their partner's safety, and another pair of eyes here in front so they can look reassuringly at a bleeding victim and say, 'You'll be alright, ma'am,' when they know it isn't so."

"Lord," said the angel, touching His sleeve, "rest and work on this tomorrow."

"I can't," said the Lord, "I already have a model that can talk a 250 pound drunk into a patrol car without incident and feed a family of five on a civil service paycheck."

The angel circled the model of the Police Officer very slowly. "Can it think?" she asked.

"You bet," said the Lord, "it can tell you the elements of a hundred crimes, recite Miranda warnings in its sleep, detain, investigate, search, and arrest a gang member on the street in less time than it takes five learned judges to debate the legality of the stop . . . and still it keeps its sense of humor. This officer also has phenomenal personal control. They can deal with crime scenes painted in hell, coax a confession from a child abuser, comfort a murder victim's family, and then read in the daily paper how law enforcement isn't sensitive to the rights of criminal suspects."

Finally, the angel bent over and ran her finger across the cheek of the Police Officer. "There's a leak," she pronounced, "I told you that you were trying to put too much into this model."

"That's not a leak," said the Lord. "It's a tear."

"What's the tear for?" asked the angel.

"It's for bottled-up emotions, for fallen comrades, for commitment to that funny piece of cloth called the American flag, for justice."

"You're a genius," said the angel.

The Lord looked somber. "I didn't put it there," He said.

Anonymous

January 3, 2004

Officer Russell, may God shower you in Heaven today with gifts of love and joy as you walk down the Streets of Gold. Brother, you will not be forgotten. The town of Athens mourns over your loss. Our prayers are with your family and friends. We will meet on the other side, my brother in Law. I only hope that the punishment that the coward recieves for what he has done is to the GREATEST extent that the Law can impose.

Dwight Posey II
Military Police

January 3, 2004

God Speed, Brother.

P.O. K.Murphy
Union PD, NJ

January 3, 2004

My Brother you are a true hero.....Rest warrior
god please place your hand on the family and friends....Amen

Sgt. C. Scott Baggett
Harpersville Police Department, Al.

January 3, 2004

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 Sergeant Larry Russell and the Athens 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

January 3, 2004

Already the pain has started. God bless brother. Rest easy and know you will not be forgotten. May God comfort those you leave behind and may he show no mercy to your killer. Your family is not alone in their grief.

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

January 3, 2004

Rest In Peace Brother..

Constable Dave Austin
Dekalb Co. Alabama Constable/K9 Handler

January 2, 2004

To the family of Sgt. Russell, you are in the thoughts and prayers of not only my family, but numerous others here in North Alabama. God bless you and your family during these trying times.

Anonymous

January 2, 2004

May you rest in peace brother Russell. The service and dedication you had for your community and department will always be remembered. My prayers go out to the family of SGT Russell and to the department who lost two brothers in one cowardly act. Whatever the excuse, we will never understand the reasoning behind this selfish act. May God keep your family, fellow brothers and sisters, and your community in His arms during this very difficult time.

Thank you for your service. You had already earned the honor of being called a Hero....and now more so than ever. Thank you for watching over us still walking the thin blue line.

Officer TW Jester
Fort Wayne Police Dept, IN

January 2, 2004

My thoughts and prayers are with Sgt. Russell's wife, children, family, friends and co-workers. You will never be alone in your pain and grief. Your law enforcement family will always be with you. Psalm 55:22

Denise Nichols - surviving spouse
Alabama State Trooper Brian Nichols EOW 2/17/2002

January 2, 2004

It seems like yesterday I was riding with Larry as my training officer. I will pray for you and your family.

Patrick Lowery
Gardendale Police Department

January 2, 2004

Our sincere condolence to Mrs Russell and their five children in the loss of their loved one Sergeant Larry Russell. What a tragedy to start this New Year off with the loss of another fine Officer.
We pray that God will be with you and give you understanding and peace. God Bless all of you.

Sincerely,

Lyndell & Elizabeth Taylor
Parents of
Deputy Sheriff
Morris Lyn Taylor (Douglas County, Oregon)
EOW 9-14-02

January 2, 2004

My thoughts go out to your department and the officers' families as you go through this tremendous loss. I pray that God gives Athens P.D. the courage to continue the job that Officer Russell and Officer Mims dedicated so many years to.

Sgt. Gus Sandahl
Kenai P.D. Kenai, Alaska

January 2, 2004

MAY THE BLESSINGS OF GOD BE WITH SGT RUSSELL'S FAMILY, FRIENDS AND COWORKERS. A VETERAN OFFICER AMBUSHED IN SUCH A COWARDLY WAY. MAY YOU ALWAYS BE REMEMBERED, A HERO ALWAYS IS. YOU SERVED YOUR STATE AND COUNTRY WELL. MAY YOU REST IN PEACE MY BROTHER UNTIL WE MEET SOME GREAT DAY.

CHIEF RONNIE WATFORD-RET.
JEFFERSON POLICE DEPT,S.C.

January 2, 2004

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

January 2, 2004