Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

God Bless you and your family.

Deputy Sheriff Frank N. Felicetta III
Pinellas County Sheriffs Office, Florida

January 7, 2004

REST IN PEACE AND MAY GOD HEAL YOUR FAMILY'S PAIN. YOURE IN HEAVEN NOW AND SOMETHING WE WILL JOIN YOU.

DEP. M. RODRIGUEZ
BROWARD SHERIFF'S OFFICE,FL.

January 7, 2004

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

January 7, 2004

My thoughts and prayers are with you Deputy Sheriff Kenneth R. Burton. Thank you for your service to your community and to this great country. Know that you will never be forgotten.

Lt Thomas H. Drury
Clare City Police Department Clare, Mi

January 7, 2004

“When God made Peace Officers….”

When the lord was creating Peace 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 spec on this order? A Peace 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 the problems,” said the Lord, “It’s the three pairs if eyes and 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 he asks, “May I see what’s in there sir?” (When they already know and wishes in that they had taken that accounting job.) Another pair here in the side of their head for their partners’ safety. And another pair of eyes here in front that 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 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 civil service paycheck.”

The angel circled the model of the Peace Officer very slowly, “Can it think?” she asked.

“You bet,” said the Lord, “It can tell you elements of a hundred crimes, recite Miranda warnings in it’s sleep; detain, investigate, search, and arrest a gang member on the street in less time than it takes five judges to debate the legality of the stop…and still it keeps it’s 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 Peace 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 sober. “I didn’t put it there,” he said.


Anonymous

Senior Instructor
Federal Law Enforcement Training Center

January 7, 2004

My fiance, Dennis McElderry, was the first law enforcement casualty of 2003. Dennis died doing a job he loved, just as I'm sure Kenneth did. It saddens me to know that Dennis was not the first to die in the line of duty, nor will he and Kenneth 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 Burton's family, friends, and co-workers must be feeling. My heart goes out to you all, especially to his wife. 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 Kenneth 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 Kenneth 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)

January 7, 2004

Rest in peace blue angel.

Shannon

January 6, 2004

YOUR TOUR OF DUTY IS NOW OVER. YOU CAN NOW WALK THE STREETS OF GOLD. GOD HAS A BETTER PLACE FOR YOU NOW. MAY GOD BLESS YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS

POLICE OFFICER TIMMY HARRELSON
KINGS MTN. POLICE DEPT N.C.

January 6, 2004

To the family of Deputy Burton and the Richmond County Sheriff's Dept.
May you find comfort in the enduring beauty of God's word, and in the warmth of happy memories. With the passing of time,may the spirit of acceptance and inner peace enfold you. God blees you all.

Teresa Gosss
Shadco. Jax.Fl

January 6, 2004

Rest in peace brother. God bless your family.

Officer K.A. Lokey
Norfolk Police Department, Virginia

January 6, 2004

God bless. You are a hero and will not be forgotten. Rest easy. Thank you for your service.

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

January 6, 2004

Rest peacfully brother. My prayers are with your family.

Anonymous

January 5, 2004

Our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Deputy Sheriff Kenneth Burton. Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this terrible time.

God Bless

Patti & Aaron McPhail
Provincial Constables with the Ontario Provincial Police
Chatham-Kent Detachment

Provincial Constable Patti McPhail
Ontario Provincial Police - Chatham-Kent Detachment

January 5, 2004

Thank you Deputy Burton for all your hardwork.

My thoughts and prayers go out to the family. God Bless

Robert Lawrence III
Montgomery County Police L.E.A.P. Intern

January 5, 2004

To the Family and friends of Deputy Burton, Know that Ken did not throw away his life, he gave it in service. He was loved and respected by the men and women he worked with and the people he served. May God Bless you Ken and may you walk a beat on heavens street until we come and walk it with you. God Speed my Brother and you will be sorely missed.

Anonymous

January 5, 2004

We will miss you brother.

Anonymous

January 5, 2004

Our thoughts and prayers are with the family, friends and co-workers of Deputy Kenneth Burton. It is not easy to get our shattered lives back together after the loss of an officer, but may God give you peace, strength and comfort as you begin this journey. C.O.P.S. will be there to assist you.

Roger Parker
Georgia Chapter, Concerns of Police Survivors, Inc.

January 5, 2004

My deepest sympathies to the Burton family and to the Richmond County Sheriff's Department. Thank you Sheriff Burton for your hard work and sacrifice. You will not be forgotten.

Officer Schrade
Dept. of veterans Affairs Police

January 5, 2004

On behalf of B North, I would like to extend to the family and friends of Dep. Burton our condolences, you are in our prayers.

We have lost a good man.

Godspeed to you Dep. Burton

Sgt. Steven Strickland
Richmond County Sheriff's Office

January 5, 2004

GO REST HIGH ON THAT MOUNTAIN BROTHER.

DEPUTY SHERIFF
JEFF DAVIS SHERIFF'S OFFICE

January 5, 2004

We are safe because you are on patrol in heaven watching over us. Our Prayers are with your family, friends and fellow deputies.

Cpl. Mike Herring
Clarke County Sheriff's Office

January 5, 2004

My thoughts and prayers are with Deputy Burton's wife, child, family, friends and co-workers. You will never be alone in your pain and grief. Your law enforcement family will always be with you. The sacrifice you and you loved one made will never be forgotten. Psalm 55:22

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

January 5, 2004

To the wife,daughter, your brothers, sisters and to the dispatcher that couldnt crawl thru that radio to assist you of Richmond Co Sherriff depept.

One nite a man had a dream.
He dreamed he was walking along the beach with the LORD.
Across the sky flashed scenes from his life.
For each scene, he noticed two sets of footprints in the sand; one belonged to him,and the other to the LORD.

When the last scene of his life flashed before him, he looked back at the footprints in the sand. He noticed that many times along the path of life there was only one set of footprints. He noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times if his life.

This really bothered him and he questioned the LORD about it. "LORD, you said once I decided to follow you, you'd walk with me all the way. But I noticed that during the most troublesome times of my life, there is only one set of footprints. I don't understand why when I needed you most you would leave me.

The LORD replied, "My precious,precious child , I love you and would never leave you. During your times if trial and suffering, when you only see one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you.

A5248
ret.CHP Dispatcher

January 5, 2004

Our deepest sympathy to the family of Deputy Sheriff Kenneth Burton … and the Richmond County Sheriff's Department… our hearts and prayers are with you all...... Thank you for a job well done Kenneth... rest in peace as you continue your watch from the heavens......your memory will never be forgotten...

God Bless....Be Safe..... and wear your vests...

Vin, Pook and all of us at beyond-the-blue

Vin and Pook- Site Owners
beyond-the-blue

January 5, 2004

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


God Bless you

Terry Miyars, surviving spouse
Officer Emilio Miyares e/o/w 11/6/86, Hialeah PD, FL

January 5, 2004