Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

How do we live in a world where police officers are gunned down by animals? I thank you Officer Bowens for choosing a profession that is ill paid, but keeps me safe. I mourn your death and pray for your family and friends. You are a true hero! May your rest in peace

February 17, 2004

To the family and friends of Officer Bowens, I am so sorry for your loss. These senseless killings leave such pain behind for the loved ones of the officer. Know that you are not alone, we are all here for you in your time of grief.

Andrea
Sister of Detroit Police Officer Scott Stewart

February 17, 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 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 he asks, “May I see what’s in there sir?” (When they already know and wishes 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, and 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

February 17, 2004

May your soul rest in peace my brother !!

Boone County Sheriff's Dept. (Indiana)

February 17, 2004

I am extremely troubled by this news. I am scared, I feel numb. I hope God had a better purpose for these two officers. How else can this make any sense.

former police officer

February 17, 2004

Rest in Peace my brother in blue!

Anonymous

February 17, 2004

Another senseless loss of a COP. I pray that GOD will see the family, friends, and the entire agency, through this horrible tragedy.

Shaun Griffin
ID 557

OFC SC Griffin
Indian Shores PD / Pinellas County Fl

February 17, 2004

On behalf of all the employees of the FBI's Detroit Division, I offer condolences to the men and women of the Detroit Police Department on the loss of Officers Bowens and Fettig.

My prayers are that the family is comforted at this difficult time.

Rest In Peace, servant of God (Romans 13:4 NIV)

SA Darin L. Paul
FBI Detroit Division

February 17, 2004

We will never forget you.

Anonymous

February 17, 2004

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 Matthew Bowens' family, friends, and co-workers with the Detroit Police Department.

God bless our brother in blue. Now you can walk Heaven's beat.

Officer Johns
Georgia Perimeter College Police Department

February 17, 2004

Rest in peace.

Sr.Cpl Hunt #7169
Dallas PD

February 17, 2004

The officers of the Markham Police Department express our condolences to our brothers and sisters in blue at the Detroit Police Department for the ultimate price paid by your fallen angels Officers Matthew Bowens and Jennifer Fettig.

"The Lord is with us, FEAR THEM NOT!"

Patrolman Samuel Harris #528
Markham (IL) Police Department

February 17, 2004

God Speed, Brother.

P.O. K.Murphy
Union PD, NJ

February 17, 2004

Matthew, Rest in peace brother. God Speed!

Officer Shannon Bunger
Indiana University Police

February 17, 2004

To our Police family,
We can not express the loss that Officer Bowens or Officer Fettig's families are feeling at this moment.
Too many of us however have been there. Just this week I have been making plans to be in Washington D.C. for National Police Week in May. Our department is also planing a service for fallen Officer Dick Vauris, E.O.W 02/19/01, who came to us from Detroit Police Department. MY thoughts and prayers go out to the families of Officers Bowens and Fettig.
Look to your Police family for support. We are all there for you.

Traffic Officer David Coller
Clinton Twp. Police Department, MI.

February 17, 2004

I did not have the pleasure of knowing you, and it angers me to see another fellow officer lose their life. I can only hope that the two people responsible for this will receive the justice they so very much deserve. I pray for your wife and daughter and co-workers and i extend my deepest sympathy to them. May you rest in peace knowing that we will carry on from here. You will never be forgotten brother.

Deputy Mansell
Washtenaw County Sheriff Dept, MI.

February 17, 2004

I was so saddened to hear of your death. It sounds like you devoted your life to becoming a police officer. I know what it feels like to have the sound of sirens in your heart. You made it, and were a good officer, and you did the right things. I can only imagine what was going through your head as you watch this ambush begin. I only pray now for you and for your family, and the DPD.

There are people in this life that live to earn others respect, and there are people that are cowards. When these cowards are found all they can say is "I am not guilty". I am glad to know you were a respected person, and that the coward will be brought to justice. There is no doubt about that.

Thank you for your sacrafice.

February 17, 2004

MAY GOD BLESS THIS FINE YOUNG OFFICER...MAY YOU REST IN PEACE...THANK YOU FOR A JOB WELL DONE.

D.SGT. S. HARMON
CRISFIELD POLICE DEPT.

February 17, 2004

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.

February 17, 2004

Our prayers and sympathies go out to the family, Friends, and fellow officers. This is a sad and dark day. Rest easy bro,we've got the watch from here.

Patrolman
Lake Odessa PD, Lake Odessa MI

February 17, 2004

A Part of America Died
Somebody killed a policeman today,
and a part of America died.
A piece of our country he swore to protect
will be buried with him at his side.
The suspect who shot him will stand in court
With counsel demanding his rights
While a young widowed mother must work for her kids
And spend alone many long nights.
The beat that he walked was a battlefield too,
just as if he had gone off to war.
Though the flag of our country won't fly at half-mast,
to his name they'll add a gold star.
Yes, someone killed a policeman today.
It happened in your town or mine.
While we slept in comfort behind our locked doors,
a cop put his life on the line.
Now his ghost walks a beat on a cold dark street,
and he stands at each new rookie's side.
He answered the call and gave us his all,
and a part of America died.


My thoughts and my prayers are with this officers family.

Bobbie Schwartz
Sister to Fremont County Sheriff's Office
Deputy Jason S. Schwartz
EOW 9-28-01

Rest in Peace brother.

Bobbie

February 16, 2004

Again it is with a sad heart that we see another fine officer, Matthew Bowens has been killed in the line of duty. Our heartfelt sympathy goes out to Mrs Bowens, their family, his parents, co-workers and friends. May God comfort and keep you close at this terrible time. He will never be forgotten.

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

February 16, 2004

My thoughts and prayers are with Officer Bowens family, friends, and fellow officers. His sacrifice was not in vain.

J.C. Soesbee
Buncombe County Sheriff's Office, NC

February 16, 2004

To the family and Police family of Officer Matthew Bowens I send my deepest sympathy and condolences. It saddens me to have to write these words, But know that both officers died doing a job that a select few of us care to do. My thoughts and prayers are with the families and the city of Detroit. Rest easy BLUE ANGEL.

Master Police Officer Brian D Decker
Virginia Beach Police Department

February 16, 2004

Dear Angel Matthew,
Words cannot express the sorrow I felt as I read of your untimely deaths. You were both so young and full of spirit I'm sure (as we all were when we first started). I can only imagine God chose the two of you because you were so special. I know your in a beautiful place and I find comfort in knowing your watching over all of us as we carry on the mission.
My heart and my prayers go out to your family and loved ones. I pray they find comfort as God wraps his arms around them and holds them close to him.
I know your tour was too short, but rest easy as we will take it from here.

Deputy Sheriff
Orange County Sheriff's Office, Orlando, FL

February 16, 2004