Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

Our Greatest Fear

Yet once again the Thin Blue Line is diminished,

an officer’s final tour of duty is finished.

"Officer down", it’s our greatest fear,

and once again, I hold back a tear.

They patrol in the state, city, county and town,

in uniforms colored white, green, blue and brown.

The shape of their badges may vary,

but it’s a symbol that they all, proudly carry.

They leave for work with a kiss goodbye,

but some don’t come home, no matter how hard they try.

To uphold the law is the job that they pick,

with such high aspirations, why must some die so quick?

They leave behind loved ones, family and friends,

after their lives have met tragic ends.

Some die in crashes, others hearts not too stout,

to many have been lost when gunshots ring out.

Our Heavenly Father has called them home,

no more these dark streets do they roam.

Through trial and error they have given their best,

please Lord, now grant them eternal rest.

Yet once again the Thin Blue Line is diminished,

an officer’s final tour of duty is finished.

" Officer down", it’s our greatest fear,

and once again I hold back a tear.

Rest Easy Brother Ricardo, the Watch is Ours Now and Yours was with Honor. Our Thoughts and Prayers are
with your Family, Friends and Co-Workers.

APD #128
Altoona Police Dept. Altoona, Pa

February 21, 2004

God Bless the Lizarraga family and the LAPD. Thank you for your sacrifice and hard work. You will not be forgotten. It always hurts when we lose a brother. You will not be forgotten.

Officer Schrade
Dept. of Veterans Affairs-NY

February 21, 2004

ITS A SHAME TO SEE ANOTHER OFFICER FALL IN SUCH A TERRIBLE WAY. MAY GOD HELP THIS FALLEN HERO'S FAMILY THROUGH THIS TIME OF PAIN AND HAVE NO MERCY ON THIS WANT TO BE THUGS PATHETIC LIFE. MAYBE THIS WILL OPEN THE EYES OF VEST MAKERS TO SEE THAT THEY NEED A NEW DESIGN TO PROTECT THE ENTIRE FRONT OF AN OFFICER. THERE ARE TO MANY OFFICERS GETTING INJURED OR FATALLY WOUNDED UNDER THE VESTS THEY WEAR TO PROTECT THEM.

A.S. Russell
Greenville County Sheriff Office/ South Carolina

February 21, 2004

Rest in peace blue angel, you will never be forgotten.

Andy

February 21, 2004

To the friends and family of Officer Lizarraga, may God bless you and be with you in your time of sorrow. America lost another hero today; Officer Lizarraga was doing his job when he was called to heaven. Rest in peace brother your work on earth is done; go patrol the highways of heaven and guide us all to protect and serve others safely. Your sacrifice will not be forgotten. God Speed!

Diane Dodge
Polk County Sheriff's Office, Florida

February 21, 2004

My thoughts and prayers are with the LAPD during a very difficult time. Thank goodness the suspect is in custody and can no longer hurt others,especially those in our field. God Bless

Dispatcher,Shannon Johnson
Murrieta Police Department

February 21, 2004

Being a former Explorer and former resident of Los Angeles County and citizen, my heart reaches out to all who knew Officer Lizarraga. When I turned on the news last night and heard the news of Officer Lizarraga, my heart sank to my stomach. Thank you Ricardo for all you have done with the LAPD. You are now 10-7 and 10-8 patroling the golden gates of heaven. :) God Bless.

Elise - Former Explorer

February 21, 2004

Our hearts were broken again, as we listened to the news yesterday and heard about Officer Ricardo Lizarraga,being shot and killed in the line of duty. What a sad day for all of us. Our Prays and condolence goes out to his family, friends and co-workers. May the Lord give each of you strength and support at this most difficult time. God Bless each and everyone of you.

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

February 21, 2004

Dear Ricardo,
Our hearts and badges are heavy today as we mourn your tragic loss. The City Of Los Angeles has lost another Hero. You were taken from us yesterday by a worthless piece of garbage, in your tireless effort to make the community's we serve a safer place. While sitting on the perimeter yesterday, we were all glad the suspect was caught, but disappointed that he did not resist, or give an officer the reason to allow him to meet his maker. While working in South Central we are constantly at war with gang violence, and you were tenacious and steadfast in the fight to take our streets back. Working with you at 77th Division was a great Honor and I will never forget you.

This is a little poem by an unknown author.

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 spec on this order?
A Police Officers 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 his uniform.
"He has 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.
"He has to be in top physical condition at all times, running on black coffee and half-eaten meals. And he has 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 he asks, "May I see what's in there, sir?" "Another pair here in the side of his head for his partners' safety. And another pair of eyes here in front that can look reassuringly at a bleeding victim and say, 'You'll be all right ma'am, when he knows 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. He 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 and stated. "I didn't put it there," he said.

Gods Speed Ricardo. God Bless your Family and Friends during this tough time. You will not be forgotten.

Officer Rusty Redican
LAPD Pac/Div Patrol

February 21, 2004

Hero,

God bless you for serving our community. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. Let the city and the Los Angeles Police Department unit in peace.

Future police officer
Chris

Chris
None

February 21, 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 Officer Ricardo Lizarraga and the Los Angeles 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 easy with our other fallen Brothers and Sisters, we have the watch now. We will continue the fight in your honor.

Florida Deputy Sheriff

February 21, 2004

Dear family,
I am sorry to hear about your loss. Take comfort in verses from the Bible. "Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted" Matt. 5:4 and "Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God" Matt. 5:9.
God bless

Ofc. Mike Snyder
Coral Springs PD, Florida

February 21, 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 Ricardo Lizarraga's family, friends, and co-workers with the Los Angeles Police Department.

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

Officer Johns
Georgia Perimeter College Police Department

February 21, 2004

My heart goes out to you and your loved ones. Working for LAPD (South Bureau) is not an easy job. You gave your life for the better of society. You will be missed by your family, friends and co-workers. You will not be forgotten.

Anonymous

February 21, 2004

Officer Lizarraga made the ultimate sacrifice...may God bless his family and loved ones. To all of my brother and sister officers...stay strong, safe and proud. God bless us all. Rest in peace, Ricardo.

Police Officer Robert Jenkins
Los Angeles Police Department

February 21, 2004

The The following short take describes what members of the EMS, Fire and Police Departments, doctors and nurses go through every week.

I WANT TO TELL YOU LIES
(author unknown)
I want to tell that little boy his Mom will be just fine,
I want to tell that dad we got his daughter out in time,
I want to tell that wife her husband will be home tonight,
I don't want to tell it like it is.....
I want to tell them lies.
You didn't put their seat belts on,
you feel you killed your kids,
I want to say you didn't... but in away, you did.
You pound your fist into my chest, you're hurting so inside,
I want to say you'll be okay....
I want to tell you lies.
You left chemicals within his reach and now it's in his eyes,
I want to say your son will see, not tell you he'll be blind.
You ask me if he'll be OK, with pleading in your eyes,
I want to say that yes he will....
I want to tell you lies.
I can see you're crying as your life goes up in smoke.
IF you'd maintained that smoke alarm, your children may have woke.
Don't grab my arm and ask me if your family is alive.
Don't make me tell you that they're dead....
I want to tell you lies.
I want to say she'll be okay, you didn't take her life,
I hear you say you love her and you'd never hurt your wife.
You thought you didn't drink to much, you thought
that you could drive.
I don't want to say how wrong you were,
I want to tell you lies.
You left her for a moment, it happens all the time.
How could she have fallen when you thought she couldn't climb?
I want to say her neck's not broke, that she will be just fine.
I don't want to say she's paralyzed.....
I want to tell you lies.
I want to tell this teen his buddies didn't die in vain,
Because he thought it would be cool to try and beat that train.
I don't want to tell him this will haunt him all his life,
I want to say that he'll forget,
I want to tell him lies.
You left the cabinet open and your daughter found the gun,
Now you want me to undo the damage that's been done.
You tell me she's your only child, you say she's only five.
I don't want to say she won't see six.....
I want to tell you lies.
He fell into the pool when you ran to get the phone,
It was only for a second that you left him there alone.
If you'd let the phone just ring perhaps your boy would be alive,
But I don't want to tell you that....
I want to tell you lies.
The fact that you were speeding caused that car to overturn,
And we couldn't get them out of there before the whole thing burned,
Did they suffer? Yes, they suffered, they were slowly burned alive.
But I don't want to say those words...
I want to tell you lies.
But I have to tell it like it is, until my shift is through,
And then the real lies begin, when I come home to you.
You ask me how my day was, and I say it was just fine.
I hope you understand, sometimes.....
I have to tell you lies.



Dedicated to all the Police Officers, Firefighters, EMT's, Paramedics, Emergency Flight Crews, Hospital Police, Security Officers and all Civil Servants who deal with the tragedies of life and death. The saddest of all being those that could have been prevented.

The next time you hear a siren in the distance, don't just say a prayer for the victims and their families. Say a prayer for the people that face these tragedies every day and do the best they can to save someone that is loved.

We never see the tears of these brave men and women, but God does.

Say a prayer for each and everyone who is out helping to make a difference in the darkness of the shadow that has surrounded us. Support them and let them know you care.

Tonya Stephenson
Private Citizen, PA

February 21, 2004

Our prayers are with your family, friends and all law enforcement officers. You died a hero. Rest in peace sir. America thanks you for your service and dedication.

Captain Robert W. Cannon, Ret.
Vermilion Co, Il. Sheriff's Dept.

February 21, 2004

To the family and friends of Police Officer Ricardo Lizarraga
and to my Brothers and Sisters in the LAPD, My condolences, I am so sorry for your loss... for our loss.
I wrote the below poem yesterday, not for anyone specifically... But I post it here today... in honor of LAPD Officer Ricardo Lizarraga.
Like all those who have gone before him... He is a Hero
Another Hero taken from the thin blue line...
Rest in Peace my brother...

ONE MORE
By: Marc A. Turner - Copyright©2004

I heard a voice from across the room...
and caught a glimpse of gold on blue
I heard the news reporter say...
it’s doubtful he’ll pull through

I heard the cries from family
as they held each other tight
I heard a gasp... from everyone,
when they announced he lost his fight

I heard the radio crackle
with shaken voices filled with fear
I heard the noise of silence...
when there’s nothing more to hear

I heard the beating of my heart...
like distant warning drums
I heard his voice from long ago...
say... take it as it comes

I heard a cheer and someone said
they got the perp in cuffs
I heard that TV preacher say
they treated him too rough

I heard a stranger mumble I know him,
he would never do those crimes
I heard his criminal history...
arrested only 19 other times

I heard the stories and the tales
of how it all went down
I heard the talk from different sorts...
sending rumors all around

I heard the cries for punishment...
echo through the justice hall
I heard the tears of Heroes...
as they replayed that final call

I heard one more sound...
it will never leave my mind
I heard the cutting of the stone...
as they chiseled one more line

I heard the stone cutters...
as they taped out a little frame
I heard the grinding of the granite...
as they added... one more name

I heard him say... he’d done this
one too many times
I heard him... as if confessing,
there are just too many lines

I heard him as he finished
and polished down the stone
I heard him say... just to himself,
another Hero is now home

I heard that it will happen...
and all play out again too soon
I heard that on the stone...
there will always be more room

I heard... as long as there are Heroes
who stand the Thin Blue Line
There will always be a need...
to cut the stone... just one more time...


Marc Turner/www.BlueAutumn.com

Sgt. Marc Turner (Ret.)
Roxbury Twp PDNJ

February 21, 2004

Another Warrior has left our earthly ranks to guard the streets of Heaven. We will continue the fight here my friend until we meet again. God bless you and yours and pray for all men and woman in uniform is these dangerous times.
Lizarraga you will not be forgotten!

Lt.Joseph M. Daly
Live Oak Police Department, Suwannee County FLorida

February 21, 2004

Officer Lizarraga,

You truly are a hero!! Your brothers in blue could only hope to be as brave as you. You helped so many people and touched so many lives. My prayers are with you and your family and all the members of the Los Angeles Police Department. RIP.

Ofc. B.M. Damon
T/ Manlius PD, NY

February 21, 2004

Rest easy brother, the watch is ours now

Officer
Atlanta Police

February 21, 2004

Dear LAPD family and friends. We watched yesterday and prayed that there would be a different out come. Your depatment is very strong and will help each other get through this horrible time. I watched with great PRIDE as you all caught that dirty,( #$%^ ) that took your young officer trying to help a person in need. There is nothing I can say or do to take away your anger and hurt, but we thinking of you as well as everyone else in this big law enforcement family.
The Lackey family, Palmdale Ca.

Theresa & Sgt. Tom Lackey
California Highway patrol

February 21, 2004

To my fellow brothers and sisters and to the family and friends of Officer Ricardo Lizarraga. Our loss is great and our hearts are heavy with the loss of one of our own. Officer Lizarraga has made the ultimate sacrifice in keeping our streets safe. My prayers are with you.

Reserve Officer
Los Angeles Police Department

February 21, 2004

Into each life some rain must fall, but after the rain new strenght you will gain, just give Him the praise and be on you way to new heights unknown, reap the blessings you have sown. God loves you. Whatever the need , He will see you through, if you just keep the faith, so take with you the memories to bring your sunshine after the rain.
Keep the loving memories of Officer Lizarraga alive in your hearts and he will be with you for ever.
Our prayers is for God to sustain and comfort you in this time of hurt and lost. May God bless the family and the LAPD.

Teresa Goss
Shadco. Jax.Fl

February 21, 2004

Rest in peace brother.

Police Officer
Burlington Township NJ

February 21, 2004