Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

This is to Officer Stephan Gray's family. I worked with Stephan during his career at Merced Police Department. He was a good police officer and always fair. We joked and laughed and became friends. He was true to his mission to help families and children. He will be missed dearly by me and all the social workers that crossed his path. I say to the family. Stephan was a good person and he helped many in this community. He has touched so many people and hearts. My prayers are with his family but just remember we will never forget Stephan our friend. God Bless you all. God blessed us with Stephan. Peace

Cheweeta Richardson
Merced County CPS

April 19, 2004

My deepest sympathies with the family, friends, and co-workers of Officer Gray. My thoughts and prayers are with you in this very difficult time.

Patti Smith
sister of Sgt. Michael Johnson, VT State Police, EOW 6/15/03

April 19, 2004

Officer Gray, May God bless you and your family. You have made the ultimate sacrifice and for that, we thank you!. You will not be forgotten. IN VALOR THERE IS HOPE!!!!

Officer Rich Cheatham
Va Beach Police Dept

April 19, 2004

God bless you and thank you my brother! Rest in Peace.

Sgt. Tracy Crow
LASD

April 19, 2004

Rest in peace knowing that you did a Job Well Done......

1942
PPD

April 19, 2004

On behalf of the Washoe County Sheriff's Office, in Reno, I'd like to send my condolences to Stephan Gray's family and agency. Obviously losing such a fine officer is difficult to understand. Our thoughts and prayers are with Officer Gray's family and department. Asst. Sheriff J. Lopey

Assistant Sheriff Jim Lopey
Washoe County Sheriff's Office

April 19, 2004

My heart felt sympathy and prayers go out ot the Family and friends of Stephan so suddenly taken. Although far away in the UK it is still so hard to come to terms with another member of the law enforcement family booking off without any farewell to his loved ones.

Constable Clive Whitehead CW468
Sussex Police England

April 19, 2004

i am a deputy sheriff in albuquerque n.m. god bless the family of officer GRAY. we are all brothers and warriors trying to fight the good fight. he is heaven now.

Anonymous

April 19, 2004

I worked with Stephan at Wal*Mart. He was our Loss Prevention associate. He was always a cheerful guy and one of the people that I talked to most. He enjoyed his job and was good at nabbing the bad guys. I'm honored that I had the chance to know him. I was shocked to hear about what had happened. It's a shame that he had to leave the world this way. My condolences go to his wife and children, and I wish the rest of the family the best during this trying time. May GOD bless and watch over you all.

Carrie

April 19, 2004

Thank you, Stephan for keeping us safe and being a good friend. We will miss your smile and sparkling personality! It was an honor to know you. To the family, we mourn with you and will NEVER forget! We love you. To Merced Police Department, be safe and take care of each other. You guys are doing an awesome job!! I love you, Bill #107. Love and prayers,

Michelle Sigarroa

April 19, 2004

The Rhode Island State Sheriffs extend our deepest sympathies to your Department, your community, and to the family and friends of Officer Gray

Rhode Island State Sheriffs

April 19, 2004

To the widow and children left behind by Officer Gray-

Our heartfealt sympathy and condolences go out to you and your three children. I wish I could take away the pain and struggle that lie ahead of you and your children. You are all in our prayers. Stephan was a wonderful man and a great cop and will be remembered with great fondness.

A local cop and his wife

Anonymous

April 19, 2004

GOD BLESS YOU MY FRIEND. YOU ARE NOW IN GOD'S KINGDOM. MAY GOD BLESS AND PROTECT YOU AND YOUR LOVED ONES.
WE MAY NOT UNDERSTAND WHY, BUT GOD HAS ALL THE ANSWERS. I PRAY THAT YOUR LOVED ONES WILL FIND COMFORT IN JESUS CHRIST.

police officer

April 19, 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

April 19, 2004

I hope that the members of the community which he served truly appreciated his commitment and sacrifice to their safety. I salute you for your bravery. May the ruthless criminal responsible for this murder be brought to justice and sentenced to the most severe penalty. And may the memory of your service, heroism and sacrifice remain forever. We are proud of you and thankful for all of your service. May God bless you and your family.
AC

Trooper
Pennsylvania State Police

April 19, 2004

The men and women of the Scottsdale Police Department (AZ) send their condolences, thoughts, and prayers to the friends, family and co-workers of Officer Gray. Know that the warrior spirit of Officer Gray will live on in the hearts and minds of police officers in this country and around the world.

Lt. Jeffrey Smythe
Scottsdale (AZ) PD

April 19, 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 Stephan did. It saddens me to know that Dennis was not the first to die in the line of duty, nor will he and Stephan be the last to die this way.

Having gone through the pain of losing Dennis I can truly understand and feel the pain that Officer Gray'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 Stephan 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 Stephan 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 (Winnipeg, MB Canada)
Deputy Sheriff Dennis McElderry's fiancee - EOW (01/03/03)

April 19, 2004

To the family, friends, and coworkers associated with the Merced Public Safety community:
Another name appears on the list....Stephan Gray. I know it will not be the last, although I pray that it is.
We that walk the line you walk will never be able to replace you. For it is people like you that do so much, for so many, with so little, for so little. We may be many, many miles apart, but please know that the nation feels your pain, your grief, your outrage, your sadness, your despair. The days will become a little better, the future a little brighter, but right now, please know that we as a law enforcement community hurt with you. Should you stumble along the way, you must pick yourself up. For it is what he died for. So that you could live a better life. May God bless all of you and keep you in the palm of his hand while you mourn....We WILL see you when our tour is finished.

Ptlm TW Jester
Ft Wayne Police Dept

April 18, 2004

To the family of Officer Stephan Gray. Christie, Savanah and I send our deepest sympathies to you in this difficult time. Stephan was a wonderful man with a kind heart, kind smile and outgoing personality. We know nothing can be said you don't already know, but know we are here for you if there is anything you need. Stephan will be missed by more people than you could ever imagine, he touched many lives with his kindness and generosity. Our prayers and thoughts are with you every day. We love you. Matt, Christie and Savanah Sellai

Deputy Matthew Sellai
Fresno County Sheriffs Dept.

April 18, 2004

Rest in peace! Thank you for serving the community in which you lived. I will be praying for you family, friends, and co-workers. To your family, I know things are really tough right now and they will be for awhie, but someday things will get a little better. I hope that everyone keeps him in the mind of his children. This is very sad! You are all in my prayers.

Anonymous

April 18, 2004

Rest in peace my Brother

Deputy D.N Jackson
Charlottesville Sheriff"s Office, Virginia

April 18, 2004

Another fine Officer taken from us. To the family, friends & colleagues of Officer Gray... God Bless you in your time of pain and sadness. You will be in my prayers.

Wife of Burbank Police Officer
Burbank Police Dept. (CA)

April 18, 2004

To your family, may God bring you peace, for he is a true hero, to be proud of. My prayers are with your family.

Anonymous

April 18, 2004

MY THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS ARE WITH THE FAMILY AND THE DEPT. AND TO THE COMMUNICATOR WORKING AT THE TIME MY HEART IS WITH YOU BECAUSE I KNOW EXACTLY WHAT YOU ARE GOING THROUGH RIGHT NOW AND HOW HARD THE DAYS AHEAD ARE GOING TO BE. GOD BLESS YOU ALL

CHERYL LONDON
BUNCOMBE COUNTY SHERIFF OFFICE COMMUNICATIONS DIVISION

April 18, 2004

Rest In Peace Brother and may God hold your family tightly in his hands so they may get through this difficult time. The remainder of us working the streets will NOT let your sacrifice be in vein....

Patrolman Kenny Emshoff
Mt. Vernon Police Department, Illinois

April 18, 2004