Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

When the Lord was creating state troopers, 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 state trooper 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?" (When he already knows and wishes he'd taken that accounting job.) "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 state trooper 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 trooper 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 state trooper. "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.

Fellow Sergeant
Florida Highway Patrol

May 8, 2004

AS A YOUNG DEPUTY I CAN REMEMBER WATCHING TROOPER BROWN IN TRAFFIC COURT AND HOPING THAT ONE DAY I WOULD BE AS GOOD AT IT AS HE WAS. IT WAS TRULY A SHOCK TO HEAR OF HIS DEATH AND MY HEART GOES OUT TO HIS FAMILY.
HONOR AND RESPECT

LT. BEN TANNER
ST. JOHNS COUNTY SHRIFF'S OFFICE

May 8, 2004

My thoughts and prayers are with Sgt. Brown's family, and the Florida Highway Patrol. Sgt. Brown served almost as long as I have been alive- that is very commendable, and an inspiration to us younger troopers everywhere. God speed, brother. We have the watch now.

Trooper
Vermont State Police

May 8, 2004

Thank you for your insight and your skills you passed on to others. I use them on duty and try to pass them along to my fellow deputies. May God keep you in His peace and bring blessings to your family.

Dep. Dave Oliphant
Franklin County Sheriff's Office

May 7, 2004

May you rest in peace and God look over your family. For the Officers who protect this great state of Florida: Please stay safe.

Hollywood Police Dept. HWD,Florida

May 7, 2004

Our thoughts and prayers go to your family and to FHP during this difficult time. Watch over your troops and fellow LEO and keep us safe!

Citrus County Sheriff's Office

May 7, 2004

Thank you for your hard work. May you rest in peace and may we never forget what you have done for the State of Florida.

Ryan

May 7, 2004

My thoughts and prayers are with Andy's family. Andy you are my friend and will always be my friend. I will miss you everyday.

Trooper Timothy O. Strickland
Florida Highway Patrol Troop/B/Gainesville

May 5, 2004

My family would like to extend our condolences to the family, friends, & co-workers of Sgt George A. Brown III. May God watch over all of you during this difficult time.

Gail M Pabst
aunt of a fallen officer

May 5, 2004

We will Miss Andy, He was very Professional and caring. our county and state has truly lost one of the best Troopers FHP has.

Chuck and Barbara Harper
Martins Towing.

May 4, 2004

I'm sorry to hear about your recent loss. We just lost an officer of our own and I know how hard it is on the family and the department. My condolences to you all. Be safe out there.

Officer O. Hernandez
California Hwy. Patrol

May 4, 2004

May God be with you, your family, and your Department in these hard times.

Enjoy your new patrol assignement, guarding the heavens with St. Michael

Deputy
Ingham County Sheriff's Office

May 4, 2004

You are a hero. Your memory lives on. Our thoughts and prayers go out to your family Sgt. Brown. My eyes filled with tears as I watched my husband leave for work in his FHP Camero. I called him back for one more kiss. I am so very proud of him. Rest in peace Sarge.

Amy ~ Wife of FHP Trooper
FHP ~ Troop G

May 3, 2004

Oh, what a character you were!! Your
friends will be telling stories about
you for the next 33 years. You will be
unforgetable!! Thanks for your many
years of service and dedication. Our
highways are not nearly safe enough! I will be attending a funeral
in 2 days for a Tacoma Police Officer.
What a dangerous profession law
enforcement is! It takes a mighty
special person to do this job. Obviously, you fit the bill!! God bless
all those who will miss you now and
in the future. You have my heartfelt
sympathy from one coast of America to the other.
Lynn Kole
Washington State

May 3, 2004

Sergeant Brown was a true professional and an inspiration to all Law Enforcement Officers. Sergeant Browns love for his family, and the Florida Highway Patrol will be missed sorely.
Your stories and conversations at the FHP Academy will always be remembered.

Sergeant Chris Blackmon
Florida Highway Patrol

May 3, 2004

My sincere condolence to the family of Sergeant Brown and to members of the Florida Highway Patrol.

Senior Trooper (Ret)
Oregon State Police

May 2, 2004

As we heard the BOLO (Be on the look out) for the suspect vehicle, our thoughts and prayer went out to Sgt. Brown and his family. May God Bless him, his family and especially his son during these tough times.

Steve Emerson, Chief of Investigations-F
Florida Department of Law Enforcement

May 2, 2004

___________________________________________________

I said, "God, I hurt."

And God said, "I know."

I said, "God, I cry a lot."

And God said,
"That is why I gave you tears."

I said, "God, I am so depressed."

And God said,
"That is why I gave you Sunshine."

I said, "God, life is so hard."

And God said,
"That is why I gave you loved ones."

I said, "God, my loved one died."

And God said, "So did mine."

I said, "God, it is such a loss."

And God said,
"I saw mine nailed to a cross."

I said, "God, but your loved one lives."

And God said, "So does
yours."

I said, "God, where are they now?"

And God said, "Mine is on My right and
yours is in the Light."

I said, "God, it hurts."

And God said, "I know."
___________________________________________________

With the most sincerest condolences,

DISPATCH

May 2, 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 Andy did. It saddens me to know that Dennis was not the first to die in the line of duty, nor will he and Andy be the last to die this way.

Having gone through the pain of losing Dennis I can truly understand and feel the pain that Sergeant Brown's family, friends, and co-workers must be feeling. My heart goes out to you all. 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 Andy 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 Andy 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)

May 2, 2004

May God Be with you and your family.
GOD BLESS OUR FALLEN BROTHER

Sgt. Mark Miller (security Officer)
Mcgriffs Prof. Security

May 2, 2004

Thank you for your dedication. Your sacrifice will not be forgotten. Our thoughts and prayers go to your immediate family, and to the extended FHP family.

Officer
Hollywood Police Department

May 1, 2004

God Bless his family and him.

Ofc. II Shane Schapiro 0668
MD Transportation Authority Police

April 30, 2004

I first met Andy Brown in 1980 at the Liberty City riots detail in Miami - he had completed his shift and was washing and waxing his patrol car in the parking lot of the hotel where we were staying! To this day, Andy will always be remembered for his meticulous attention to detail in the appearance of his patrol car and assigned equipment, as well as his personal appearance. Every time I wash my vehicles, personal or patrol, I make sure I dry the door jambs and think of Andy as I do it - no kidding!

I will always remember Andy as the epitome of what a Florida Highway Patrol Trooper should be - his appearance, the manner in which he maintained his patrol car and equipment, and the aggressive nature in which he enforced Florida traffic laws.

Andy, you will truly be missed by your family, friends, and colleagues at the Florida Highway Patrol.

Lt. Colonel Ken Howes
Florida Highway Patrol

April 30, 2004

I stop by this website often after the death of two dear friends with the NCSHP (Troopers Calvin Taylor E.O.W. October 3, 2001 and Anthony Cogdill E.O.W. May 30, 2003).
Unfortunately, I had to add the name of another friend. Deputy Jeffrey Hewitt, Buncombe County (NC) Sheriff’s Department, E.O.W. April 4, 2004.

I am saddened to see another officer added to this list today.

We all grieve over the lives lost in the line of duty. I hope you can find some comfort knowing that there are countless prayers that go out for your family.

These are senseless tragedies that never seem to stop. God Bless the men and women who continue to serve their communities in our great Nation.

...Gone, but never Forgotten....

Marti Ingle (EMT-Paramedic)
Haywood Co EMS (NC)

April 30, 2004

I was honored today to perform "Last Call" for Sgt Brown.
I had heard him numerous times on the air but had never had the pleasure of meeting him.
Reading the tributes contained on the pages of this site and the Florida Highway Patrol site have been an introduction to an Officer I truly wish I HAD known.
To serve with the Troopers of this State has always been a priveledge.
To have had to call Sgt Brown's ID# today, "Jacksonville, 271" and know there wouldn't be a response, as much as I tried to will it, has truly broken my heart.
Sleep peacefully Sarge and watch over all of us that we might be as safe as you are now.

Duty Ofc S. A. Nantz (Dispatch)
Florida Highway Patrol Troop G

April 30, 2004