Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

Godspeed Brother. Your duty and sacrifice will not be forgotten.

S/A C. Cooper
US ED-OIG

June 17, 2004

May GOD always be with you and your family,we shall all meet again at the cross roads.

Detective T. Robertson
Shelby County Sheriff's Office

June 17, 2004

To the family and friends of D/S Arruda, and to the LACSD members, may God bless you and be with you in this time of sorrow. America lost another hero today; you are now 10-42 go walk a beat on Heaven's streets, you've done your time here, you are a blue angel, R.I.P. Your sacrifice will not be forgotten. God Speed Brother

Diane Dodge
Polk County Sheriff's Office, Bartow, FL

June 17, 2004

Rest easy brother, The watch is ours now.

Officer
Atlanta Police

June 17, 2004

The news hit us all hard when we heard of the shooting, my husband and I sat back on the couch and listened about what had happened, we prayed for his family and we prayed he would be ok. We wondered if it was our friends we knew, or someone we didnt. We prayed for days, looking up anymore information, the condition of this deputy. We then began to pray for the deputy who shot him, the pain he must be going through. Then as I kissed my husband goodbye and sent him off to work and told him to be safe. I got a call a few hours later, it was my husband calling to tell me that Deputy Arruda had passed away. I can hear it in his voice that he was shaken. As I have talked to my husband, he said it could happen to any of us, the suspect moved to quickly and Deputy Arruda moved to get out of the line of fire. But unknowing he stepped into another line of fire. My husband told me later if that ever happened to him that not to blame the deputy. To try to forgive, but a double nightmare for the department to be going through. I pray for you Mrs. Arruda and I pray for your 11 year old and I pray for your unborn baby. I pray there is comfort in God's hand, and in His light there is forgiveness. Our husbands go into the night, some return and some dont. We pray for you as a family in lawenforcement, and we pray for you to be able to get up and breath everyday. I dont know what its like to lose a husband, I have only talked to my friend who has. She gives it one day at a time, one breath, one minute, one hour, one second. I pray you will know there are wives all over the country praying for you to get by one day at a time. The journey has ended and now a new has begun. Teach that new baby about her dad, the hero he is to all of us. People she will never meet, your husband stood for us as a proud american, the badge of honor he wore daily. The name deputy, husband, dad, friend, son, brother, uncle, cousin, all lays in one man Michael Arruda. Please know our prayers are with you. Our hearts break for you and your family. We pray for everyone involved.

Deputys Wife
Riverside County Sheriff Ca

June 17, 2004

This is just a note to let you know that though these words are few. They bring the deepest sympathy and warmest thoughts to you and your family.

Officer
Rosalind S. Curry

Rosalind S. Curry
LAPD

June 17, 2004

My prayers go out to you and your family. May you rest in peace. Thank you for the the hard you you gave to the County of Los Angeles.

Police Officer
Los Angeles School Police

June 17, 2004

My thoughts and prayers are for the family of Michael R. Arruda. May they find peace
And to the members of the Los Angeles County Shefiff's Department My prayers are also for them.. God Bless you all

Retired Master Police Officer
Fairfax County Police, Fairfax County Virginia Retired

June 17, 2004

BUFFALO, NEW YORK

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS POLICE
OFFICERS WISH TO SEND OUR CONDOLENCES.
OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS ARE WITH DEPUTY
ARRUDA, HIS FAMILY AND CO-WORKERS.

GOD BLESS...

PO ERNEST G. PENN
DEPT. OF VETERANS AFFAIRS POLICE

June 17, 2004

He who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.
Galatians 6:8

Patrolman
Frankfort P.D.

June 17, 2004

Rest in peace, we will carry on.

Sgt. Al Whitney
Yuma County Sheriff's Office, Yuma, AZ

June 17, 2004

God Bless Brother..

Officer
San Francisco PD

June 17, 2004

Rest in Peace...

Police Officer
Syracuse Police Dept, NY

June 17, 2004

I would like to extend my deepest sympathy to the family and friends of Deputy Michael Arruda in your time of loss. Los Angeles County has lost a true hero, a deputy who laid it all on the line. To the other deputy(s) involved in this tragic accident continue to do the good job that you do. Not to sound trivial, you reacted to a violent situation in an instant and sometimes things just don't go our way. As peace officers we have to accept that risk, thats what allows us to do the things that others would run from. Unfortunately ours is not a perfect world. Deputy Arruda will not be forgotten by the law enforcement community for his outstanding service. To the members of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department keep up the good work and besafe.

Cpl. Bryan Taylor
Hillsborough Co. Sheriff's Office Tampa, Fl.

June 17, 2004

Rest in peace. Not to be forgotten.

Officer Michael Walker
Tallahassee Police Department

June 17, 2004

What a terrible tragedy for all concerned. My sympathy and prayers go out for the family and friends of the fallen officer, but also for the unfortunate deputy that fired the stray shot that brought down his fellow officer.
To the family and friends of Deputy Michael Arruda-Nothing can replace your officer, but I pray that memories you have of happy times with him will help to ease the pain you're feeling now. I also pray that you can find forgiveness in your hearts for the one responsible.
To the officer who fired the fatal shot to Michael-you have my prayers also. May you find forgiveness from others, and for yourself for this terrible accident.
My sincerest condolences to you all.
Rest easy, Brother, you will never be forgotten.

Monroe Co. Sheriff Dept. Bloomington, IN USA

June 17, 2004

My deepest simpathy to the family and friends of Deputy Arruda. May God bless you and give you the strength you will need to go on.

Deputy Arruda, rest in peace.

"Well done, good and faithful servant!... Come and share your master's happiness." MATTHEW 25:21

Rosa Waters
Mother of Michael Waters
EOW: September 11, 2003

June 17, 2004

The life of another hero is taken too soon. My deepest sympathy to the family, friends and co-workers of Deputy Arruda. May the Lord give you strength and bless each of you during this time.
Rest in peace for your watch here is over; walk in heavens beat and guide us all to protect and serve others safely.

US Ranger Catroppa
National Park Service Kennesaw GA

June 17, 2004

God bless you brother and we will meet one day on the streets of heaven..

P.O. M. Simi
Chgo P.D.

June 17, 2004

To the family, friends, and co-workers,

My prayers go out to you, I know your pain, my son was also accidentally shot by another officer. There is nothing that I can say that will ease your pain at this time. Just know that there are other people that share your pain, and will never forget Michael, he is walking God's beat now. We will never forget you Deputy Sheriff Michael Arruda.

Mother of Clint Walker E.O.W. 1-14-04
Prattville Police Department

June 17, 2004

I was so saddened to hear of this terrible accident. My thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends at this time, also with the other deputy. May GOD bless all of you. Rest in peace, Sir.
Shirley Roberts

Shirley Roberts-Aunt of Fallen Officer J

June 17, 2004

This is such a tradgedy to loose a fine officer. May God be with your family, friends, and your fellow officers at the LA County SO during this difficult time. May your memory live on.

Inv. T. Faircloth
Laurens County DA's Office

June 17, 2004

A Tribute to the Heroes Among Us

Dedicated to Emergency Response Personnel everywhere and F.A.M.I.L.Y.

Our hearts go out to you and your families. You’re in our thoughts and our prayers. Thank you just doesn’t seem like enough for men who are heroes when we need them, but invisible, ignored, and unappreciated when we don’t.

You rescue us, save our possessions, our lives and our families. You are the heroes among us. You are always there for us in the most traumatic moments of our lives. No matter when we call, we just expect that you will come and do whatever it takes to help us. Your selflessness and dedication are awe-inspiring. We show our appreciation with low pay, little respect, and indifference for the issues in your lives, most of the time. As young children, we want to grow up and be you until we get older and realize the risk isn’t worth the reward.

As outsiders, we envy you, secretly. You have benefits in your careers that our jobs just can’t provide. Your work is not the same old thing every day. You get the opportunity to be heroes every time you go to work. You obviously love what you do, and you’re a family. You have a oneness the rest of society longs for. You care about and support each other. You know each other’s families, share each other’s lives. The rest of us face life’s trials and tribulations alone. You are never alone. You have each other, always.

It is our loss not to know you better. This world, this country, your individual towns truly are better places because of you. To lose one of you is a great tragedy, an irreplaceable, immeasurable loss for society. We should be grateful for and to you, and honor you regularly for all you do for us day in and day out without a word of thanks or praise.

We should be ashamed of ourselves; and yet, you continue to do all you do for us in spite of our behavior, which speaks to the people you are. How many of us are willing to do a job knowing we may not go home at the end of the day?

Maybe one day in the future, you will be recognized for all you do with better pay, and the community support and respect you so richly deserve. Until then, hang tough together, and God Bless You and your families.

Anonymous

June 17, 2004

My prayers and thoughts are with you and your family and friends. God bless.

Rich
Chicago P.D.

June 17, 2004

Losing one of Americas finest is always a tragic thing. Thank you Brother for your faithfulness and dedication to duty. You gave above and beyond the call. Rest in Peace knowing your loved ones are never alone. We are but a phone call away.

Bob Johnson VA-VA

Bob Johnson U.S. Marshal's (Ret'd)
Blue Knights International Police

June 17, 2004