Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, California
End of Watch Tuesday, June 15, 2004
Reflections for Deputy Sheriff Michael Richard Arruda
Dep. Arruda, My prayers are with you and your family. Rest Easy Brother.
Dep. Paul Sperandeo
Jefferson Parish Sheriffs Office, La.
June 16, 2004
God speed.
My sincere condolances to his family as well as the Deputy who fired the shot. Stay strong.
Officer J. Welde
Corona PD
June 16, 2004
My family would like to extend our deepest sympathy to the family, friends, & fellow co-workers of Deputy Sheriff Michael Arruda during this difficult time dealing with the loss of their loved one. You're in our thoughts & prayers. God bless.
Gail M Pabst
Aunt of Fallen Detroit P.O. Jennifer Fettig eow 2/16/04
June 16, 2004
Words cannot express the sorrow one feels when a fellow officer is lost. We all begin our shift with full intent of going home to our respective loved ones at the end of our watch. We answer each and every call without hesitation as we know it is our duty to do so. The public takes for granted the dangers we face with the mindset "That's your job." And their right, it is our job. It is our job to protect all citizens we all chose to serve. It is our job to watch out for each other as we answer the calls for service. And it is also our job to remember those who make the "Supreme Sacrifice" each and every day, never forgetting the dagers we may face ourselves. The Bible clearly states in Matthew 5;9 "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they are truly the children of God." You, too, shall be blessed, Deputy Arruda, and I am personally thankfull for your duties fulfilled. I will keep your family in my prayers and pray also for your Band of Brothers who wear the uniform. The Thin Blue Line shall never be broken. I hope to see you in Heaven one day so I can personally shake your hand and thank you for your service to this fine country. God bless you and all those around you.
Officer D. Cage
Metro Nashville Police Dept., TN
June 16, 2004
I pray each time I go to this website that I will not find another officer's name, as I know the incredible pain and loss you feel. It's beyond comprehension. My heart goes out to all of his family, friends and fellow officers.
Richie Grant, wife of Dave Grant Tuolumn
June 16, 2004
Rest Easy Brother Michael, 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
June 16, 2004
My deepest thoughts are with your family, friends, and co-workers during this difficult time.
P.O.-Michigan
June 16, 2004
TO THE FAMILY, FRIENDS AND FELLOW COLLEAGUES OF DEPUTY ARRUDA,
I AM SO TRULY SORRY FOR YOUR DEVASTATING LOSS. MY HEART ACHES SO MUCH FOR HIS FIANCEE, LIDIA, HIS UNBORN DAUGHTER AND HIS 11 YEAR OLD SON. MAY HE CONTINUE TO LIVE THROUGH THE LIVES OF HIS CHILDREN AND THROUGH ALL THE FOND MEMORIES THAT EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU WILL FOREVER CHERISH.
PLEASE FIND SOME PEACE AND COMFORT KNOWING THAT MIKE IS NOW IN HEAVEN FREE FROM ALL PAIN AND SUFFERING. HE NOW ALSO IN HEAVEN WATCHING AND PROTECTING THOSE HE LOVED SO DEARLY. MAY GOD BLESS DEPUTY ARRUDA, HIS FAMILY, FRIENDS AND FELLOW COLLEAGUES THAT ARE IN SO MUCH PAIN DURING THIS INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT TIME. PLEASE CONTINUE TO STAY STRONG.
TO HIS FELLOW COLLEAGUES WHO UNFORTUNATELY LOST A FELLOW DEPUTY,
PLEASE CONTINUE TO DO THE BEST THAT YOU HAVE ALL DONE IN OUR COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES. ALL OF YOUR HARD WORK IS MUCH APPRECIATED. THANK YOU DEPUTY ARRUDA FOR GIVING US YOUR ALL.
WIFE OF L.A.P.D. DETECTIVE
LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT
June 16, 2004
Thank you for your time and hard work. I wish you and your family well. You will never be forgotten. May you rest in peace and look after us all down here on earth.
Ryan
Los Angeles
June 16, 2004
God bless sir, we will not forget you.
Deputy Sheriff
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Dept
June 16, 2004
I would like to extend my condolences to Deputy Arruda's family and friends, and to the men and women of the Los Angeles County Department. My thoughts and prayers are with you all during this time of tragedy. Rest in peace Deputy Arruda, your duty here is done.
Deputy Sheriff
Butte County Sheriff's Office
June 16, 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 Deputy Michael Arruda's family, friends, and co-workers with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.
May you rest in peace our brother in blue. God bless.
Officer Johns
Georgia Perimeter College Police Department
June 16, 2004
I stop by this site often after the death of my brother. I am saddend to see the list has been added to.
My sincere sympathies to the family freinds and co workers of Deputy Arruda. May God be your comfort and know the thoughts of many are with you.
Deputy Arruda thank you for your selfless acts, dedication ,courage and sacrifice. You will not be forgotton.
You are a hero to more than you know.
...AT PEACE WITH HONOR
Emory, Ephrata WA
brother of Ferry County WA Undersheriff Matthew J. Lane EOW 5/30/03
June 16, 2004
Please accept my thoughts and prayers to Deputy Arruda'a family, friends and co-workers. I know the pain must be indescribable. My heart goes out to ALL of you.
Deputy Faith Cunningham
Shelby County Sheriff's Office
June 16, 2004
God bless you and be with the members of your agency.
My heart goes out to the deputy that shot him.
June 16, 2004
May god bless your family.
Cpl. Scott Ainsworth #2260
Prince George's County Police Dept., Maryland
June 16, 2004
Michael, you will not be forgotten. You died a warrior, protecting all of us. I honor you, your name, your memory and mostly for the ultimate sacrifice you made for all of us. We all give "some" . . . you have given "all" . . . go rest high on that mountain my brother. We'll cover your post on the thin blue line. With brotherly love and utmost respect, Jim Crotty (Former Richmond, VA Police Officer.)
Jim Crotty, Special Agent (Ret.)
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms
June 16, 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
June 16, 2004
This is such a tragedy and our prayers are with those Deputies involved. May God grant the family, friends and co workers of Deputy Arruda peace and understanding. May you rest in peace sir.
Captain Robert W Cannon, Ret.
Vermilion Co, Il. Sheriff's Dept.
June 16, 2004
Dep. Arruda and Family...
I heard about this accident right after it happened from some of my officer friends. I just wanted to say I am sorry to hear about your loss. He has been in my thoughts and prayers ever since this happened. I kept hearing he was in Critical but Stable condition. Kept checking on him daily and now he has gone 10-7. I wish he was still 10-8 , he was a wonderful officer. Be safe out there. God Bless.
Elise Ostby
June 16, 2004
Rest in peace Brother Michael, you are a true hero and will never be forgotten.
Son of G. Truman Wortham EOW 7/15/73
June 16, 2004
I am saddened to hear of such tragedy. I pray for peace for your family and friends and for self forgiveness for the officer involved. We are involved in a field that always has potential for injury and we all accept that. Go rest high on the mountain! You are a hero.
D/Sgt. Vencent Woods
State of Michigan Department of Environmental Quality
June 16, 2004
Rest easy our Brother. You will always be remembered.
J.D. Goff
Bartow Police Dept. Bartow, FL
June 16, 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.
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 and the other officers involved.
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 County EMS (NC)
June 16, 2004
God bless you and your family at this tragic loss. My heart goes out to you and your family and the officers involved in this accident. You are all heroes for your service.
DE
St. Louis City Police
June 16, 2004
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