Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

The price of freedom is something the protected will never know. From my family to yours... cry not in loss, celebrate in life.

PO Josue M. Rivera
New York City Police Department

June 18, 2004

God Speed brother, your sacrifice will not be forgotten.

Deputy Sheriff
Rockwall County Sheriff's Office, Rockwall Texas

June 18, 2004

Officer Bennett,

Words cannot express how I feel at this time. I know this could happen to any of us, but it doesn't make it any easier. I will always go above and beyond the call of duty, but you and your other brothers paid the ultimate price. My prayers are with your family and the Birmingham Police Department. Until we all meet again, Rest in Peace my Brother....GODSPEED.

Officer
NC

June 18, 2004

I went to high school with Robert and knew him when he worked at Dun-Rite Cleaners. He was one of the most polite, friendly, and sincere people I have ever met. My heart goes out to his family and the families of the other two officers who have also fallen. For Robert's family: May you find strength in the happy memories you have of this dear sweet man. God Bless.

Rachel Harley

June 18, 2004

I am so grateful for the service that police officers provide. It is a thankless job with little pay that is a calling to many(thank God). I pray for the families of these men as they are heroes. As life moves on and people go home you will be left to your own thoughts. I pray that one of those thoughts is that there are many more of us that love than hate. These men will remain with us in our hearts and therefore will never be gone. Take care of yourselves.

Wife of a previous police officer
Charlotte, NC

June 18, 2004

Thank you for doing the right thing for the right reasons, for that we all get to shake yor hand in Paradise.

William Witkopf
Charlotte

June 18, 2004

"Someone only dies when they are forgotten,
You will live on in our hearts forever,
Although you are far away,
In our thoughts you are very near."
Author: Steph Adams

Rest in Peace ... never forgotten

Wife of CMPD Officer, Charlotte, NC

June 18, 2004

our hearts and prayers go out to all of the familys of our fallen brothers.

chief steve smith
williamston n.c.

June 18, 2004

To the family and friends of Officer Bennett, and to the BPD 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 18, 2004

You served us well.

Your family and friends are in my thoughts and prayers. God keep them in the palm of His hand.

A citizen of Birmingham

June 18, 2004

Rest In Peace Brother.
I prayed for you and your family.
You served with valor and honor.
You and you're partners were true heros.

-Kevin

kevin
dhs

June 18, 2004

God Speed, Brother.

P.O. K.Murphy
Union PD, NJ

June 18, 2004

GodSpeed

Arden NC

June 18, 2004

Each time over some 30 yrs in Law Inforcement a piece of me dies too when ever an Officer is killed. May God have a special place for the fallen PEACE KEEPERS. God Bless the Families too.

Reser.Off./Disp. Larry Dumph
Bremen P.D. In.

June 18, 2004

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

Rich
Chicago Police

June 18, 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 18, 2004

God Bless Officer Bennett.

God Bless the Birmingham Police Department.

Trooper
New Jersey State Police

June 18, 2004

May God be with your family and friends. Rest easy my brother...you are a true HERO!!!

K-9 Sgt. Scott Baggett
Harpersville Police Department, AL

June 18, 2004

Rest easy, my brothers. To the families of the fallen... your loved one's were true heros.

Cst. Darcy Lunn
Chatham-Kent Police Service

June 18, 2004

The policeman stood and faced his God,
Which must always come to pass.
He hoped his shoes were shining,
Just as brightly as his brass.

"Step forward now, policeman.
How shall I deal with you?
Have you always turned the other cheek?
To my church have you been true?"

The policeman squared his shoulders and said,
"No lord, I guess I ain't,
Because those of us who carry a badge
can't always be a saint."

I've had to work most Sundays,
and at times my talk was rough,
and sometimes I've been violent,
Because the streets are awfully tough.

But I never took a penny,
That wasn't mine to keep
Though I worked a lot of overtime
When the bills got just too steep.

And I never passed a cry for help,
Though at times I shook with fear.
And sometimes, God forgive me,
I've wept unmanly tears.

I know I don't deserve a place
Among the people here.
They never wanted me around
Except to calm their fears.

If you've a place for me here, Lord,
It needn't be so grand.
I never expected or had too much,
But if you don't I'll understand.

There was a silence all around the throne
Where the saints had often trod.
As the policeman waited quietly,
For the judgement of his god.

"Step forward now, policeman,
You've born your burdens well.
Come walk a beat on Heaven's streets,
You've done your time in hell

GREGG HOUSTON
SOUTH CAROLINA

June 18, 2004

To the Birmingham PD I am so sorry for you loss. May God Bless your officers and Department. I am so sorry.

A WIFE AND SISTER OF A POLICE OFFICER

June 18, 2004

I will pray for these brave men and their families. May we all go with God.

RM Taylor Federal Officer
DOJ

June 18, 2004

My heart and prayers are with the family, friends and coworkers of Officer Bennett. Such a terrible tragedy for all the families and department of these fine officers. May God be with you all.

Deb Azure
Mother of Deputy Renee D. Azure
EOW 08/06/02

June 18, 2004

My heart truly aches for the Bennett, Chisholm, Owens and the entire Birmingham Police family. Please accept my most sincere condolences.

Sgt. W. S. Humphrey
VA Beach Police Department

June 18, 2004

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. Thank you Officer Bennett for a job well done. Please continue to watch over us and protect us as only you can. You will forever be at our side and in our hearts.

For those of you who still have loved ones with us please take the time to tell them how much you appreciate and care about them.

IF I KNEW

If I knew it would be the last time
That I'd see you fall asleep,
I would tuck you in more tightly
and pray the Lord, your soul to keep.

If I knew it would be the last time
that I see you walk out the door,
I would give you a hug and kiss
and call you back for one more.

If I knew it would be the last time
I'd hear your voice lifted up in praise,
I would video tape each action and word,
so I could play them back day after day.

If I knew it would be the last time,
I could spare an extra minute
to stop and say "I love you,"
instead of assuming you would KNOW I do.

If I knew it would be the last time
I would be there to share your day,
Well I'm sure you'll have so many more,
so I can let just this one slip away.

For surely there's always tomorrow
to make up for an oversight,
and we always get a second chance
to make everything just right.

There will always be another day
to say "I love you,"
And certainly there's another chance
to say our "Anything I can do?"

But just in case I might be wrong,
and today is all I get,
I'd like to say how much I love you
and I hope we never forget.

Tomorrow is not promised to anyone,
young or old alike,
And today may be the last chance
you get to hold your loved one tight.

So if you're waiting for tomorrow,
why not do it today?
For if tomorrow never comes,
you'll surely regret the day,

That you didn't take that extra time
for a smile, a hug, or a kiss
and you were too busy to grant someone,
what turned out to be their one last wish.

So hold your loved ones close today,
and whisper in their ear,
Tell them how much you love them
and that you'll always hold them dear

Take time to say "I'm sorry,"
"Please forgive me," "Thank you," or "It's okay."
And if tomorrow never comes,
you'll have no regrets about today.

June 18, 2004