Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

Thank you for your service and dedication, Sir. May GOD bless your family and friends. Go rest high!!

Shirley Roberts
Aunt of Fallen Officer John Logan EOW-March 14, 2004

July 16, 2004

Chief Caton,

Thank you for your dedication for so many years. Rest in Peace and my thoughts are with your family and the Elk Lick Township Police Department. GODSPEED.....

Officer
NC

July 16, 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 Chief Caton 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.

July 16, 2004

God Speed, Brother.

P.O. K.Murphy
Union PD, NJ

July 16, 2004

My family would like to send our condolences to the family, friends, & co-workers of Chief Caton...you're in our thoughts & prayers. May God watch over all the brave men and women in law enforcement.

Gail M Pabst
Aunt of fallen Detroit P.O. Jennifer Fettig eow 2-16-04

July 15, 2004

On behalf of the all State Troopers of the Florida Highway Patrol, please permit me to extend our deepest sympathies to Chief Sheridan's family and the Elk Lick Township Police Department. Please let it be known that you are all in our thoughts and prayers at this most difficult time.

Lieutenant Leonard R. Zimmerer
Florida Highway Patrol
Troop D DeLand District

Lieutenant Leonard R. Zimmerer
Florida Highway Patrol

July 15, 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.

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)

July 15, 2004

I was proud to be your friend, my life was better for knowing you. May peace be with you now and my heartfelt condolences to your family. Good-bye freind, I will miss you but your always be remembered in my heart.....

Jeanne
Mt. Davis Friend

July 15, 2004

Once again the law enforcement community is sadden over the lost of a fellow officer who paid the ultimate sacrifice. Although i did not personally know Chief Caton, the entire law community feels the pain, as it was one of our own. My thoughts and prayers are with Chief Caton's, friends and to the Elk Lick Township Police Department. Im certain Chief Caton was well respected and made a impact on the job and was very proud to wear the badge.

Police Officer
Cambria County, Pennsylvania

July 15, 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 Sheridan did. It saddens me to know that Dennis was not the first to die in the line of duty, nor will he and Sheridan be the last to die this way.

Having gone through the pain of losing Dennis I can truly understand and feel the pain that Chief Canton'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 Sheridan 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 Sheridan 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)
Fiancee of Deputy Sheriff Dennis Ray McElderry - EOW (01/03/03)

July 15, 2004

Chief, Thank you for making the ultimate sacrifice for the safety of all of our families. I will pray for yours. The time of night you were out shows the dedication you displayed to the job. May God watch over you and your family.

Lieutenant
US Dept. of Veterans Affairs Police

July 14, 2004

Chief Sheridan Caton you led by example. That is the sign of a good leader. My sympathy to the family, friends and members of the Elk Lick Township Police Department. Rest in peace, brother.

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

July 14, 2004

Rest in peace Chief Caton. You will never be forgotten.

Ashley Drury
Clare, Michigan

July 14, 2004

Rest in peace, God bless you and your family in this horrible time. God speed 120 badge 2.

The Final Inspection


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, 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 is 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 to 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 fear.

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 judgment of his God.

"Step forward now, policeman.

You've borne you burdens well.

Come walk a beat on Heaven's streets.

You've done your time in Hell"

(Author Unknown )

Bryan Carlson
Oakland Police, MD

July 14, 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

July 14, 2004

My thoughts and prayers are with Chief Caton's children, grandchildren, family, friends and co-workers. Thanks to the Chief for so many years of service for our protection. We will never let you walk alone. Psalm 55:22

Denise Nichols - surviving spouse
Alabama State Trooper Brian Nichols EOW 2/17/2002

July 13, 2004

Rest in peace sir. Thank you for all you've done.

Shannon
concerned citizen

July 13, 2004

May the memory of your service, heroism and sacrifice remain forever. May God bless you, your family and brother/sister officers in Elk Lick Township Police Department.

Trooper
Pennsylvania State Police

July 13, 2004

My thoughts and prayers are with the family, friends and law enforcement family of Chief Caton. His years of service speak volumes about the type of man he must have been.

May God comfort you in your time of loss, and may it help you to know that many mourn with you and hold you close in prayer.

Police Dispatcher
Sterling Heights, MI PD

July 13, 2004