Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

You have always been a friend to us in the fire department, and to some have come to be good friends too. You will be missed very much. Rest in peace

Fiddlers Green
A poem for a Fallen Soldier

Half way down the trail to Hell,
In a shady meadow green.
Are the souls of all dead troopers camped,
Near a good old time canteen.
And this eternal resting place,
Is known as Fiddlers' Green.

Marching past straight through to Hell,
The Infantry are seen.
Accompanied by Engineers,
Artillery and Marines.
For none but shades of the Cavalrymen,
Dismount at Fiddlers' Green.

Though some go curving down the trail,
To seek a warmer scene.
No Trooper ever gets to Hell,
Ere he's emptied his canteen.
And so goes back to drink again,
With friends again at Fiddlers' Green.

And so when man and horse go down,
Beneath a saber keen.
Or in a roaring charge of fierce melee,
You stop a bullet clean.
And the hostiles come to get your scalp,
Just empty your canteen,
And go to Fiddlers' Green

July 14, 2004

I have only been with the CCSO for eight months, but I am grateful that in those eight months I had the pleasure of working on the same rotation as Wesley. I am amazed at how one man could portray such an incredible demeanor, attitude, and dedication to law enforcement. My prayers are with his family, friends, and fellow officers.

Deputy Sheriff, Johnny McDonald Jr.
Columbia County Sheriff's Office

July 14, 2004

REST IN PEACE BROTHER ,YOU WILL NOT BE FORGOTTEN. OUR HEARTS AND PRAYERS GO OUT TO THE FAMILY AND DEPARTMENT.

TRAFFIC SAFETY UNIT
ANDERSON CITY POLICE DEPT. , SC

July 14, 2004

Deputy Wesley Mack we got the watch now, rest in peace, brother. To the family, friends and members of the Columbia County Sheriff's Office keep up the good work and besafe.

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

July 14, 2004

Rest Easy Brother ! You will never be forgotten!

Dep. Paul Sperandeo
Jefferson Parish Sheriffs Office, LA.

July 14, 2004

Rest easy motorman, the watch is ours now

Officer
Atlanta Police

July 14, 2004

Rest in peace Deputy Sheriff Mack. Thank you for protecting and serving this great nation.

Ashley Drury
Clare, Michigan

July 14, 2004

Rest in peace brother, You will not be forgotten GOdspeed

Ret. Correctional Corporal
Franklin Co Regional Jail

July 14, 2004

May God Bless this family in such a time of tragedy. My heart goes out to them and to all that were affected by Wesley Mack.

Mary, a concerned citizen

July 14, 2004

Wesley was my class leader at the academy in Georgia. Wesley Mack was a good man and I was saddened to hear of his death. He was a man who wanted to serve. Weather he was serving his country for 20 years in the army as a soldier or his county for 7 years as a Deputy Sheriff Wesley always served with pride. I moved away from Georgia 4 years ago, but I know Wesleys death has struck Columbia County, the Sheriffs Office and most especially Wesleys family hard, and I just hope they can find peace. Godspeed Wesley. Tpr. Erik Salman

Tpr. Erik Salman
Kentucky State Police

July 14, 2004

To the family,
Wesley is a fine officer and person. I enjoyed working with him and attending classes with him at Augusta Tech. He always had a good attitude towards work and life in general. He truly was one of the good guys and will be deeply missed.

Anonymous

July 14, 2004

Your smile is always with me my friend.

Deputy Barry Morrison
Richmond County Sheriff's Office

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

Rest in peace my Brother. You will be missed.

Auxiliary 1245 Tommy Gilbert
CCSO

July 14, 2004

As a former partner you are able to learn just how great a person is. Wesley was just that, great. An awesome person, good father and great Deputy. Although you maybe gone your smile will be with us forever. Thankyou.

Keith Warner
Columbia County Sheriff's Office

July 14, 2004

WE WAKE UP EVERY MORNING TO PUT ON OUR UNIFORMS HUG ARE KIDS AND KISS OUR WIVES KNOWING THAT THIS MAY BE THE LAST TIME WE MAY SEE THEM CORP WESLEY MACK HAS MADE THE ULTIMATE SACIFICE DOING HIS CHOSEN PROFESSION HE WILL GREATLY BE MISSED BY MANY AND TO HIS FAMILY WE WILL KEEP YOU IN OUR PRAYERS

DEPUTY SHERIFF CARLOS WILSON
MARION COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE JEFFERSON,TEXAS

July 14, 2004

God bless the family of Corporal Mack. Rest in peace my brother, thank you for your service and sacrifice.

mark
UCPD

July 14, 2004

The policeman stood and faced 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 time 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 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

July 13, 2004

My thoughts and prayers are with Cpl. Mack's children, family, friends and co-workers. I pray the peace of God to surround you during this time in your life and forever. Psalm 55:22

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

July 13, 2004

I would like to extend my condolences to Corporal Mack's family and friends, and to the men and women of the Columbia County Sheriff's Office. My thoughts and prayers are with you all during this time of tragedy. Rest in peace Corporal Mack, your duty here is done.

Deputy Sheriff
Butte County Sheriff's Office

July 13, 2004

My family would like to extend our condolences to the family, friends, & fellow co-workers of Corporal Wesley Mack and to let you know you're all in our thoughts & prayers. May God watch over and protect all the men & women in law enforcement.

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

July 13, 2004

Corporal Mack was always there when people needed him. He always wore his uniform proudly. He was always upbeat whenever you talked to him and always had a smile on his face. God bless him, his family,all of the Columbia County Sheriffs Office and all of his friends during this tragic time. He will be truly missed by all that knew him.

Joe Zachmann

July 13, 2004

Rest in peace sir. Thank you for your service.

shannon
concerned citizen

July 13, 2004

Rest in peace my brother.

Police Officer
Burlington Township PD NJ

July 13, 2004

MY BROTHER, MAY GOD BLESS YOUR FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND COWORKERS DURING THIS TRAGIC TIME. MAY YOUR CHILDREN NEVER FORGET THAT THIER DAD WAS A HERO. MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND MAY YOU REST IN PEACE. YOU SERVED WELL MY BROTHER.

CHIEF RONNIE WATFORD-RET.
JEFFERSON POLICE DEPT,S.C.

July 13, 2004