Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

Officer Groover,
On today, the 20th anniversary of your death I would just like to say thank you for your service and sacrifice for the citizens of the state of Georgia. And to your Family and loved ones, I wish to extend my deepest sympathy. There is no tougher job in Law Enforcement than that of a Corrections Officer.

BPA Mike Casey
United States Border Patrol(Retired)

July 9, 2024

Thank You for your service to our communities and God Bless those Family & Friends that lost you and your spirit that day. May they Always and Forever find Peace amongst what You left behind (Rest In Peace Friend)

Chris Griffin (Gold_GA Work Ready)
M.A.D.D

February 28, 2022

Thank you for your service and please know that your sacrifice will never be forgotten. Rest in peace always.

Detective Cpl/3 Steven Rizzo
Delaware State Police (Retired)

July 9, 2020

Rest in peace Probation Officer Groover.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

July 9, 2019

Tal was a great probation officer and even greater friend. I think of him often and I know he is missed by many in our profession. The day he passed and the events of the day are etched into my memory for life. Rest easy Tal.

Sheriff Mark Melton
Appling County Sheriff's Office

July 9, 2018

Time may have passed but you are not forgotten. I believe as long as someone remembers you or speaks your name, you are still with us.
Thank you for your heroism.
GOD Bless

Detention Officer A.Zambito
Texas

July 15, 2015

Thinking of you and all of your loved ones on this day. Those who work in corrections have always been considered by me to be brave individuals because of the people that had to deal with every day, unarmed and locked in with them. Continue to keep watch over your loved ones. You will never be forgotten.

"Loved with a love beyond all feeling,
Missed with a grief beyond all tears."

Bob Gordon, Retired Deputy Chief
Father of Fallen Chicago Officer: Michael P. Gordon, EOW: 8/8/04

July 9, 2012

Rest in Peace, Probation Officer Groover. Your sacrifice is not forgotten

Officer 11169

March 30, 2012

Your heroism and service is honored today, the fifth anniversary of your death. Your memory lives and you continue to inspire. Thank you for your service. My cherished son Larry Lasater was a fellow police officer who was murdered in the line of duty on April 24, 2005 while serving as a Pittsburg, CA police officer.

Time never diminishes respect. Your memory will always be honored and revered.

Rest In Peace.

Phyllis Loya

Anonymous

July 9, 2009

You are remembered today Sir of Your untimely death. Thank You Sir for Your Service. God Bless You and Your Family.

J Mullens
Federal Bureau of Prisons

July 9, 2008

"The Badge"

He starts his shift each day
To respond to calls unknown.
He drives a marked patrol car.
A police officer he is known.

He's paid by the citizens' taxes
To make it safe on the streets.
But he usually has a second job
'Cause a waitress has his salary beat.

Now he doesn't know a holiday
'Cause he works all year round.
And when Thanksgiving and Christmas finally arrive
At his home he cannot be found.

He's cursed and assaulted often,
The one whos blood runs blue.
He seldom ever gets a thanks,
To some he's just a fool.

His friends are always other cops
'Cause people just don't understand
That underneath his badge and gun,
He's just another man.

He knows there might not be a tomorrow
In this world of drugs and crime.
And he gets so mad at the court system
'Cause the crooks don't get any time.

And each day when he leaves for work,
He prays to God above.
Please bring me home after my shift
So I can see the ones I love.

But tonight he stops a speeding car,
He's alone down this ole' highway.
It's just a little traffic infraction.
He does it everyday.

Well, he walks up to the driver's window,
And his badge is shining bright.
He asked the guy for a driver's license,
When a shot rang through the night.

Yes, the bullet hit its mark,
Striking the officer in the chest.
But the Department's budget didn't buy
Each officer a bullet-proof vest.

So he lay on the ground bleeding.
His blood wasn't blue - His blood was red.
And briefly he thought of his loved ones
'Cause in a moment the officer was dead.

In the news they told the story
Of how this officer had died.
And some who listened cared less,
But those who loved him cried.

Well, they buried him in uniform
With his badge pinned on his chest.
He even had his revolver,
He died doing his best.

Written By:
David L. Bell
Sergeant
Richland County Sheriff's Department
Columbia, South Carolina
Used with Special Permission of the Author
Copyright © 1999 - All Rights Reserved
and may not be duplicated without permission

Investigator David L Bell
Richland County Sheriff's Dept., Columbia, SC

December 26, 2007

I would like to express my deepest condolences to the family of P.O. Grover. I was a Counselor attending
the training session, when the tragic event occurred.
I only knew him briefly, but he striked me as an
individual who gave 110% percent in whatever endeavor
he attempted.

C.I.U./C.O. I. Burnett
New York State Department Of Correctional Services

November 7, 2007

To the widow of PO Groover:
God had a plan for you beloved husband. Now PO Groover is looking down on you from above passing the time away until he sees you again. You and your family will be in my prayers during one of the hardest days of the year.

July 9, 2007

Dear family of Officer Groover,
I just wanted to let you know that you are in our thoughts and prayers today, on the second anniversary of Tal's death. Jordan talks often about our trip to Oregon and the friends he made there. Tell the boys he says hello and hopes they are doing well. Take care and God bless you all.
Lori, Jeremy and Jordan
Kernersville, NC

Lori Johnson Rowley
Daughter of Sgt. James Johnson, FCSO, NC, EOW 11/11/04

July 9, 2006

You are remembered on the second anniversary of your untimely death. My thoughts and prayers are with your family.

Mary Kay Balchunas
Mother of Jay Balchunas, EOW 11/5/04

July 7, 2006

Dear Tal,
I didn't get a chance to know you because I worked in the north part of the state. I heard your wife speak at this Summer's G.P.A. conference about how great your loss has been. May the LORD JESUS CHRIST continue to comfort your family here on earth as they eagerly await seeing you again. Thank you for your many years of service to our precious State.
P.O. Herrera

State Probation Officer
Georgia Department of Corrections

September 16, 2005

Hagen and Reed,
Just letting you know that I am glad I got to meet you in Oregon. I know you miss your step-dad as much as I miss my grandfather. I lost the paper with your number on it, so I haven't called. If you still have mine, call me.
Take care, Jordan

Jordan McAlexander
Grandson on Fallen Hero, Sgt. James Johnson, NC

August 3, 2005

Thinking of you on the first
anniversary of your death. Our hats
are off to you for your 22 years of
dedicated service. So sorry you
didn't get to enjoy the retirement you
so richly deserved. Our hearts go
out to your families, both at home and at work. God bless all on the
journey to healing.
Lynn Kole
Washington State

July 10, 2005

Our thoughts and prayers are with the family, friends and co-workers of Tal's during this very emotional and traumatic times of your lives. May God grant each of you the strength to continue on and for Concerns of Police Survivors to assist in the rebuilding of your shattered lives.

Roger Parker
Concerns of Police Survivors - Georgia Chapter

August 22, 2004

I would like to thank all of you who have been so kind to share your condolences. We lost my father so suddenly on July 9, 2004. He was not only a great law enforcement officer, but a great father, husband, and friend. Our lives will never be the same and there will always be a missing piece. Thank you all for everything.

Jennifer Groover
Daughter of Tal Groover

August 21, 2004

MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY

911 DISPATCHER, ERICA TOLSON
LANCASTER/GARRARD 911

August 16, 2004

Farewell for now my Brother. We are grateful for your faithfulness and dedication to duty. Rest assured that your loved ones are never alone for we are but a phone call away.

Bob Johnson VA-VI

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

August 4, 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

August 4, 2004

To Probation Officer Groover family, friends, and the Georgia Department of Corrections. I would like to extend my condolences and deepest sympathy. My thoughts and prays are with you all. Thanks Officer Groover for a job well done; may your soul rest in peace.

Patrol Officer
Prince George's County, Maryland

August 2, 2004

BUFFALO, NEW YORK

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

GOD BLESS...

PO ERNEST G. PENN
DEPT. OF VETERANS AFFAIRS POLICE

August 1, 2004