Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

Sheriff,

I had the opportunity to ride in your honor during the 2005 Police Unity Tour. I can't explain all of the emotions I felt, but it was my privilege to honor you. I had the opportunity to meet your family and others who knew you. You are loved and missed so much. Your sacrafice will never be forgotten. Continue to look down over us and protect us.

Investigator Jeffrey Kerr
York - Poquoson, VA Sheriff's Office

May 31, 2005

Sheriff Bechtold is on eternal patrol and lives in the hearts and memories of officers everywhere.

J.D. Peppmeier
former Sheriff - Bon Homme Co., SD

Chief J.D. Peppmeier
Marion PD - South Dakota

March 3, 2005

Thought you would know already you were a god sent. We never met personally but We met your heart sick Family and have worked the medical/security side.I know they were all so proud of you!Good Officers and Medics are always missed.

The Asbridge's

November 3, 2004

John was a friend. We met in the academy 8 years ago. When my wife and I go to her home town (In North Dakota) we would pass right through his county. I would look for his car. When I found it a stop was guaranteed. He even pulled me over once for speeding (I sped up when I saw him running radar down the road!). We had a great laugh together. I didn't get there often as we lived almost 300 miles away.

I attended his funeral and cried. Harder than I have in years. Today I went back for the first time and spent some time at his gravesite. As the tears flowed down my face again, I could only reflect on the many laughs we've had together.

I will truly miss him. There are very few like him. It's hard to say I lost a friend, a brother, a co-worker. It's easier when I think we've ALL gained an angel!

I love and will miss you John...Well done thy good and faithful servant!

Det. Tony Harrison
Rapid City (SD) Police Dept.

September 7, 2004

I will always remember Sheriff Bechtold. As a former deputy in Emmons County I would on occasion meet him at the state line and visit. Always a smile on his face and always willing to visit and a great sheriff he was. He will be missed.

Rest in Peace

Deputy Sheriff Matthew Johansen
Steele County Sheriff Dept/ former deputy Emmons COunty Sheriff Dept

September 6, 2004

TO: The family; loved ones; friends and department members: A POLICE OFFICER’S PRAYER : O, gentle Lord! Keep the day / night watch with me. As I begin my tour of duty, I ask your protection from all mental, physical and spiritual harm. Sustain me with the knowledge that I am doing your work, endeavoring to keep peace among your people. Help me to be just as I enforce the law without prejudice or favor to anyone. May I be courageous but not reckless in carrying out my duties. Let me respond to all calls with haste realizing that so many are dependent on me for life and safety. Support me with your consoling power when I am tempted to think that no one really cares and that I am taken for granted. Sustain in me the conviction that so many thousands do care and are grateful for my presence. Grant that I may be loyal to my partner and my fellow officers, and that I may back them up effectively when called upon for assistance. Lord, I ask that I may return safely, after my tour of duty, to my loved ones and those who love me. I pray that I may be a good and honorable police officer; and after my tour of duty is over here on earth, may I enjoy the peace and happiness of heaven that you have promised to those who serve you well. AMEN. ** REST IN PEACE** Sent to you by the father of Master Officer J.D.Koeppen, Capital City Raleigh NC; Trooper D.C. Koeppen, NJ State Police and Cadet Officer A.M. Koeppen Wilmington N.C.

Chief ( retired) Douglas A. Koeppen
Washington New Jersey

August 17, 2004

Thank you for your years of service. I pray for peace, strength, and comfort for your family and friends. "Go rest high on the mountain, your work on earth is done!"

D/Sgt. Vencent Woods
State of Michigan Department of Environmental Quality

August 16, 2004

rest in peace sheriff bechtold.

skip roberson

August 16, 2004

MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY AND LEAN ON HIM TO BRING YOU THROUGH YOUR LOSS

911 DISPATCHER, ERICA TOLSON
LANCASTER/GARRARD 911

August 16, 2004

To all Family, Friends, and Co Workers of this Officer:

On Behalf of myself, and the Family of Police Officer Daniel Starks (Ft Myers Fl, E/O/W 10-25-03) we want you to know that you are all in our prayers! The Lord will sustain you as you go through this difficult, and trying time, but just remember your loved one is being cared for in Heaven, and is now eternally safe. We hope that you all remain as strong as possible, and know that we are all thinking of you. No words are quite ever adequate, but Police Officers make the ultimate sacrifice everyday, and our hope, and prayer is that they will always be remembered for their heroic efforts, and kind hearts.
Blessings Always,
Jessica Ruhl (Daniel’s Fiancée) & the Family of Officer Daniel Starks

August 13, 2004

Rest in peace sir. Thank you.

Shannon
concerned citizen

August 12, 2004

Thank You for your service.

Ofc. S.L. Coffman #15174
CHP

August 11, 2004

My thoughts and prayers are with the officer's family. Thank you for sharing such a wonderful person with the law enforcement family. Rest in Peace, Sheriff.

Deputy Sheriff
Douglas County Georgia

August 11, 2004

Rest in peace Brother. Thank you for your service and dedication to duty. Be assured 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 11, 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 10, 2004

MY PRAYERS GO OUT TO THE FAMILY AND FRIENDS OF SHERIFF BECHTOLD.

DETENTION SGT GREG GILBERT
PAWNEE COUNTY SHERIFFS OFFICE

August 10, 2004

My father passed in much the same way, too young and to sudden. Rest in peace brother John, you are a true hero and will never be forgotten. My your family and friends find comfort in knowing you served with honor.

Son of G. Truman Wortham EOW 7/15/73

August 9, 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, Firefighter/Paramedic
Haywood Co EMS (NC)

August 9, 2004

On behalf of the men and women of Industry Station, Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, our condolences to the family, friends, and co-workers of Sheriff John Bechtold. Having recently lost one of our own (Deputy Michael Arruda, EOW 06-15-04), we know all too well the pain and suffering you are experiencing.

God bless and rest in peace.

Industry Sheriff's Station
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department

August 9, 2004

My family and I would like to extend our condolences to the family, friends and department of Sheriff Bechtold. May you find comfort knowing he gave the ultimate price in serving his follow man.

TCO DEBBIE MORGAN
Md Transportation Authority

August 9, 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 John did. It saddens me to know that Dennis was not the first to die in the line of duty, nor will he and John be the last to die this way.

Having gone through the pain of losing Dennis I can truly understand and feel the pain that Sheriff Bechtold'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 John 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 John was well respected and well loved.

Thank you Sheriff Bechtold 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)

August 9, 2004

And GOD said, "IN HEAVEN WE SING WITH JOY, ANOTHER SOLDIER READY TO DEPLOY"

God speed brother, prayers to your family and comrades.

Police Officer Scott Parker
Pelican Bay Police Dept. Tarrant County Texas

August 9, 2004

Sheriff Bechtold, your sacrifice will never be forgotten. Rest easy Brother!

Dep. Paul Sperandeo
Jefferson Parish Sheriffs Office, La.

August 8, 2004

Our deepest condolences to the Family, friends and co-workers of Sheriff Bechtold

Newark NJ PD Auto Theft Task Force

August 8, 2004

My family would like to send our condolences to the family, freinds, & co-workers of Sheriff John Bechtold Jr and let you know you're in our thoughts & prayers. May God bless and watch over all of you.

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

August 8, 2004