Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

Terrible loss. Our prayers are with you.

Officer
MD Transportation Authority Police Department

September 19, 2004

We are deeply saddened at Mike's loss.
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We all recall you gave your best.
You did your job, now you can rest.
Your comrades now can cover your post
as you take your place with the Heavenly Host.

God Bless Our Fallen Brothers & Sisters.
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Our prayers will be with you, your family, and co-workers!

Ptlm. P.K. Harding
Binghamton (NY) P.D.

September 18, 2004

farewell for now Brother and rest in peace. We are proud you are one of us. Be assured your loved ones are not 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.

September 18, 2004

The members of the 67th Precinct Anti-Crime Unit with to extend our deepest condolences to the family, friends and co-workers of Deputy Lane.

Having just lost two Detectives from our precinct last week, we know all to well what you are going through right now.

Stay strong. The law enforcement community is with you.

67 Precinct Anti-Crime Unit
New York City Police Department

September 18, 2004

Rest in Peace...

Police Officer
Syracuse Police Dept,NY

September 18, 2004

My sincere condolence to the family of Sergeant Lane and to the members of the Beaumont Police Department.

Senior Trooper Keith Miller (Ret)
Oregon State Police

September 18, 2004

On behalf of the Wharton County, TX Sheriff's Office; I would like to extend our condolences to the family of Sgt. Lane and to his fellow officers at the Beaumont Police Department.

Know that our prayers are with you.

Lt. Daniel E. Marek
Wharton County, TX Sheriff's Office

September 18, 2004

Sgt. Lane,

You will now fly from above, watch over and protect the rest of us still walking the beat. My prayers to your family and the Beaumont Police Department. Rest in Peace Brother....GODSPEED...

Officer
NC

September 18, 2004

Pride Integrity and Guts

Some of you may know my face, but not my name. Most of you have seen me around the city and some have even met me, but not always under the best of circumstances. Some of you have even spoken to me on the phone, when you called me while I was working.

Most of you have an opinion on how my job should be done, but would never take my job if it was the last one on earth. And some of you who don't even know me, hate me because of my job. But when I go to my job, I go to make a difference and so I can fight what everyone else fears.

When most would be running away from danger, my job requires me to run towards it. I do this in the hopes of making a difference for someone else I don't even know. Most people say I make too much money, because my pay is published in the newspaper. But don't think twice about hearing about another sports player sign a 20 million dollar contract for 6 months a year of playing a "game."

Since my job's base pay isn't the best I must work extra to pay the bills. Including working extra shifts on holidays, and pick up side work at construction sites as well on my days off, most still complain thinking I am greedy, but don't they realize that I to must pay taxes, have a mortgage car payments and kids in collage as well?

Don't they understand that I am not paid for what I do, but for what I am willing to do for them? After all how can you properly compensate someone to risk their own life and face danger everyday they go to work?

And when I go to work I am punched, kicked, spit on and called every name in the book for doing my job. And every night I leave my house to go to work I realize I may not come back home in the morning. Because when I go to work I can be stabbed, shot, drown, fall, be electrocuted, or die in a car accident rushing to help you.

My job also requires me to carry special "tools" to help me do my job. Sometimes even while doing my job I have to defend myself from someone attacking me. Although, the newspapers will report to you that I "beat someone down", and not that I defended myself from an attack.

While at work I must also carry a gun to protect you, but should I have to use it, the media reports to you that I "gunned someone down" or that I "shot and killed" somebody, and not that I defended myself. Don't they realize that I shoot to live and never to kill?

Also when I go to work I wrap a protective vest around me to help keep me safe through my shift. I use this vest so that I will be allowed to live to the end of my work day. And hope and pray that should something bad happen that this vest helps keep me alive so that I will be allowed to see my children grow.

When I go to my job, I will see more pain, sorrow, agony, death and destruction in one month than most of you will see in an entire lifetime.


And to the ones who don't know me, I unforunetly will meet most of you at the worst times in your life.

You often will call me to come help you out with a problem. But if you have a really big problem you can get me at a special 3 digit number and me and my coworkers will race to your house, just to help you no questions asked. All you have to do is call and we will be there for you, no matter what time, day, night or holiday, rain shine or blizzard.

Sometimes my job also requires me to deliver lectures, babies and even bad news. I am also the one required to ring your doorbell in the middle of the night, swallow hard and advise you that a loved one will not be coming home tonight, then I spend the rest of my shift wondering why I ever took such a job.

Some people even refer to me as a "pig," but when I hear that word called to me or one of my coworkers I think of Pride, Integrity and Guts, which everyone in my profession needs to do this job.

Me and my coworkers must be able to have muscles of steel, have a sense of humor and put ourselves into dangerous situations and face danger head on all in a days work.

We must act in a second and make a decision in the blink of an eye, and spend the rest of our life hoping we made the right choice in that split second. If not we can be arrested and charged with breaking a law, be sued for violating someone's rights, or end up with even a worse fate.

My job requires me to take an oath to be their and to risk my life to protect you. And it is an oath that me and my fellow coworkers have taken and is one that we will not break.

What, you ask is my job, I am your local police officer. And what do I ask in return of doing all this and risking my life for you, nothing at all because it is my job and my hope, of being the one who makes the difference.

Officer David Carroll
Choctaw Oklahoma

September 18, 2004

Again we mourn as another hero is taken from us. My deepest sympathy to the family, friends and co-workers of Sergeant Lane. May the Lord give you strength and bless each of you during this time.
Rest in peace for your watch here is over; walk in heavens beat and guide us all to protect and serve others safely.

US Ranger Catroppa
National Park Service Kennesaw GA

September 18, 2004

Your family and friends are in my thoughts and prayers today. May GOD bless you all. Thank you for serving and protecting, Sir. Rest in peace.

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

September 17, 2004

My heart and prayers are with the family of Sgt. Lane. May God be with them all in this terrible time of loss. Rest in peace Sgt.

Deb Azure
Mother of Deputy Renee Danell Azure
EOW 08/06/02

September 17, 2004

To Sergeant Lane family, friends, and the Beaumont Police Department. I would like to extend my condolences and deepest sympathy. My thoughts and prays are with you all. Thanks Sergeant Lane for a job well done; may your soul rest in peace.

Patrol Officer
Prince George's County, Maryland

September 17, 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 upon me for life and safety. Support me with your consoling power when I am tempted to think 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 North Carolina; Trooper D.C.Koeppen, New Jersey State Police and Cadet Officer A.M.Koeppen, Wilmington North Carolina.

Chief (retired) Douglas A. Koeppen
Washington New Jersey

September 17, 2004

Sgt. Lane you will not be forgotten. Thanks for the long hours and dedication. Reat in Peace my Brother and God Speed.

Officer J. W. Charville
Newport News Police Department / Newport News, VA

September 17, 2004

Our deepest condolences to Mike's family and fellow Beaumont Officers. We are deeply saddened at the loss of a member of our ALEA Family as well.

Sherry W. Hadley, Executive Director
Airborne Law Enforcement Association

September 17, 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

September 17, 2004

Rest In Peace My Brother

Officer M. Bouchard
Bridgeport Park Police

September 17, 2004

Rest in peace Sergeant Lane. You will never be forgotten.

Ashley Drury
Clare, Michigan

September 17, 2004

My thoughts and prayers are with Sgt. Lane,his family and the BPD.Rest in peace brother.

Texas Peace Officer
University of Houston Downtown Law Enforcement Academy Class 89

September 17, 2004

32 years. What a terrible loss.

You will be remembered many more times over Skipper. With love & sympathies to your family. My prayers are for you. Rest in Peace Mike.

a colleague from the UK

September 17, 2004

ON BEHALF OF OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT FAMILY
WE EXTEND OUR HEARTS AND PRAYERS TO SGT MIKE LANE FAMILY AND CO WORKERS IN THIS TIME OF SADNESS

DEPUTY SHERIFF CARLOS WILSON
SO MARION COUNTY(JEFFERSON TX)

September 17, 2004

I WILL PRAY FOR YOU BROTHER. REST PEACEFULLY AND LET US FINISH YOUR SHIFT FROM THIS POINT FORWARD. YOU ARE A HERO AND WILL NOT BE FORGOTTEN.

DEPUTY
WILLIAMSON COUNTY IL

September 17, 2004

Thank you Mike for all the wonderful things you have done for the City of Beaumont, and Jefferson County. May you rest in peace. To your family we will continue to keep them in our prayers.

Deputy JD Lang
Jefferson County Sheriffs Department

September 16, 2004

My prayers go out to the Lane family. May God watch over you during this very trying time.

Robert Gordon
Father of Michael P. Gordon, EOW: 8/8/04

Robert Gordon, Asst. Chief (Ret.)
Riverside PD, IL

September 16, 2004