Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

Uncle Jay, you are a true hero. We love you and miss you so much.

Andy & Bryan - Jays nephews

November 9, 2004

Rest in peace brother, protect us and your family from above, we will protect them here.

Constable Douglas M. Samens
Osceola Township Police Department

November 9, 2004

Special Agent Balchunas you are clear for end of watch. May god be with you and your family in this time of need. You are one of the guardian angels now.

Deputy
Larimer County Sheriff's Office

November 9, 2004

You're in Gods hands now. Rest in Peace my friend.

Friend of a Fallen Officer 8/19/04

November 9, 2004

Rest in Peace Sir.

Officer II J. Pacheco
MD Transportation Authority Police Dept

November 9, 2004

Again we mourn as another hero is taken from us. My deepest sympathy to the family, friends and co-workers of SA Balchunas. 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

November 9, 2004

My sincere condolescences to the family of Jay Balchunas.

I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright. I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun more. I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive. I wish you enough pain so that the smallest joys in life appear much bigger. I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting. I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess. I wish you enough "HELLO'S" to get you through the final "GOODBYE".

May God comfort you at your hour of grief and may His hand always be over you.

Officer Arlene Ajello
Chicago Police Department

November 8, 2004

Rest is peace Jay. Anytime a member of law enforcement family is lost, it takes a little piece of all of our hearts.
My personal condolences to the Balchunas family.

Sgt. Todd Dearing
Grapevine (TX) Police

November 8, 2004

Jay you were a great friend and mentor. You will always be in my prayers.
God bless you and your family

BM
New Berlin PD

November 8, 2004

My sincere condolence to the family of Agent Balchunas and to the members of the Wisconsin DOJ.

Senior Trooper Keith Miller (Ret)
Oregon State Police

November 8, 2004

Thanx Jay!! You were always one of the good guys.....even though I thought you were way to young, and young looking back when you became a Milwaukee officer. I'll always remember you as that "little kid" on the NBFD, and as a long time friend. You have new streets to work now...........stay safe.

Greg T. Erdman Sgt. (Retired)
New Berlin WI PD

November 8, 2004

Rest in peace brother. Whether Private Security or Police we are one in crime fighting. God bless your family.

Director of Security
U.S. Patrol & Security

November 8, 2004

Our deepest sympathies are with the Balchunus family. We lost our son 9 1/2 years ago and understand how this family is feeling.
May God go with you in your difficult time.
Bob & Judy Gammon

Bob &Judy Gammon, private citizens

November 8, 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

November 8, 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

November 8, 2004

Agent Balchunas may you rest in peace. You will not be forgotten!

To the Balchunas family, our thoughts and prayers are with you!

An Austin Police Officer's Wife

November 8, 2004

On behalf of the men and women of the Virginia State Police we extend our condolences to the family of Special Agent Jay Balchunas and the members of the Wisconsin Department of Justice. All of us in the law enforcement community continue on in the memory of this public servant. May he and all the fallen rest in peace.

Senior Trooper
Virginia State Police

November 8, 2004

Agent Balchunas,

Sir, I pray that no new names are added to this list. Please know that we will not rest until those who are responsible for this are brought to justice. When you mess with one of us you mess with all 700,000 of us strong. Your death will be avenged. I pray for your family please know that Agent Balchunas was loved by men and women who did not know him personally. His sacrafice is heavy on all of our hearts. Sir, We will carry on your fight and never forget. You made a true difference in this world and that is a special thing to hold on to. "Poi Si Torno' 'All Eterna Fontana."

Ptl.T.D.HILL
Ontario Police

November 8, 2004

TO THE FELLOW OFFICERS OF SPECIAL AGENT JAY BALCHUNAS:
YOU HAVE MY DEEPEST SYMPATHY IN YOUR RECENT LOSS. MY HEART GOES OUT TO EACH AND EVERYONE OF YOU.
TO THE FAMILY OF SPECIAL AGENT JAY BALCHUNAS: MY PRAYERS AND SYMPATHY ARE WITH YOU AT THIS TIME OF SORROW. ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT OFFICER BALCHUNAS DIED A TRUE HERO.
TO SPECIAL AGENT JAY BALCUNAS:
GO REST HIGH ON THE MOUNTAIN. GOD SPEED
CORPORAL ELAINE HUNTER
CHAMBERS COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT
JAIL DIVISION

ELAINE HUNTER CORPORAL
CHAMBERS COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT ANAHUAC, TEXAS

November 8, 2004

My deepest sympathy to the Balchunas family for their loss. The entire family in Blue grieves with the loss of Jay. May God watch over him and your family

Robert Gordon
Father of Off. Michael P. Gordon
End of Watch: 8/8/04

Robert Gordon, Asst. Chief, Ret.
Riverside PD, Illinois

November 8, 2004

One never knows what lies ahead for us in the world of undercover. Always facing the unknown, but knowing deep inside that we'll always make a diffrence, even if it is to just that one family. Your service will never go in vain. Patrol and others will truly benefit from your service and dedication to the job no matter what it may be. God bless and thank you.

Police Officer URB
Honolulu Police

November 8, 2004

The members of the Royal Palm Beach Police Department wish to extend our deepest sympathies to the family, coworkers, and friends of Special Agent Jay Balchunas. He has fought the good fight and has now gone to his reward. Many of our brothers and sisters are gone, but none are ever forgotten.

Sergeant T. E. Murphy
Royal Palm Beach, Fl. P. D.

November 8, 2004

My family would like to send our heartfelt sympathies to the family, friends, & fellow co-workers of Special Agent Jay Balchunas.
You're in our thoughts and prayers. May God watch over all the brave men and women in law
enforcement who put their lives on the line everyday as they serve & protect their communitites.
Your job is a difficult one and we truly appreciate all you do. God bless each & everyone of you.

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

November 7, 2004

Rest in peace my brother.

Police Officer
Burlington Township PD NJ

November 7, 2004

Jay, you are my friend. God bless you and your family.You will be missed and never far from our thoughts. Thank you for all you have given to others in this world. May you find peace in the next.

P.O. Dwayne harrell
Park City Police Dept.

November 7, 2004