Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

He heals the brokenhearted
And binds up their wounds.
PSALM 147:3

Sgt.
Frankfort Police

November 29, 2004

Rest in peace young brother. Thank you for your bravery and for the love. May God Bless you, your dear family and your co-workers. It's time to rest now. We'll take it from here.

Police Officer Dan Ramirez
Bell Gardens P.D.

November 29, 2004

On behalf of the men and women of the La Habra Police Department we send our thoughts and condolences to the Bristol Police Department and the family of Officer Vance. It doesn't matter where we work. When one of our brothers or sisters fall we all feel the pain and the loss. Rest in peace Officer Vance.

Sergeant Jeff Baylos
La Habra PD, California

November 29, 2004

I want to extend my deep and heartfelt sympathy to Officer Vance's family and the entire Bristol Tennessee Police Deartment,you are all in my prayers.

Sabra, wife of Sergeant. Smalling Bristo

November 29, 2004

My deepest sympathies go out to the friends, coworkers, and family of Officer Vance. Having gone to UT in Knoxville, I feel a certain tie with the community there. They exude professionalism, and I'm sure Officer Vance was no exception. God bless this fallen hero.

Andrew, Police Officer
Baltimore City Police

November 29, 2004

TO THIS PRECIOUS FAMILY MY HEART GOES OUT TO YOU. I LOST MY SON DEPUTY JOSH BLYLER IN MAY. LIKE MANY PARENTS I MET AT THE C.O.P.S. PARENT RETREAT WE ALL KNOW YOUR PAIN AND WILL BE PRAYING FOR YOU. JEAN BLYLER

JEAN BLYLER

November 29, 2004

Only 20 miles away, we lost another brother. To the family and friends, may you find peace through our heavenly Father and know that we will see our loved ones again soon. I share your pain. In His love,
SRO Gary Willis

SRO Gary W. Willis
Johnson City, TN Police

November 29, 2004

Rest well sir, you have done your job well.

Tpr. D McGuckin
Michigan State Police

November 29, 2004

I pray that your family and friends find comfort and strength from the reflections left by your extended L.E. family. May your spirit have a joyous homecoming! "Rest high on the mountain" brother!

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

November 29, 2004

Rest Easy Brother Mark, the Watch is Ours Now and Yours was with Honor. Our Thoughts and Prayers are with your Family, Friends and Co-Workers.

APD #128
Altoona Police Dept. Altoona, Pa

November 29, 2004

Mark, you will not be forgotten. We will always remember. God now has you patrolling his home.

To Marks Family. He is a hero, I know you will miss him, however LIVE as he would want you to. Its important to continue in his memory. I am sorry. No words can describe. God love you all.

Officer from Mishawaka, IN
Mishawaka

November 29, 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 29, 2004

To the family of Mark Vance...I worked just over the line on the Vrginia side of Bristol for 2 1/2 years and never knew Mark personally. Its odd to think that our agencies worked that close to each other and I never met him, but I still consider him to be a brother. May God bless you in the coming days and give you strength through your hard times.

Officer Kevin Thacker
Oak Ridge P.d., TN (Former Bristol Virginia Police Officer)

November 29, 2004

Rest in peace brother, you are a hero.
You will never be forgotten Ofc. Vance, God bless your family in this time of sorrow..

Patrolman Ivan Davis
Ashburn Police Department Georgia

November 29, 2004

Thank you for all that you've done to keep us safe from harm. May you now rest in peace.

Deanna
Port Orchard, WA

November 29, 2004

Brother,
When I heard the news tonight I felt like I just lost a brother. We went through hell together at the academy. We laughed together and celebrated our graduation together. You were a good man. Now you can rest because I know we will meet again one day because God has a special place for over there for us. May God lay his hand on your family and keep them safe. Brother you will be missed and never forgotten. We knew with the badge came the burden, now you can lay yours down and we will pick it up and carry it on for you my friend. Rest in peace Mark. Now you can keep the watch over us. See you soon friend.

Cpl. Kevin Clendenen
Blount County Sheriff's Office

November 29, 2004

To the family and friends of Officer Vance I hope this can lift the sorrow in your heart............

One day Gabriel saw Jesus standing on the bank of a river in Heaven.
Jesus had a sad look on His face as he watched the water flowing by.
Gabriel asked Jesus about the history of the river and why He had such a look
on His face?
Jesus told Gabriel that the river ran from the foot of God's throne and that
the water was the tears God shed each time a Police Officer was laid to rest.
Jesus said, "Each year the river grows larger and flows more rapid."
As Gabriel and Jesus stood gazing across the waters Gabriel asked, "When can
we bring them home?"
Jesus replied, "The great waking up morning will soon come."
Gabriel then asked, "What will happen to the river?"
Jesus answered, "God will bring them to the banks of the river and let them
see the tears He shed for them and then the river will run dry, never again
to flow."
"Each of His Peacemakers will be called forward one by one to lay their
badges at the foot of the throne and there they will receive their crowns of
gold."
Gabriel looked into the eyes of Jesus with a questioning look about his face.
Jesus simply whispered.... Soon Gabriel.... Soon.


You are greatly missed my brother

Deputy Karl Gusentine
Williamson County Illinois Sheriff's Office

November 29, 2004

It is terrible to hear of another officer being intentionally and brutally killed this year. I do not know what it is that actually compels us to do this job; I think someone told me it was sense of duty or something, but nonetheless, we do it. There is just never any comfort when losing an officer because there is NEVER an excuse for the murder of anyone, least of all a peacekeeper. To officer Vance, thank you very much for your sacrifice. To his family, you are in a lot of people's thoughts and prayers. I have enough faith in our system that justice will be served for this outrageous act of violence.

Patrolman A.T. Caskey
Fort Mill PD, Fort Mill, SC

November 29, 2004

Rest In peace brother.

Cpl. D.Johansen
Federal Reserve System Police Services

November 29, 2004

Another fine officer has been slain while answering the most dangerous call in police work. I hope the coward who killed Officer Vance receives the ultimate sentence. You died a hero Officer Vance. Our thoughts and prayers go out to your family, friends and fellow officers. May God grant them comfort and understanding during this tragedy. Rest in peace sir.

Captain Robert W. Cannon; Retired
Vermilion County Illinois Sheriff's Department

November 29, 2004

Please remember the fallen officers we have lost. Remember the men and women who died trying to make this world a safer and better place for us all to live in. Thank you Officer Vance for a job well done. Please continue to watch over us and protect us as only you can. You will forever be at our side and in our hearts.

For those of you who still have loved ones with us please take the time to tell them how much you appreciate and care about them.

IF I KNEW

If I knew it would be the last time
That I'd see you fall asleep,
I would tuck you in more tightly
and pray the Lord, your soul to keep.

If I knew it would be the last time
that I see you walk out the door,
I would give you a hug and kiss
and call you back for one more.

If I knew it would be the last time
I'd hear your voice lifted up in praise,
I would video tape each action and word,
so I could play them back day after day.

If I knew it would be the last time,
I could spare an extra minute
to stop and say "I love you,"
instead of assuming you would KNOW I do.

If I knew it would be the last time
I would be there to share your day,
Well I'm sure you'll have so many more,
so I can let just this one slip away.

For surely there's always tomorrow
to make up for an oversight,
and we always get a second chance
to make everything just right.

There will always be another day
to say "I love you,"
And certainly there's another chance
to say our "Anything I can do?"

But just in case I might be wrong,
and today is all I get,
I'd like to say how much I love you
and I hope we never forget.

Tomorrow is not promised to anyone,
young or old alike,
And today may be the last chance
you get to hold your loved one tight.

So if you're waiting for tomorrow,
why not do it today?
For if tomorrow never comes,
you'll surely regret the day,

That you didn't take that extra time
for a smile, a hug, or a kiss
and you were too busy to grant someone,
what turned out to be their one last wish.

So hold your loved ones close today,
and whisper in their ear,
Tell them how much you love them
and that you'll always hold them dear

Take time to say "I'm sorry,"
"Please forgive me," "Thank you," or "It's okay."
And if tomorrow never comes,
you'll have no regrets about today.

November 29, 2004

I know now what my answer will be when asked this question "Why do want to be a police officer". The answer is easy because of people like you. I will continue the fight of an endless battle Mark. As a father, husband, and fellow officer, I will think of you each time I look in my daughter's eyes and give her that special hug as I put on the uniform and head out the door. I always tell her that I will see her in the morning but how can I be sure.

May God bless you and your family. Rest in Peace Brother,
Your Partner against crime

Fellow Police Officer

November 29, 2004

To the family, friends and co-workers of Officer Vance,you are in our thoughts and prayers. The huge family of Law Enforcement Officers all share your pain. This fine officer will not be forgotten as he gave his life serving and protecting. He is a true HERO!

Cpl.David Hazlett/C-detail
Berry Hill P.D./Nashville,Tn.

November 29, 2004

To all members of the Vance family, my heart felt sympathy for your loss and a job well done. You will be missed!!!!

Federal police Officer R.Jackson
US Dept. of Veterans Affairs

November 28, 2004

Rest in Peace Officer Vance. Your services will always be remembered.

Philip Salamone EMT
Kutztown Ambulance, Pennsylvania

November 28, 2004