Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

I remember Melissa working for a security company, awaiting her appointment to Columbus Police Department and her excitement at becoming a Columbus Police Officer. She was proud of what she did. My sympathy goes to her family, especially her two young children. My sympathy also, goes to all of Melissa's brothers and sisters at Columbus Police Department. Rest in Peace, Melissa.

Captain Charles Doan
Plymouth Police Department

December 6, 2004

I've grown up around police officers and firefighters, it will never be easy to hear that we've lost another one of our heroes, and although I didn't know you...it deeply saddened me to hear of your untimely death. You will never be forgotten Ofc. Foster, and rest easy knowing that we will be here to support and comfort your family. Watch over your fellow officers, as you are now our angel in blue.~

kylie robbins
Columbus Police Dept. Explorer Post

December 6, 2004

Good-bye sister, may God be with your family, you will not be forgotten.

Reserve Officer
Sullivan COunty Sheriffs Office/Blountville,Tn

December 6, 2004

Rest In Peace Blue Angel...May God grant your family the serenity to accept the things they cannot change, the courage to change the things they can and the wisdom to know the difference..May we never forget this warrior's sacrifice...

Officer Debra M. Ross
East Buffalo Twp P.D. Lewisburg, Pa.

December 6, 2004

Another HERO in BLUE taken from us. May you rest in peace Melissa and GOD bless your children, family and friends.

Detective JC Johnson
Danville Police Dept.

December 6, 2004

Rest in peace Sister Melissa, you are a true hero and will never be forgotten for your courage and service,

Son of G. Truman Wortham EOW 7.15.73

Assistant Chief Carl Wortham
Sand Springs Okla Police Department

December 6, 2004

Rest in peace. My thoughts are with your family.

December 6, 2004

The greatest fear a father of an officer has is injury or death to their son or daughter. The greatest love one can show another is the sacrifice that you have given Officer Foster; patrol with God in heaven and we will try to control our fear on earth. a father

Father of Sgt. Steve Livingston

December 6, 2004

May the Lord shine his face upon each and every member of Officer Foster's family and officers from Zone 2 EMW, and grant them peace in this time of bereavement. We all know that when Melissa walked through the gates of heaven, the Lord said to her, "Well done thy good and faithful servant."
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding." -Proverbs 3:5

WTClark
CPD

December 6, 2004

MY PRAYS AND THOUGHTS GO OUT TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY. YOU PAID THE ULTIMATE PRICE OF THIS JOB AND YOU ARE NOW BEING PROTECTED BY A HEDGE OF PROTECTION OF ANGELS THAT WILL NEVER LEAVE YOUR SIDE. SEMPER FI.

PATROLMAN JOHN S. CONRAD
DANDRIDGE POLICE DEPT. TN

December 6, 2004

Brothers and Sisters, I am truly sorry for the tragic loss of a member of your department. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. Although most of us will never meet, we are deeply fraternally bonded and the loss of a family member is felt across the nation.

Trooper Scott.

Trooper Brian P. Scott
Maine State Police

December 6, 2004

On behalf of the men and women of Industry Sheriff's Station, Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, our deepest condolences to the family, friends, and co-workers of Officer Melissa Foster. Having lost Deputy Michael Arruda earlier this year (EOW 06-15-04), we know all too well the pain and reality of losing one of your own. Take comfort from knowing your extended law enforcement family grieves with you.

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

December 6, 2004

My heart goes out to your two children. I know that they will keep their Mother alive in their hearts, and cherish and respect her work while among us.

Rest in peace.

Lois Rao
Mother of SCHP Senior Trooper Michael J. Rao
EOW June 12, 2002

December 6, 2004

I am saddened by your loss. I too have two children of my own and cannot imagine the magnitude of the impact that it could have on a family. Off. Foster's sacrifice could not be more noble, and my heart goes out to her family, and fellow officers.

Stay safe, Det. Adam Stoutamyer

Det. Adam Stoutamyer
Maine State Police

December 6, 2004

Melissa: You will never be forgotten and we will keep your Children, family and loved ones in our prayers.
We will never forget.

Officer Vincent Montgomery #2144
Columbus Division of Police

December 6, 2004

May God Bless you and keep you.

M/D W. Cornaz
Orange County S.O., Orl., Fla.

December 6, 2004

May God Bless you and watch over your children.

Sgt. Burton
Fort Wayne In

December 6, 2004

Rest well officer...you will not be forgotten.

Tpr D McGuckin
Michigan State Police

December 6, 2004

Again we lose an Officer to the hands of a drunk driver. The fight to remove drunks off our roads must continue. God Bless you and the children you leave behind. I hope they someday look here and see how the Law Enforcement Officers write from all over about our fallen partner. God Bless.

Steven Daniello
Coconut Creek Police, Broward Cty. Fl

December 6, 2004

Again we mourn as another hero is taken from us. My deepest sympathy to the family, friends and co-workers of Officer Foster. 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 to protect and serve others safely.

US Ranger Catroppa
National Park Service Kennesaw GA

December 6, 2004

I felt sick to my stomach when I saw your memorial this morning. It is a shame that you were taken away by someone who never should have been allowed behind the wheel of a car in the first place. You made a huge difference in this world by the job that you did and you will always be remembered by your family, your friends, and of course your brothers and sisters in law enforcement. Rest in peace.

Officer J. Lando
City of Pittsburgh, Bureau of Police

December 6, 2004

May the suspect suffer a similar fate. Of course it seems that never happens. God speed Officer Foster we will NEVER give up the fight. God please be with the family and co-workers during this tragic time.

CPL GARY E MINTZ, TRAFFIC ENF Director
HENDERSON CO SHERIFF'S OFFICE HENDERSON CO NC

December 6, 2004

Melissa,
You were quite and committed when I first met you. Quickly I learned how you cherrished your children and stepped up to the plate when it came to work. You were kind and considerate to me. I feel I am a better person for knowing you. The tears I shed won't bring you back, but I hope that your children will learn in time what a great person you were. I am proud to have served with you my sister in blue!!! I will never forget you.

Officer Amy Cole
Columbus Police Department

December 6, 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

December 6, 2004

Rest in peace sister.

Police Officer
Burlington Township PD NJ

December 6, 2004