Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

“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

May God bless Officer Foster, her family, coworkers, and friends. Her memory will always be honored, and she will never be forgotten. I hope her children know what a hero their mother
is.
"it's not how this officer died that made her a hero, it's how she lived."

Officer Todd Riggins
St. Augustine Police Department
St. Augustine, Florida

Officer Todd Riggins
St. Augustine Police Department

December 6, 2004

Rest in peace, the watch is ours now. My prayers are with your family and fellow officers.

Cpl. Kevin Clendenen
bcso

December 6, 2004

To the family of Officer Foster, I will be praying for you in the days to come, and my hope is to have the hand of God touch you and give you peace during your time of sorrow. Melissa your new beat is now in heaven, enjoy your tour and please say hello to my friend Officer Mark Vance.

PSO Robert Caudill
Bristol TN Police Dept

December 6, 2004

OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS GO OUT TO OFFICER FOSTER'S FAMILY, AND THE COLUMBUS DIVISION OF POLICE. THANK YOU FOR SERVING WITH HONOR, AND PRIDE. YOU ARE 10-7 OFFICER FOSTER, GOOD NIGHT! YOU WILL BE GREATLY MISSED.

OFFICER B.L. YOST
LAKE HAVASU CITY POLICE DEPT. AZ

December 5, 2004

My thoughts and prayers are with your family and children. May god take you into his arms and may your children and family find the strength through God to guide them through the difficult road ahead. You did well here we will take it from this point. "Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” Ephesians 6:13

Sean Hoover
Ft. Myers Police Department

December 5, 2004

Our prayers are with you and your family. Thank you for your sacrifice. God Bless you.

Sergeant
LBPD Ca.

December 5, 2004

My prayers are with you, your family, your friends, and your department. God has called you home to patrol heaven's beats. You are a true hero and will never be forgotten.

FCO M.T. Hendrix
Raleigh PD

December 5, 2004

On behalf of the FBI Agents Association, I salute your service and will pray for God's comfort upon your family, friends and colleagues. May God be a Parent to your children.

Special Agent
FBI Detroit Division

December 5, 2004

May God Bless you, and take of of your children, RIP.
Pecos Police Department, Pecos Tx.

December 5, 2004

We are truly saddened at Melissa's loss.
--------------------------------------
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.
---------------------------------------
Our prayers will be with you, your family, and co-workers!

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

December 5, 2004

Another senseless death of a person who is sworn to protect the life of others. I will keep Officer Melissa M. Foster and her family in my prayers this holiday season. And may all other officers around this country stay safe this holiday season God bless.

508
GPD

December 5, 2004

My thoughts and prayers to the family, and the Columbus P.D. Fallen but never forgotten.

Bryan Laurie Son of Fallen officer
Nathan Laurie EOW 7-29-04

December 5, 2004

Melissa, I honor you, your name, your memory and for walking the path of the warrior. We will never forget you. Rest easy Melissa, we'll cover your post on our thin blue line. With love and respect, Jim Crotty (Former Richmond, VA Police Officer.)

Jim Crotty Special Agent (Ret.)
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms

December 5, 2004

Goodbye Melissa...continue your tour up there, while we continue down here...

Sgt. Steve Livingston
Columbus, Ohio Police

December 5, 2004

I am very sad to hear of Officer Foster's untimely death. Automobiles are the most lethal, yet underestimated killer of law enforcement officers.

I pray for her family, friends and colleagues. She now patrols a beat in Heaven with St. Michael. Though we are saddened by her passing we can find solace in knowing that she is in a better place.

Rest easy sister, we have the watch from here.

Master Sgt. JA Millan
US Army Miliatry Police

December 5, 2004

With great sorrow, I salute.

PO Jim Orlando, Retired
Detroit PD

December 5, 2004

Melissa my heart was broken when I heard that it was you in that car. My heart and prayers go out to you and your two small children, your entire family and all of my co workers at the Columbus Ohio Police Department. May God bless your family. You are my Hero and I will never forget you.

T-31
Columbus Ohio PD

December 5, 2004

My heart is broken for the family of Ofc. Foster, especially her children. May God comfort you in his embrace during this awful time. You all have my prayers. To Ofc. Foster, rest easy sister, thank you for your service and we will continue on the thin blue line.

Sgt. Mary Huggins
Orange County Sheriff's Office FL

December 5, 2004

My heart and prayers are with Officer Foster's children, family, friend and coworkers. May God be with you all in this terrible time of loss. May the children of this fine officer know always that their mom is a true HERO.
God bless you both.

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

December 5, 2004

May GOD bless your family and friends at this terrible time. Thank you for serving and protecting. Rest in peace.

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

December 5, 2004

I HURT TO SEE THAT ANOTHER OFFICER HAS DIED DOING THEIR JOB PROTECTING AND SERVING OTHERS. TO THE FAMILY AND COWORKERS OF OFFICER FOSTER: MAY GOD BE WITH YOU TO HELP EASE YOUR PAIN. THE PAIN IS FELT IN THE WHOLE "LAW ENFORCEMENT FAMILY" ALSO. SHE WILL NOT BE FORGOTTEN.

PTL. J. HOWELL
LANCASTER, OH P.D.

December 5, 2004

May God bless and keep Officer Foster's children in His hand. My thoughts and prayers are with them and her family, friends and co-workers. God Bless you all! Psalm 55:22

Denise Nichols - surviving spouse
Alabama State Trooper Brian Nichols EOW 2/17/2002

December 5, 2004

To the family,friends and co-workers of Officer Foster,we are truly saddened for your loss and our thoughts and prayers will be with you.We brothers and sisters of Law Enforcement share the pain.

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

December 5, 2004