Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

Thank you for protecting us George. It's good to know we will have you protecting us from a higher place as well. Peace to your loved ones that have lost you.

Michelle (Regina) Gies

January 8, 2005

I pray that your family and friends find peace and comfort from the heart felt reflections left by your extended Law Enforcement Family. May your spirit have a joyous homecoming and may you “Rest high on the Mountain”.

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

January 7, 2005

Rest in Peace, brother. Thank you for your service to this great Country. We thank your family, too, and will keep them in our prayers.

A Squad
Woodbridge CT PD

January 6, 2005

Upon the markers of their graves
Our heroes etched in names we save
For all the life they gave with pride
To keep the peace within life's stride

To honor serve and do their best
To keep us safe through any quest
They gave up what was theirs to share
Their spirits shall be always near

No fear within the hearts and minds
To keep us safe within our times
The glory that is ours to see
Those special hearts of bravery

They have walked where no man dare
Their lives in danger with no care
For they have given all they could
For their courage we have stood

In awe of every one who gave
His life for others who they saved
So we will know their contribution
Their firm resolve and resolution

For those they left with hearts so broken
In every whispered word that's spoken
We bow our heads in confirmation
In every word life's revelation

Those who stand within their shoes
Will follow courage as they choose
And give to all the best they had
They carry on with spirits glad

We will know that they walked through
With colors bright and hearts so true
No Island stands alone they say
For heroes they are born this way

Protecting those with loyalty
A glimpse of so much royalty
Within the years of courage bound
These officers have earned their crown

Upon the earth we shall remember
The special goals and all their thunder
That proves a hero came our way
Who left their hearts on earth to stay.

~ Francine Pucillo ~
(c)Copyright November 16, 2004
In Memory of all those lost in the line
of fire with courage, strength and love.

Chief Billy Cureington
Wisner Louisiana Police Dept.

January 6, 2005

Your service to your community is appreciated by all of us. May God bless you and the survivors of your family. Rest in peace brother.......

Trooper
Pennsylvania State Police

January 6, 2005

We are saddened to hear you are gone. We wish we could have seen the great man that you had become. You will be remembered always and loved forever. We wish you everlasting peace.

The Steve Kipp Family

January 6, 2005

In the Websters dictionary next to the word "heart" there ought to be a picture of you, George. In any case where spirit and desire were required to overcome a hurdle you always cleared it by a mile. I'll forever be amazed by your unique ability to unleash that spirit and control any physical situation. And I'll always be proud of your concern for "the little guy" and your willingness to confront any seemingly dominant opponent. Rest in peace friend. ES.

Eric Sheppard - Friend

January 5, 2005

Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life.
JOHN 6:47

Sgt.
Frankfort Police

January 4, 2005

“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

January 3, 2005

My heart hurts for your family and friends. May God be with them all.

Rest in Peace Agent Debates. Your service will not be forgotten.

LEO Wife
Georgia

January 2, 2005

On behalf of the members of the FBI Agents Association, I salute the life and service of Agent Debates. Rest In Peace.

Darin L. Paul, Special Agent
FBI Detroit Division

December 31, 2004

To George from your brothers from the Federal Air Marshal Service. It shocked everyone at the office to hear of your passing. I was in San Francisco when I heard and it didn't seem real. I just wanted to let you know you're missed around the office. I send this on behalf of the marshals of the Detroit office who knew and respected you. God bless you brother from a former PA.

Federal Air Marshal
DHS/ICE/FAMS

December 30, 2004

Rest in Peace.

SPA
USBP

December 30, 2004

Our thoughts and prayers are with Agent Debates, his family and friends as we mourn his sacrifice. God Bless.

Police Officer
Chicago Police Dept.

December 29, 2004

REST IN PEACE.

SPA JR RODRIGUEZ
USBP CASA GRANDE

December 29, 2004

May you rest in peace officer and may God watch over your family and friends. Thank you for being a hero.

Leo Spouse
St Petersburg

December 28, 2004

May god bless you and your family. Thank you for the service to your country. I will say a pray for you and all who still wear the green.

former USBP

December 28, 2004

May you be in God's wonderous glory. May the Debates family be comforted by God's awesome love. Godspeed

Senior Patrol Agent
US Border Patrol Tucson Station

December 28, 2004

RIP Brother

71
MPD

December 27, 2004

Agent Debates, your sacrifice will not be forgotten. You and your family are in our prayers. Rest Easy Brother!

Dep. P. Sperandeo, Officer A. Sperandeo
Jefferson Parish Sheriffs Office, Gretna Police Dept.. LA

December 27, 2004

Bub I can't believe you left on such short notice. You meant everything to all of us. I'm so sorry you had to go. I wish we would have got the chance to say goodbye or even got to say hello. We didn't ever get to spend much time together, but the memories I have will remain with me forever. You'll be in my heart & soul . I love you so much, nobody knows! R.I.P

I'd like to say THANK YOU for all of the other agents who showed me and my family so much sympathy in their many caring ways. GOD BLESS YOU ALL.

Your 1st cousin Erica

December 26, 2004

George,I hope you know how very proud your entire family is of you.We miss you so much, but find comfort in knowing that you're with God now. As you walk on The Streets Of Gold please know that we hold you in our hearts to be never forgotten and sadly missed. To all the people who have offered condolences-You'll never know what your kind words have done for my sister in her time of need. She lost her only child, but knowing how very special he is to other people and this great nation will help her in days to come. Again Thank-You all for everything and may God bless and keep you.

Your Aunt Tammy

December 26, 2004

May you rest in peace now that you are in a safer place. May you watch over all of us to help guide us thru the day. May you be remembered for who you are, and the lives you touched.
God rest for you are not forgotten.

Inspector PA Gust
United States Customs Service-Detroit

December 25, 2004

Your family and department are in our thoug
ths and prayers. God Speed and stay safe.

Trooper Brian P. Scott
Maine State Police

December 25, 2004

My fiance, Dennis McElderry, was the first law enforcement casualty of 2003. Dennis was a Deputy Sheriff with the Davis County Sheriff's Office in southeast Iowa. Dennis died doing a job he loved, just as I'm sure George did. It saddens me to know that Dennis was not the first to die in the line of duty, nor will he and George be the last to die this way.

Having gone through the pain of losing Dennis I can truly understand and feel the pain that Agent Debates' family, friends, and co-workers must be feeling. My heart goes out to you all, especially to his wife. No one can truly understand the pain of our loss until they've walked in our shoes. I wish I could give you a few words of wisdom to help you through this tough time, but there isn't anything I can really say or do to make the situation better. Just know that my thoughts are with you.

Please accept my condolences on behalf of the McElderry family and remember that George is part of huge law enforcement family. If you ever need anything any number of them will be there for you (as I've quickly found out!) From reading the many reflections posted here, I am certain George was well respected and well loved.

Thank you Agent Debates for a job well done and for helping to make this world a safer place for us all. Please say "hello" to my fiance Dennis for me.

Peace, Love, Luck, and Happiness!

Jocelyne Brar (Winnipeg, MB Canada)
Fiancee of Deputy Sheriff Dennis Ray McElderry - EOW (01/03/03)

December 25, 2004