Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

We pause today on the 3rd anniversary of your death and say a prayer for your loved ones who still mourn you.
Rest in peace Sir you are not forgotten.
Chief John Roelandts (retired)
Deborah Roelandts (911 retired)
Oconomowoc Wisconsin

Chief John Roelandts (retired)
Town of Oconomowoc

December 29, 2007

The purpose of life is to glorify God. Sounds like you
sure did. Congrats!
Lynn Kole
Bellingham, WA

December 29, 2007

As I sit here this cold December morning and think of how life has been without you I start to cry, because it has not been the greatest time for us your family miss's you so very much. I know that while you where here with us we had tried to find your daughter but was unable to and now with your infuence we have finally got together again. We went to Texas for Thanksgiving and the girls got to meet their wonderful big sister and your wonderful daughter and her new family. You would have loved being with her again after 20 years. She is so much like her dad. We are getting by going on day by day, we are still here in Georgia where you loved to be and your children don't want to be to far away from their dad. This is one of your favorite times of the year, we will be going out to hunt the wild christmas tree and deck out the house like you always did. We love you and miss you so very very much. And I miss you so very much you where my soul mate and best friend for over 20 years our love will go on forever that will never change.

Janeen

December 1, 2007

"The Badge"
He starts his shift each day
To respond to calls unknown.
He drives a marked patrol car.
A police officer he is known.
He's paid by the citizens' taxes
To make it safe on the streets.
But he usually has a second job
'Cause a waitress has his salary beat.
Now he doesn't know a holiday
'Cause he works all year round.
And when Thanksgiving and Christmas finally arrive
At his home he cannot be found.
He's cursed and assaulted often,
The one whos blood runs blue.
He seldom ever gets a thanks,
To some he's just a fool.
His friends are always other cops
'Cause people just don't understand
That underneath his badge and gun,
He's just another man.
He knows there might not be a tomorrow
In this world of drugs and crime.
And he gets so mad at the court system
'Cause the crooks don't get any time.
And each day when he leaves for work,
He prays to God above.
Please bring me home after my shift
So I can see the ones I love.
But tonight he stops a speeding car,
He's alone down this ole' highway.
It's just a little traffic infraction.
He does it everyday.
Well, he walks up to the driver's window,
And his badge is shining bright.
He asked the guy for a driver's license,
When a shot rang through the night.
Yes, the bullet hit its mark,
Striking the officer in the chest.
But the Department's budget didn't buy
Each officer a bullet-proof vest.
So he lay on the ground bleeding.
His blood wasn't blue - His blood was red.
And briefly he thought of his loved ones
'Cause in a moment the officer was dead.
In the news they told the story
Of how this officer had died.
And some who listened cared less,
But those who loved him cried.
Well, they buried him in uniform
With his badge pinned on his chest.
He even had his revolver,
He died doing his best.
Written By:
David L. Bell
Sergeant
Richland County Sheriff's Department
Columbia, South Carolina
Used with Special Permission of the Author
Copyright © 1999 - All Rights Reserved
and may not be duplicated without permission

Investigator David L Bell
Richland County Sheriff's Dept., Columbia, SC

October 10, 2007

Hey dad,
I just wanted to say hi and that i was thinking of you. I miss ya and love you.

Crystal
Daughter

October 8, 2007

Chris,
I just stopped by to say hello again. You are on my mind every day. I can't help but think of you when I pass the place where you undeservingly lost your life.
We'll meet again one day..........

-Jeff

Jeff Whitmire

August 29, 2007

Chris,

I came here today to read more of the many great things that people still have to say about you and I saw something that stood out from all the rest. That something was a post from your daughter, Crystal.

I know how long you searched for her, tried to contact her - only to find brick wall after brick wall. And though I'm sorry she'll never know you in the flesh, I am happy that she'll get the chance to know of you through the stories people tell and the reflections they leave here in your memory.

You truly were a great man. Thank you for inviting me into your home all those years ago.

Greg Best
Family/Friend

August 21, 2007

Dad, I know you know what's going on now as i can feel that you are watching over me and Janeen,courtney,katie and Mikey. We are finally getting to meet soon after all these years and I'm am sooo happy and looking forwarding to meet my brother and sisters and Janeen too. Janeen is a great gal and you are soo lucky to have her as a wife, She's a great person and I love her to death. On the day we meet, I hope you will be watching over us and we can sit here and hear your laughters and be able to see your face all smiling. Can't wait to see you, hope you're getting the ranch ready for all of us when it's our time to come. We love you.

Daughter

August 2, 2007

Ofc.Chris Ruse, As I did not know you or your family I Knew exactly what you stood for. As I approached the staging area for your memorial that sad day that we laid you to rest I was overcome by the men and women who of there own time showed to pay there respect for what I later learned was a great man of honor. As the convoy of Police vehicle entered the highway After looking into my rear view mirror I broke down into tears seeing what appeared to be an endless sea of lights. Chris You are deeply missed and I't touched my family's heart when we learned the morning after the incident that your children and wife were left behind. From the moment at gravesite I noticed your son sitting under the canopy I could not immagine what a little young man he would grow up to be and I am praying and praying daily that your family including the Law Enforcement family can heal from our loss. Chris I will see you someday! 10-8 for now my friend.

Fmr Cpl. Cliff DeVore
Lumpkin Co Sheriffs Ofc

July 28, 2007

Chris,

I still think about you and all the funny things you did and said. The faxed you sent on night shift kept us going many a night. You're missed and thought us a lot.

Jessica
911

June 19, 2007

HAPPY FATHERS DAY DAD!

Crystal
Daughter

June 18, 2007

Dad, I just found out the news and I'm in shock,I hurt so bad because I never got to see you again. It's been too long. I had missed you for most of my life and will continue missing you until we meet again. There are soo many things i want to share with you but i'll wait. I just want you to know that I love you and always had and I've never forgotten you. I've been searching for years and when i finally found you, that's when I got the news. I wrote a 10 page letter to you and now i told my husband that when i die, buried the letter with me so i can take it to heaven and read it to you. I talked to you in my prayer last night for a full hour. I'm soo sorry it had to be this way, I'll never understand why. I hope your family will want to take the chance to talk to me and meet me. I talk to Grandpa Charlie, he found me. I love you Dad and I miss you. Until we meet again, with all my love, your daughter from san antonio, texas.

Crystal
Daughter

June 6, 2007

Just thinking of you on Memorial Day, you are gone but not forgotten!!

Jeff Whitmire

May 28, 2007

Hey Chris, I stopped by you're gravesite the other day. I just want to thankyou for all of the times you were there for me.
Take Care!!

Jeff Whitmire

May 6, 2007

Hey Chris, I love you and miss you!!

February 28, 2007

i think of you always. i will never forget the type of man you are. Too many to list. That man who did this deserves the death penalty for what he did. I guess as long he is in there not another man, woman, or child can get hurt. It hurts think in that it had to be you to get him there. I pray every day that it wouldn't happen to anyone else in the field i know it's tough but they can handle it i guess.

Love always a friend

a friend
pendergrass pd

January 17, 2007

Chris,
I still can't forget how I felt that night, the phine call the knock on the door the disbelief and the sorrow. How could this be, not you! How could I tell the kids, how could this happen, this could not be true. You're always the one to guide us and protect us and now you are gone. Why, who please tell me they were wrong. It has taken me a long time to come to terms with this and to stop crying every time I thought of you, but now I am remembering all those goofy things we shared and all the times you made me see that there could always be something good come from any situation. You taught me that I was stronger than I gave myself credit for and that I COULD handle all that was sent my way. You always showed me a better way of looking at things and to always smile no matter what. I am a better person because of you and so are the kids. We still talk about you and what you might have said when life gets hard. It makes me feel closer to you when I am feeling down and overwhelmed, until I think what you would tell me to do. Thank you for all your help and inspiration for myself and my kids. I see so much of your humor and strength that has inspired us all when times are toughest. You inspire all of us to help others and share your message of self love and courage.
There is a new little one on his way and I can't help but think you are watching out for him too while you continue to look out for us. He already reminds us of your strength and stubornness everyday. He has a lot of challenges and keeps right on hanging in there and surprising us all each and every day. Some times it is as if he is saying "this isn't going to keep me down, there are to many people depending on me" just like you so often did. Just when we start to worry the most he bounces back and encoureges us all. He will definately Know about you and how you inspired ua and cared for us and gave us that kick in the pants just when we needed it most.
Again thank you for all you havedone and still do for us every day with the lessons you taught us about ourselves. We miss you.

Tammy

January 2, 2007

Wow. It's already been 2 years. Somehow it still doesn't seem real. It's hard to believe that this much time has passed already. How did we all make it 2 years without you in our lives? Some people believe that time heals all wounds...but it's been 2 years and somehow I think I hurt even more now than I did 2 years ago. You were on my mind all day yesterday. And I know that all of your friends and family were thinking of you too, whether they wanted to remember or not, they were still thinking of you. Thank you for everything you did for me throughout my life, others may have taken your service for granted, but I never did. And thank you for watching over me these past 2 years, I try to keep in mind that I have to be on my best behaviour now that you're watching. Until we meet again, rest easy.

December 30, 2006

Well it has be 2 years since that terrible day. I think about you all the time and I miss you brother! You will never be forgotten!

Ricky

December 30, 2006

Hi. Just wanted to stop in and say "hey". I miss you all of the time, but I think I'm getting to be okay with it. I know you're in a much better place now and for that I'm thankful. I think of you often, fortunately as more time goes by, I start to remember YOU, not what happened to you or to your shooter. Of course, it's only been today that I've actually felt okay, tomorrow will be bad again, I'm sure. But for some reason, today I felt, for the first time ever, peaceful when thinking of you. I knew that I couldn't worry anymore. I finally felt okay, and I knew that it was because you were with me. This is how you've wanted me to feel all along, and today you finally showed me that. I'll try harder to be more at peace with your death. I will try harder to no longer focus on your death so much, but instead focus on your life. I love you, and thanks for being with me today.

October 27, 2006

Chris,
I just wanted to stop in and tell you hi. Everyday on my way to work I drive past the spot where you tragically and undeservingly lost your life. Each time I drive past it I think of you.
You are always in my thoughts and in my heart, take care brother!
Jeff

Jeff Whitmire

September 21, 2006

Chris,
Brother I miss you. I just wanted to say hey. Thanks for still being there for me. Through your great leadership, it keeps me going. I cannot thank you enough for the things you taught me. I love you brother.

Cpl. Ross
Winder P.D.

September 6, 2006

Before Dec. 29 I never even knew of this site, and now I check it regularly. I still can't believe that I know one of the many officers listed. I never thought it could happen to someone I knew. Your death has caused many changes in my life. Most of which are good changes, but I would go back to way things were, just to have you back again. I wanted to say I'm sorry for not going to your gravesite. After your funeral, I felt like I just had to get out of there. I felt like I had to just get in my car and drive all the way back home as fast as I could. I guess I thought that if I were back home, it wouldn't hurt so much. Since your death, going back to Winder isn't exactly easy. I drive down the streets and think of different memories we shared driving through those same streets years before. Even in a car full of people, I can always pick out the spots where you taught me what lesson or what story you shared, meanwhile, everyone else in the car knows nothing of my internal hell. I try to understand, but the more I try, the more I realize that nothing will ever make sense of this. It's just not fair. I want to be at God, but I know I can't. I want to be mad at your murderer, but you tell me to forgive. Sorry this is so long. To your family and all of your other friends, I share your pain, for I loved him too. Chris-I love you and will hold you in my heart forever. And while I didn't say it enough while you were still here, thank you for EVERYTHING you ever did for me and my family.

August 30, 2006

Can you believe that this happened again today? Please tell god to let our friend be okay. I know you are watching all of this. Although it was awful to lose you I know that you are up there trying to convince god why all of our others should stay down here. We all miss you and you would not be able to believe what has been going on since you left us. I know we will never understand why this happened to you but please try to help us understand why this keeps happening at all. Talk to you later. RIP.

Coworker
Coworker

August 21, 2006

Hey Chris...I have not stop by to say hey lately but I want you to know that you have never left my heart or mind. Everyday I think about the memories that we had and I miss hearing your voice. I know that you are in such a better place and god is taking care of you. I know that you are watching over all of us, and you are with me everyday day. I will write soon, and just remember I love ya brother, and you will always be my brother.

RD

August 20, 2006