Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

I don't know why I am continually drawn to this site. I have never been impacted by anything as personally as I am by your death. Yours was a loss that wrenched my heart, I'm so very sorry Marissa and Malia. I was looking on my site tonight for something else, and again read my poem to you, and again followed my link here. I then spend time reading the many offerings of love made towards you and your family. I read Marissa's letters to you, and I want to cry for her. Someone mentioned the Red, White, & Boom theme this year was "Heroes". It's true, you will always be...
In Gods hands now.
Paul

Paul J Haldy
just a Westerville resident

July 18, 2006

Just wanted to thank you and say Happy Birthday to your baby girl

July 15, 2006

Rest In Peace Bryan. You will be always be remembered!!

Officer Brandon Harris #10
Valleyview Police Department

July 12, 2006

Brian its b/c of of you, the CPD and your buddy Jimmy Ashenhurst that im a police officer today...RIP brother we have the watch.

Officer Brent Gudorf
Newport Beach P.D.

July 8, 2006

Just thinking about you and the sacrifice you made. The theme for Red White and Boom this year was "Heroes." They must have had you in mind. Keep watch over us all.

Officer Robert Sagle #2254
Columbus Ohio Division of Police

July 5, 2006

For those who pledge to uphold it, Freedom requires a Sacrifice the protected will never know...

Officer Eric H. Brill (Retired)
Whitehall Division of Police

July 4, 2006

Bryan,

Today is a day that when I hear the fireworks going off I will think of all the people who are serving in the military and people who give their life to save another. I could never say Thanks enough to you. Just wanted to let you know that I am thinking of you and your wonderful family this 4th of July=)

Heather

Heather

July 4, 2006

Although there are many days to memorialize those that have passed away. Today, we celebrate "Our" Independence. But, if it werent for those who afforded us this celebration, we'd be living another life. Gone but not forgotten, you're one of our "True American Heroes".

RIP Brother....We'll get it from here!!

Ward
CPD

July 4, 2006

Kiss me goodnight and say my prayers
Leave the light on at the top of the stairs
Tell me the names of the stars up in the sky
A tree taps on the window pane
That feeling smothers me again
Daddy is it true that we all have to die

At the top of the stairs
Is darkness

I closed my eyes and when I looked
Your name was in the memorial book
and what had become of all the things we planned
I accepted the commiserations
Of all your friends and your relations
But there's some things I still don't understand

You were so tall
How could you fall?

July 2, 2006

I often come to the ODMP site to read the reflections of my friends that I lost while I was a Norfolk Cop. Somehow, I ran across Officer Hurst's memorial and I am always touched by the reflections left for him and the strength his wife has to stand up for what is right for HER and not the "system." How ironic that in Norfolk, the recruit who graduates with the best grades & dedication wins an award named after an officer we lost, Kit Hurst. He died working next to my father many years ago. Columbus and the Hurst family are lucky to have known such a hero as Bryan Hurst. It seems that each day the dirtbags on the street have less & less respect for the men and women in uniform. Although many miles are between Norfolk and Columbus, I admire your department, friends and family for keeping your honor and funny stories alive. My son chose you to write about a true "HERO" for his 8th grade project. Know that many students pray for the family and co-workers left behind and have a new respect for police officers. If you are ever in the Tidewater area we would love to have you meet the students who studied what it means to be a "hero"- and that means not only Officer Hurst, but his wife that is left behind to try to lead a "normal" life.

Former Norfolk, VA POII
Norfolk, VA, City Police

June 23, 2006

I went by Grant last night to check on the Deputy US Marshal who was shot in the arm from yesterday. all those guys were so professional and (behind the scenes) very supportive during the trial. almost immediately they recognized me and were in great spirits..We all talked about you watching over him from above, it was kinda weird, it happened just a mile or so from the bank on 14 prect... Keep us safe brother...miss you...

Officer Jim Gilbert
Columbus PD

June 23, 2006

Hey brotha', Wanted to wish you a happy belated fathers day. Also to tell you to look out for all of us this summer. It is absolutely off the hook and hopefully we'll combat some of it. I'm on a summer task force to try and deter some violent crimes. We're getting about 2 guns a day from our unit. I've told you before and I'll say it again, every arrest I make I think of you. I look up at that button in my cruiser with your picture in it and say "That's for you man!!" Of all the guns I've ever recovered, there's 2 I didnt get and they killed my friends. Every time I turn one in I think of another officer who's life I saved. Could be mine, my brother's, my friends or an unknown officer. Regardless, it's one less funeral I'm attending, one less family ruined and one more child who gets to see their father.

RIP Brotha', we'll get it from here!!

Ward
CPD

June 20, 2006

Happy Father's Day Bryan

June 18, 2006

Bry-

It's late and I'm still up. Tomorrow is Father's Day. You never got to celebrate a single one with Malia and it isn't fair. She is a very, very, very loved little girl and has wonderful people in her life....but still, it is so hard. About two weeks ago, I was looking at books at Target. They had a Fathers Day book display and I saw a book titled "Why Every Daughter Needs a Father." I cried at Target - it was so bad.

In many ways, I feel grateful that Malia was only 5 months old when you were taken from us. I feel that way because she really has no sense of loss right now. She isn't mourning the loss of her father the way that an older and more aware child would. However, in another way, I feel that she was deprived of getting to know you at all. It's a struggle to decide which would be less harmful in the long run.

I'm going to show her some different photos of you tomorrow. I'm not planning to take her to the cemetery, I'm sure much to the dismay of some. I just don't think toddlers belong hanging out at cemeteries, knowing their daddies as only headstones. It's creepy and wrong, because you aren't even there, just your body and not your spirit. Malia instead needs to see photos, videos, and hear stories about her daddy and what an awesome man he was.

Bryan, I have to tell you that I am SO TIRED of all things sad and depressing. A huge weight has been lifted now that DC and all of the major memorial events have passed. Constantly focusing on death is so emotionally exhausting that I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy. Going to DC and meeting with other survivors was cool. Hearing the stories of what happened to the other families was awful and made me realize that it could be much, much worse for us. The piece of sh*t who killed you was caught and will eventually be executed, so it gives us a small piece of closure. So many other surviving police families don't have that luxury...I learned that there are many police killings unsolved, and even worse, convicted killers who received pathetic sentences. Anyways, I am glad it is over. Life feels good now and most importantly, it is OKAY to feel good.

Malia is having a great summer. We joined a pool and she loves to splash around the baby pool and play with the pool toys. It is very cool being able to relax during the summer instead of putting on a vest and gunbelt and sweating my butt off. She and I are doing all kinds of fun stuff. She is taking a toddler gymnastics class and I'm trying to find a stable that gives riding lessons with ponies. She is a pony fanatic. Felony has been slowly destroying her stuffed rocking horse and finally gutted the whole thing today and Malia cried. One week, he ate the tail, then the mane...then finally pulled out the stuffing today. I guarantee you would have sent him to the pound by now if you were here :) That dog has been the biggest pain in the butt this weekend, but that is another story. He is laying next to the bed right now, snoring so loud that I can't hear the TV.

There are so many things that remind me of you lately. Lots of little things remind me of things you used to do and say. I found a CD that I had burned a few years ago. You used to get mad because I would burn a bunch and forget to label them, so you wrote 'MARISSA'S MUSIC' in black marker on this CD. It was weird seeing your handwriting...it's been a long time since I've seen it. I laughed though, because 'MARISSA'S MUSIC' didn't tell me damn thing about what songs were on the CD. All you cared about was that it definitely wasn't something you'd listen to, so you labeled it accordingly.

There are so many things of yours that I just can't bring myself to get rid of. Not the obvious stuff, like your K9 trophies and Marine Corps treasured stuff, but the small and insignificant things instead. I can't seem to get rid of the Cleveland Browns sweatpants that you always wore, that had huge holes in both pockets. I think you liked them so you could scratch yourself....umm...discreetly. What was funniest though is that the biggest Steelers fan was wearing Browns sweats.

Well, it's almost 1 a.m. and Miss Malia will be waking me bright and early. We love you and miss you Bryan.

Love,
Marissa

Marissa

June 17, 2006

Bryan,

Happy Father's Day!!!!

June 17, 2006

I can't help but to think of you as we approach what you were truly all about, being the best dad. Hope you have a Happy Father's Day up there looking down on not so little Malia.

June 16, 2006

I was just thinking about you today so I thought I'd leave a note.

June 13, 2006

I wanted to make it to D.C. this year more than last year but I could'nt. I feel kinda guilty that I didn't just wait till 2006 to go. Even though I didn't know you personally, I felt the inportance of going to hear your name read, seeing your name on the wall and looking at pictures of you. I'm really sorry I could'nt make it. But please know that I really wanted to. I know what a great guy you are and I know so many others went. I just feel really bad. I think about what happened to you all the time. I dunno why it had to. I tend to believe everything happens for a reason. But, I just dunno. There is no reason in my mind why you had to go and not someone else, ya know?

June 3, 2006

Bryan,
We are thinking of you as we take time to celebrate all of the Heros of our great country!

Rest in Peace Dear Friend

a friend

May 26, 2006

We met your family at the Capitol on May 15, 2006. Your family and ours share so many things. We were sitting in front of little Cole who was behaving like such a big boy for the entire event. Your mother-in-law was sitting next to my mom, who is the mother-in-law of the fallen officer in our family. My sister comes from a family of three girls, and my sister was pregnant with little Cody when our brother-in-law was murdered during a bank robbery. We share so many similiar fates and are now all part of the large family of fallen officers. We learned all about little Melia and how she blows kisses to your picture. Our little Cody will gentley touch his fathers picture when you ask him, 'Where's Daddy?" I hope you and my brother-in-law, Larry are in heaven together sharing a beer and watching over us all. My heart goes out to your family as I know all too well the pain they feel. It sounds like your family is doing a wonderful job teaching little Melia all about her hero Daddy. Maybe someday Melia and Cody will be able to get together and share stories about what hero's their Daddy's are.

Louise
sister-in-law, Larry Lasater

May 25, 2006

My life is forever changed after attending the services at the National Law Enforcement Memorial. So many came to honor you, Bryan. Seeing your cruiser decorated in front of the memorial brought back vivid memories of your cruiser parked in your driveway on your stops home from work. I remember you turning the flashing lights and siren on to show Malia and how fascinated she was with everything. What a respectful gesture that was to have your cruiser as part of the honorarium! I took about 100 photos of the many events honoring fallen officers, and will share these with Malia when she is older. The collages Marissa made for you on "the wall" were very touching. The candlelight vigil was especially moving. We all stood together when your name was announced honoring the ultimate sacrifice you made that fateful day at the bank. I was so impressed with the amount of empathy and sensitivity displayed by everyone attending the events. The service on the Capital lawn was amazing. Seeing all the honor guards and bag pipers from all over the United States certainly reflected the magnitude of this event. I cried the first time I saw your name engraved on the memorial wall. I read all the written honorariums beside your name, looked at all the photos of you at your wedding, with little Malia, with your friends, and with Marissa. I closed my eyes and reflected on the details of each photo (and you know I took many of those pictures!) and remembered what happy times they were. If I would have only known your time with us would have been so short, I would have taken so many, many more pictures. I carry a picture of you in my car and ask that you continue to watch over me, and all your family/friends. You will always remain in my heart, and I will forever cherish the wonderful times I spent with you.

Sherri A. Marzick
Mother-in-Law

May 23, 2006

Bryan,

The last couple of days at the bank have been so hard for me. Today I working and a police officer was in the lobby. When I was helping him I noticed that his badge was 2 digits from yours. I told him that 2057 saved my life. The officer mentioned that you were his friend and he was in class with you. When he told me that It took all that I had not to break down. I felt my face getting red and I could hardly say that "thank you" I knew he could tell that I was upset. I tried so hard not to get upset. It would have been easier not to mention your name, but I want people to know that you saved my life and many others. Thanks again Bryan and all police offiers.

~HC~

May 22, 2006

R.I.P. Officer Hurst you are not forgotten.

Deputy
El Paso County Sheriff

May 20, 2006

Bryan, Im so glad to read what an inpact you have had on so many people. You have been honored this last 16 months in several ways, but you'll always be a hero to your family, friends and those at the bank that day! I find peace in some weird way by just reading the things people write each day to you, and to see that so many have you in their thoughts each day.
The memories you left behind will forever touch us all. Im so proud to talk about you to my friends and tell them what a hero you are. As I end each day by reading this page, I pray you will watch over us another day and look forward to reading more stories about you. Keep us safe. I Love You.

friend

May 19, 2006

Bryan,

Seeing your name on the wall in DC reminded me that this is all so real. A co-worker is not here anymore. A person I spoke with just an hour before is gone. A hero was taken from us. I am still so proud of what you did for all of those people you saved. God Bless you and continue to watch over us all.

Officer Robert Sagle #2254
Columbus Ohio Division of Police

May 19, 2006