Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

Well, I just heard a news brief saying they will not let your brothers and sisters in blue be in the court room in uniform. I really wish they would allow them to wear uniform. I am glad the day is coming for justice against someone who does not care about human life at all. I pray you are watching over everyone that loves you as they have to relive this day again in trial. God be with you Bryan. Your community misses you always. Everytime I see a 5/3rd bank I always think of you. Rest easy!

Westerville

February 16, 2006

Just thinking about you, I have been to court as much as I can. I went to 2 motion hearings and stopped in after I had a show up in uniform on Tuesday. I listened to some of the jury selections...wow it is amazing how far some people are removed from reality. We just got an email tonight, no one can attend in uniform now... To bad the Judge agreed on that, considering you paid the ultimate sacrifice in it! O well, that will not stop me from attending... I really think Justice will be done and we will not be paying that many tax dollars down the road if you get my drift.... KEEP US SAFE...WE ALL MISS YOU!

Officer jim Gilbert
CPD

February 16, 2006

Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.

Genesis 9:6

Donnie O

February 14, 2006

Dear Bryan,
As your trial begins, I pray daily that justice will be served. Your ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty deserves no less. Please know that I continue to keep you in my thoughts and prayers daily, and feel your presence helping me thru my own personal challenges. Continue to watch over us, especially those who continue to struggle with unresolved grief. Your sacrifice continues to inspire me and serves as a constant reminder as to the importance of family, loyalty, honor, and respect. Keeping you close to my heart always...
With love,
Sherri

Sherri A. Marzick
Mother-in-Law

February 13, 2006

Thanks for watching over us yesterday :)

a friend

February 11, 2006

Hurst family and friends my prayers are with you all. Love the Rivera family.

Margie Rivera, sister of fallen officer
NYPD William Rivera EOW 11/24/04

February 11, 2006

Marissa & Malia -

Fate is certainly a strange thing.

Living here in Columbus, I do recall seeing on the news the events that took place in that National City Bank on Broad street on January 6, 2005. Back then, I did not have near the appreciation I do today for the risk public safety officers take by getting up and going to work every day.

Until a few weeks ago, I had no idea this website existed - and would have preferred to have found it some other way than I did. A beloved family member was the last officer of 2005 to make the ultimate sacrifce to keep the public safe. Lieutenant Michael Walker is my cousin's husband.

As of today, the accident that took his life is still under investigation, and while it is likely the investigators will be able to recreate the accident, the outcome remains unchanged.

The services which took place were unlike anything I had seen. Forever engrained in my memory is the sight of my nine year old second cousin escorted into the prayer service on the eve of the funeral by an officer.

The grieving process for us is just beginning, but I am encouraged as I read the progression of your reflections. For some reason, this was the path that God chose for our loved ones; I would not wish this journey on my worst enemy.

One day, our family will find peace again - maybe not all on the same day at the same time, but in our own way. As you know, precious few seconds can dramatically alter the course of countless lives. While we grieve for our losses, we must also honor their memory by moving forward with life, and taking advantage of the time we have with the people we love.

Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with both of you as you wake up tomorrow and see what life brings today. Thank you for risking your own personal safety to keep the rest of us safe.

February 9, 2006

Wish you were here to celebrate sweet victory!!!

a friend

February 6, 2006

Hey how about those Steeelers! What a way to go out.....
I guess they just needed a angel on their side.

cuz

February 5, 2006

Your Steelers did it... Miss you..

Officer Jim Gilbert
CPD

February 5, 2006

Gumper,

We made it interesting but a win is a win!! Wish you could have enjoyed it too.

Love You Man!
Go Steelers,

O

February 5, 2006

enjoy the game tonight from the best seats in the house!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ofc. Daniel Jones (Med. Ret)
Columbus, Ohio Division of Police

February 5, 2006

Gumper,

It's Gameday!! Super Bowl XL. It's going to be hard watching without you. The boys may need a little help today. Hope you have a good seat. I'm still pulling for Seattle 20, Steelers 57.

2057 never forgotten.

Talk to you after the game. I'll be at the gravesite in a minute.

O

Sgt. Donnie Oliverio
Columbus, OH P.D.

February 5, 2006

You can never replace a loved one, but you can learn to love again.

One day till kickoff.

O

February 4, 2006

Gumper,

6 days until kickoff! Here we go STEELERS!!

Donnie O

January 30, 2006

Bryan-

It's late and I felt like "talking" to you. This 2nd shift thing is good and bad...one on hand, it's hard to sleep when I get home because I'm still in work mode. On the other hand, 2nds reminds me of why being a cop is fun. Dayshift made me a little too laid back on staying safe, but working at night quickly got me back on my toes. It isn't nearly as hard on Malia as I thought it would be, in fact, quite the opposite. I love spending time with her in the morning and early afternoon when I'm rested, instead of AFTER work when I'm exhausted. She definitely likes sleeping late, instead of me dragging her out of bed at 0600 like I used to. All in all, things on that front are good.

Although we didn't meet under the best circumstances, I am so happy to now know Kylie Collins and her family. They are really wonderful people and we've all bonded quickly. I guess it's true that we all share a common bond, but I know that we'd all be great friends regardless of how we all met. Sara, Krissy, Angie, Kylie and I are taking the girls to Disney Princesses on Ice next week. I'm really hoping that Malia likes it....or at least sits still for it.

Malia got her first haircut last week. I took her to a place that only cuts kids' hair. She got to sit in a little car and watch Elmo during the haircut. Needless to say, she now has a look somewhere between Carol Brady and a feathered mullet. It's odd, but looks decent with a few barrettes.

Felony came home from 'college' yesterday morning. He learned a few things and definitely has good house manners. I had to go to Petsmart last night because he ate his doggy bed while at college...perfect.

I can't believe your trial is coming up so soon. It seemed like ages away when I was told Feb 2006 last year, yet here we are. We are all preparing Victim Impact statements, telling how your murder has affected us. Well, let's see...how do you explain to a jury that it turns your entire world upside down? That your daughter now has no father? That you became a widow in your twenties? What it's like to have your husband's best friend come to your front door to tell you your husband won't be coming home from work? What it's like to ride in a paddywagon with your husband's body? How it rips holes in my heart everytime I see little girls with their daddies? How it feels when strangers look at me at the grocery store with Malia, see I don't have a wedding ring, and assume I'm an unwed mother? Bryan, there is no way to convey this to strangers; they will never know or understand.

Give us all strength in the days ahead.

Love,
Marissa

Marissa
Delaware County SO

January 27, 2006

gumper your steel curtain heads to detroit for the final showdown!!!! im sure you had a hand in that!!!!!

Ofc. Dan Jones (Ret)
Columbus Police

January 27, 2006

Sweet Victory!! Baby Malia busted out her Randel El jersey and we're taking the Bus to Detroit.

Love You Man!

Donnie O

January 23, 2006

Go Steelers, guess you were watchin out because God knows someone had their back. Lets go all the way......

friend

January 16, 2006

Gump,

The Steelers just pulled off a victory in what was almost the biggest bunch of crap in the history of organized sports. You would have been so pissed and so happy at the same time. A win is a win, but the refs tried their best to break one off in us. Wish you were here to experience it with me.

Donnie O

January 16, 2006

Bryan,

Although I never knew you personally, everytime I watch the Steelers play I take a moment and think of you. God bless you brother, you are missed.

"Gone but never forgotten"

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

January 11, 2006

Please know that you are in our thoughts and prayers as you mark the first anniversary of Officer Hurst's tragic death. May he always be remembered as a hero

Linda Lamm - LEO Wife and Sister of
Jay Balchunas EOW 11.05.04

January 10, 2006

Officer Hurst..you - your family - friends & co-workers are in my thoughts & prayers as they honor you on your 1 yr. anniversary with the Lord..continue to watch over them & your fellow brothers/sisters in blue..YOU ARE GONE..BUT NEVER FORGOTTEN..REST IN PEACE & WITH EASE BLUE ANGEL!!!!

girlfriend of a dpd
detroit, mi

January 10, 2006

Bryan-

It has been an emotional day. This morning, we laid another of our own to rest, Dep. Ethan Collins. I went to the funeral with Krissy, Sara and Angie and am so glad that I did. What an outstanding group of women - they are such incredible friends. I seem to go back and forth between being a grieving deputy and a grieving widow - it's hard to be both. On one hand I want to remain stoic and on the other, I want to really take everything in and feel every emotion. I made it through the funeral just fine but the burial was another story. We seemed to collectively lose it during the procession of the riderless horse and then the radio call "Radio to 268? Radio to 268? Unit 268 is signal 37. Unit 268 has been called home." What made it incredibly emotional is that the riderless horse was in fact Ethan's own horse, Jake. It was unbelievably sad, but we all clung to each other and made it through.

The burial brought back a lot of memories about your's. Seeing the Pipes and Drums today made me think of last year, how I could remember the pouring rain dripping from their fuzzy hats. I remember the bagpipes sounding a little funny because they were soaking wet. Selfishly though, I kept thinking today that I was so glad that it wasn't me going through all of that again; so happy that my days of confusion and intense grief have passed. I would not wish that feeling of emptiness on my worst enemy. There aren't even words to express how I hurt for Kylie Collins.

The one year anniversary of your passing was exactly as I had hoped it would be; low-key, private, and respectful. There was an incredible plaque dedication to you at the 2/18 sub. It was packed with family and friends and it was nice to see some faces that I haven't seen lately. Afterwards, we had our Christmas with your family at my house. Malia got to open her presents and had a blast. She got lots of goodies, including a Dora table and chairs, which she is very thrilled with. We all went to Buca di Beppo for a big dinner, which I felt was fitting since we had our wedding rehearsal dinner there. Everyone had a good time and we celebrated the good times. I don't want to talk about anything but the good times. I don't like when I am drilled about what happened in the bank...do I think A, B, or C happened? Hey, I wasn't there that day and therefore I don't know what happened. I'm not going to drill anyone who WAS there for details because I am sure they are dealing with their own grief. I am not getting caught up in all of the little details because it doesn't change the outcome. Further, it doesn't help my mental health to intensely focus on that day. Hearing from the Reynoldsburg officers as well as the medics was good enough for me. They all told me that your death was almost instant and that you did not suffer. That is comforting for me.

Every time I come to this page and look at the academy photo that was posted, I think "That is NOT Bryan." That picture was of you many years ago, before we even knew each other, and is not the Bryan I remember. I searched the computer photo files for one that looked like MY Bryan so here it is. Upstairs in my memorial room, I have the enormous photo (again, the academy pic) that sat on your casket at the funeral. Every time I look at it, I smile because it just isn't you. That was the all-business, just outta the Marine Corps, high-and-tight haircut Bryan. I'm glad we met several years later, because I don't know if we would've liked each other then!! The Bryan in all of my pictures is the pizza-eating, Xbox playing, relaxed, sarcastically funny guy that we all remember.

Miss Malia is with your parents this weekend. It's been a long time since she has been to visit them overnight and I miss her. It's going to be quiet around her until I get her back, because Felony leaves for puppy college tomorrow.

We love you and miss you!

Love,
Marissa and Malia

Marissa
Delaware County SO

January 9, 2006

Bryan, I was one of the paramedics that responded the day you were shot. I wrote this while sitting at Grant afterwards. I'm sorry i'm not much of a poet.

Thank you noble servant
for your vigilant watch
answering our calls
no matter what the cost
i wish i could pay you
for all that you endure
but never could i afford
the reward you so deserve
all my riches i would give to you
my faithful brother in blue
keeping me safe, all the nights thru
having your family and friends
make that sacrifice with you
so my gallant man
all that i can do
is raise a hand to my brim
in a show of gratitude
take my salute, it is all i can do
to humbly say "Thank You"
for all that you do
so go in peace
God rest your soul
help us dry our eyes
know that you have given
something than can not die
Frienship
Love
Brotherhood
Honor
Sacrifce

TTFD

January 8, 2006