Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

Hi Dad,

I thought I would write and wish you a happy birthday. Right now I should be out buying you some crazy card and how I wish I could give it to you. We saved a childs life this morning ( on your birhday ). I have again found something to be passionate about, a job that I can't put as much determination into as you did yours, that drive that makes you feel human. And I am so thankful that I found that passion again that I thought I never would since you have been gone. I miss you so much and I love you more then you will ever know. Just know that me, Chuck, Zach, Riley, Syd, and little Macy Justice a.k.a MJ are thinking of you today and selfishly wishing you were here with us. No one will ever know how much I miss our mornings, me having breakfast and you having sugar and coffee, mostly sugar. I miss hearing your voice, for the longest time I have kept a recording of it, though it is not the same. Please watch over your grandbabies for me, now knowing that at anytime life as we know it could change forever in a blink of an eye I worry and I pray everyday to keep my family safe. It is hard still, I want those kids to be the last thing I see at night every night and the first faces I see in the morning. It is so hard to believe that with death a person can really learn to love and grow as a person through a pain that you are sure that will surely rob you of your heart and soul. Thank you for all of the love and support you gave me, for that I will always be thankful.
Love Always,
Trace

Tracy

August 9, 2006

MRS. COCHRAN, TRACY, JOSH AND JESSICA,

YOU EPITOMIZE WHAT I SAY TO PEOPLE IN YOUR SITUATION. THAT IS, "KEEP HIM IN YOUR HEART, AND PASS HIS STORY ALONG". YOU ARE, OBVIOUSLY, A WONDERFUL FAMILY. IT WARMS MY HEART TO READ THE REFLECTIONS THAT YOU LEAVE FOR YOUR HUSBAND AND DAD. HE WAS A TRUE HERO.

TRACY-GOOD LUCK WITH THE NEW BABY.
JOSH-BEST OF LUCK IN SCHOOL.
JESSICA-KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK, AND CONGRATULATIONS ON REACHING ALL OF YOUR GOALS.
MRS. COCHRAN-YOU AND YOUR FAMILY ARE IN MY PRAYERS.
ONE OF MY DREAMS IS TO VISIT THE "WALL" IN D.C. WHICH I WILL DO THIS YEAR. AS I HAVE 2 FRIENDS WHO ARE HONORED THERE. I COMMIT TO YOU THAT I WILL LOOK UP TOM WHEN I AM THERE. I LEFT A REFLECTION FOR TOM WHEN THIS INCIDENT FIRST HAPPENED. I HAVE PRAYED FOR YOU ALL SINCE. GOD BLESS YOU.

JIM SWEENEY CIVILIAN NEW JERSEY
A FRIEND TO ALL PEACE OFFICERS

August 7, 2006

I love you very very much. I miss you so0o much. Words can't describe. I can't wait to see you again!! Josh graduated and we are very proud of him. He looked very good in his cap and gown. He got his diploma. Next stop is Vincennes University!!! He is following your footsteps dad and going into law enforcment. He has some very big shoes to fill but I have alot of faith in him. His Graduation party turned out really good. Rusty Bladen played and everything. we had alot of fun. Your 2nd annual bike run
was good too. I believe you had a part in that by letting the sun shine. it was beautiful out and the tempature was perfect!! we had over 158 bikes i think. Alot of people miss you daddy. I know I do!! I will be starting freshman year now. I am very excited.A little scared but it's all good! Josh will be in college and i'll be by myself in High School! lol. but I hope you will be with Josh as he goes for an awsome career ; ] Me and mom are going to be leaving for camp this Monday. I am very excited because i will get to see all my friends!! me and mom always have alot of fun at this camp! well i will talk to you later dad. I love you very very very much!! xoxoooooo
love jess**

Jessica Cochran, Daughter

July 27, 2006

Hi Tom,
First let me say, the pain of missing you from me, Josh, Jess & rest of the family is still there.....A pain (for me) like you cannot describe...bus shows the man you were.
Well Tom, somehow (with enormous support from friends, family & just plain kind people....) I pulled off what we had planned together the months before your accident. That being an 'all out' deserving bash for our son who turned 18 in December 2005. That was our first Christmas without you Tom & there was no way I could have done it. However, since he received that disappointment, I discussed with him our plan (& took it up a notch or so) incorporating his now belated 18 birthday party, his graduation party & also his 'going away to college' party.
We had the best turn out, lots of family & friends, great kids, excellent food & Josh's favorite....Rusty Bladen on stage singing until almost 3:00 am & Josh was on stage with him strumming the h*ll out of that guitar he 'SELF TAUGHT' himself to play - to eventually signing 2 more songs with Rusty. We had a great time (thankfully) & missed you terribly but knew you were there with us & watching over us. Next weekend is your memorial/poker run.
That too is going to be a big hit! Many people asking about it & riding in it. Again, Chuck & Mike worked hard on it to make it another success. Nothing but the best for you....We are reminded of it everyday we look at a picture with that great grin. Be with us there too baby & keep us all safe to ride home again in your honor & memory.

We love & miss you....

Until we meet again.
All my love,
Jo'Nee

Jo'Nee Cochran
Spouse

July 17, 2006

Hey Dad,
Well life is still moving at the same crazy pace it always has, except I just can't get with the program, still feeling like I am trying to jump aboard but, the marry-go-round won't slow down enough.
I think about you everyday and miss you as much as ever. Loosing you has change so many lives and not for the good. I think of what a good heart you had when dealing with others and wish that if would have rubbed off on more people around here. You truely were one of a kind. Riding doesn't hold the same thrill as it did when we road together...just stepping back from life and taking a breath of fresh air to enjoy the simple things. Nothing seems simple anymore, probably because it isn't. Father's Day was not what it should have been. Even though it was Chuck's first Father's Day it was not much of a celebration for me. I have been offered a job in another state and it is hard to not go. But then I have as much reason to stay here as I have to go. Macy is getting so big, she is hitting so many mile stones and I am always amazed by her. She still has your bald head. It just kills me that she will never know you. I never thought that I would ever have to experience this, loosing my playmate. It has been so long since I had a good laugh, like we use to. Many times I have felt like I wish I could have traded places with you, then I would not had to of felt this pain that is so undiscribable, and so real. It is an awful feeling to feel like half a person, to be torn between happiness and hell on earth. Only 2 days before your accident I can see you, you were smiling and taking pictures...and just enjoying the party and I see "you" as I am walking out the door looking over my shoulder and thinking how lucky I was to have such a fun loving person as my father.
I love you dad and I "still" hope you know that. Thanks for being that awsome person you were and for having such a big heart.

Tracy

June 30, 2006

Jo'Nee and family,
Thank you so much for your kind words on Michael's page. I am so glad to have met you and I hope you know that I am here for you and your family as I know you are for me and mine. I grieve for the reason we have come into each others lives but am thankful, at the same time, that we can help each other through this journey.
I am thankful, too, that Kelsey has found a strong connection to Jessica...I am glad they have each other and know that the tragic bond that they share will connect them forever and that they will always know that they have someone who "gets it" in their lives.
I look forward to seeing you again and know that our husbands our looking down on us and are proud at the progress we have made and continue to make.

Denise Scarbrough, surviving spouse
Sgt. Michael A. Scarbrough EOW 2/9/05

June 29, 2006

Dear daddy,
Hey hows it going? pretty good here. I just wanted to say HAPPY FATHERS DAY!!!!!!!!!! To a father that was a hero and a best friend!! i love you with all my heart! i miss you so much each and every day! Now i just have something to look forward to when i die! i love you and save me a place ! :) watch over us with your wings of blue. Happy Father's Day once again. I love you
Love your princess*,
Bessie*

Jessica Cochran, Daughter

June 18, 2006

Tom
Hey Bro It has been awile since I wrote. We have been so busy here. I made Sgt. along with Brian and I try to handle every cituation like I know the Sgt that I loved and respected would. I made it out to D.C. and me and Jill rode in the Law Ride it was wonderful I wish you were riding beside me, I know that you would have loved it. I seen Jo Nee, Josh, and Jess the seem to doing fine but I know that they miss you as much as I do. I went out to South Dearborn the other night and gave out your scholarship to Covy Depmer. I think he will grow up and do us proud as a young Officer. Well I think we have everything in order for this years ride and I think we will have alot of bikes come out in your honor. Well I am going to go for now I love you and Miss you bro and I will write back after the ride to let you know how it turned out.
WFFW MIke

Sergeant Mike Lanning
Lawrenceburg Police Dept.

June 4, 2006

Tom....Well another hurdle behind us! Sometimes getting out of bed & breathing are still daily hurdles....but somehow I find the strength. Everything I do is for you & the kids. I still can't put into words the enormous honor & tribute paid to you, the other 154 fallen officers & those who took time from their families, jobs, & daily personal lives, to be there FOR US! Unbelievable Tom - but I know already that you were there. All it took was watching the weather on the 2 most important outdoor events where BOTH were predicting 70% chance of RAIN !!!!!
Saturday's candlelite vigil -and- Monday's Peace Officer's memorial day - I KNEW YOU WERE THERE! I felt your smile in the heat of the beautiful sunshine. A sun that shone all day giving way to a beautiful evening.....but thankfully, NO RAIN. Thank you Lord & Thank you Tom! Me, the kids, my sisters, mom, your co-workers (& friends all close to you) already have plans to attend next years ceremony....for me, it will be every year....I'll be there to honor you & keep your memory alive! You can't describe it.....you have to see it for yourself.....experience it, but hopefully NO ONE ever lives it. Since you passed, I feel an overwhelming sense of having lost MY SOUL, MY BEST FRIEND, PARTNER, HUSBAND, FATHER, LOVER, & MY LIFE LINE. Only I didn't know it when you were here.....I knew how much you meant to me & the kids, but NEVER let my self EVER go to a place where the imagination of you're not being there entered my mind. Wouldn't have mattered 'tho because it would never have touched anywhere close the TRUE PAIN of actually losing you. You were well represented by all the family & friends who travelled long distances, even if only for 2 of the 6 days, just to attend a long tradition that will forever hold your memory in stone.....& each one of them that made the effort & could go......LOVE YOU TOM & I KNOW YOU LOVE THEM TOO!
We met & had our picture taken with President Bush....reunited with old freinds (& very DEAR ones) & made many new ones....all the while having no worries as Indiana Cops took good care of us - & - National Cops kicked tail - hosting a truly unbelievable ceremony that honors our heros....(yes YOU Tom)...but also honors those fine officers still fighting the good fight! WOW! I'm still speechless.......& you know (at least before your accident)....that was NEVER a problem before! You are a TRUE HERO Tom...we will ALWAYS honor you with utmost respect & dignity....just as you had lived, & just as you deserved. I am SO PROUD of Tomya....who had so much going on, yet put forth every effort finally making it to DC where her & Patrick attended counselling sessions - which is GREAT! - & was there to honor you at Candlelite vigil, & again at National Police day at the Capital lawn....went up to the wreath with me, Josh, Kaylee, Jess, Tomya, Patrick, & Doug.....ALL another step in honoring you for the man you were - & the TRUE HERO you now are. I've talked to Mike Lanning & David Schneider recently..Doug also has his wheels turning & we both know that once he sets hs mind on it..IT WILL GET DONE;;..their wheels are turning & I will expect this plan to be in PLACE by early next year & that's later than it should be. I'm snapping out of it Tom......little by little ready to get back on the path of life....that will direct me to places to honor you & all other fallen officers.......-or- if someone else so chooses, the war path to see to it that YOU are honored in this town, this county, your department, & beyond using the capable & willing officers/friends who are ready to step up & take charge to ensure it gets done.....if they don't....then I will. I 'still' don't work for tht department, I enjoy going down there....only place I actually feel you Tom...they've been good to me & the kids.
However, my only agenda is making SURE!!!THAT YOU ARE NOT FORGOTTEN.....That's a promise I'm gonna keep. My first item to tackle on my agenda....is to pursue LPD's idea to do a memorial wall......of many Items I can contribute, some I already have.....BUT IN A GRAND STYLE DESERVING OF AN OFFICER WHO WAS WILLING TO EVERY DAY.....& EVENTUALLY DID 'LAY DOWN HIS LIFE' FOR HIS FELLOW OFFICERS & A PROFESSION HE LOVED......OVER MY DEAD BODY WILL I LET THAT EVER BE FORGOTTON. The whole world goes on about their daily lives/routine.....most importantly 'GOING HOME' to an awaiting spouse & children or other loved ones. I come home to 2 great kids who miss their dad, an otherwise empty house......& worse of all, your side of our King Size bed that has NOT BEEN TOUCHED SINCE YOU GOT OUT OF IT ON JANUARY 25, 2005....& never came back home. THAT is the worst! So much I need to talk with you about, ask your advice, want to know that you're O.K., but most of all, just want to lay down close to you & hold you & rub that bald head of yours which I miss terribly. I miss our friendship, our laughter-of which we did alot, & now that it's May & nice out....I know that EVERY DAY we would have been out on the motorcycle - riding until your heart was content. God how I wish you were here Tom.
Always be with us & watch over us....we miss you & love you with all our hearts.
All my Love,
Jo'Nee Cochran

Jo'Nee Cochran
Wife of Det/Sgt Tom Cochran-EOW: 01-26-05

May 22, 2006

Hello Tom,
It has been a while since i have wrote.I am soory i could not be in Washington to see ur name on the wall. I wanted to come but it is ok. I still know that you are with us in spirit. I can feel u here somtimes. It is so hard to beilive how long it has been. My freshman year will be over in about to weeks. Jessica will be going into the high school and Josh will be graduating! We will all miss him being at the house. He is very good at the guitar and Jessica is very beutiful.You should be very proud of both of them. And I know u are.I have been hanging around with Jessica. She is very fun and funny and nice and pretty evan though she dont believe me! She is though! You and JoN'ee brought up very good kids.
Well, I got to go for now.
Thank you for everything you have ever done for me and for everybody else!
Love you and miss you very much **Kristin**

Kristin Marshall,Niece

May 21, 2006

Hey Daddy,
We just got back from Washington D.C. on Tuesday! It was such an awsome expierence. There were a lot of people there. I got to see all my friends from camp and the whole time they were talking about how good i looked. Now that i have lost 85 pounds! I wish you could see me eventhough i know your still around. Some poeple asked me why i lost the weight and what inspired me and i told them about the promise i made to you just before you had to "go". Well we visited your name on the wall and it was really cool. I left you a note on it too! The candle light service was heart breaking but heart soothing at the same time because i know there is a lot of poeple out there that has a shoulder i can lean on. When we met George W. Bush I was so excited. I had to stand there for like 2 hours waiting for that man. But it was well worth it. We got an autograph, a picture, and he said im sorry for your loss. Guess what dad! Vince Gill performed the song from your funeral there too! It was "Go rest high on that mountain"! Josh was very excited! I am so proud of you daddy and so thankful for getting 13 years with you. Josh is going to graduate on June 1st and I hope you can come and see him as he walks up. Me and mom are sure gonna miss him greatly when he goes off to college. Then it will only be me and mom. I promise, me and her will come visit your grave though. I just wanna thank you for everything. I want you to know how much i miss you. I dont even have to tell you i love you because you know how close me and you were! thanks for being the greatest dad in the world. and as you would say well Your the greatest daughter in the world! me and you would just fight about that lol. I would always tell you how much better you were than me. Well i have to go for now but i love you daddy and always and forever i will!
Love your Princess,
Jessica*** P.s your still my Hero.

Jessica Cochran, Daughter

May 19, 2006

Tom,
I have struggled for some time now with the biggest (& last) event to honor your memory publically as a first year honored fallen officer. I have wondered daily, not a moment passing that it is not on my mind, how (& 'IF') I can handle something so overwhelming. I have again begun to build a wall (that at one point I started to let down) & have no doubt that this can (& most likely will) once again break it. The sadness I feel for the great families I have already met & will see again in Washington next week, & the families I will soon have the priviledge to meet, has been overwhelming. The pain I feel for "OUR" family, is most times unbearable. Yet, they are all the same for me. An event I am proud to represent on your behalf as your wife, & something we shared - together for over 20 years, (most of which as husband & wife)...that of HONOR & RESPECT but mostly, the 'love of a lifetime'. Something we shared for our short time together, and something others never experience in a lifetime. For that, I am blessed. I will forever Honor you & our life together.
There are times when my brain is a complete fog, yet I can still see you SO VIVIDLY walking out our bedroom door after kissing me goodbye @ 2:00 am, adding you would call me before I left for work. You never did & I still can't believe that was (unknowingly) the last time I would ever hear your voice...& feel your touch. Even Donnie's voice on the phone when he called me is just as clear in my head as though I were talking to him now....telling me to get to the hospital as you were in an accident....adding "it was bad". It didn't register. (It still fully doesn't) From family to friends, there was no one I don't recall seeing at that hospital either the entire (estimated) 24 or so hours we were there.....or at some point being there even if just for a short time....they travelled a fair distance for you! That says so much....for both sides/you & them! In flashes I even see Doug & I think Bill, standing at the foot of your bed, those last few moments that seemed like forever, tears in their eyes....your children..most vividly is Josh, standing over you literally sobbing, his tears falling on you....your blanket was wet.....& looking around that room, seeing so many people there who love you...being grateful that Theressa was in the ICU waiting room, holding Jessica (who couldn't bear to be in the room at her young age-and understandably so) I had an immediate sense that "I" had to be strong.....I too was sobbing, but I wanted more than anything, to completely lose control & scream even if just to ease the pain a little. Found out 'tho that nothing can do that. I knew (& still do)...that if I fell that way emotionally, I wouldn't get up.
I still look for you everywhere but find you mostly in watching our 2 beautiful kids, Josh & Jessica. I am so proud of them both & know you are too....Josh doing well & working hard @ Millers, becoming the responsible - hard working man we always knew he would be. Denny & Bink look out for him,
have been unbelievably good both 'for him...& to him'. (they miss you terribly as well). Josh leaves for College this fall....following in your footsteps Tom. BIG shoes to fill but he's already doing it. He & Kaylee are doing great.....We love her Tom & I have no doubts you are watching over them (& us all) - & love her too! She's a great girl....Josh did great when he picked her/& also she choosing him....they have a great relationship & friendship.....alot like you & I. (He IS your son....)
As for Jessica.....she's a responsible, level headed, beautiful young woman who has STRAIGHT A's in school, has become a bit too thin & a 'knockout'...also getting too many calls from boys for our liking.
Doug & Katrina still looking out for us & between them, Denny, Sue, Sally, Linda....& all the other (too many to name) great people in our lives, it is clear that where FRIENDS are concerned.....you picked only the BEST.
I have now spent my 2nd wedding anniversary without you. It would have been our 21st year. I visited your grave, but for me....even 'tho it was our anniversary, there was no "happy" about it.
Since you've been gone, I've lost my uncle, my step-mother, & most recently...my brother only about a month ago. Watch over them Tom & know that we love you all.

I'll always do my best to represent you, as your wife, with the dignity & utmost respect you well deserve. To honor you is all I have left. I miss you more than I could ever say. I'll see you again some day. Until then, keep us safe in your arms as you had always done.
Love Always,
Jo'Nee

Jo'Nee Cochran
Spouse of Det/Sgt Tom Cochran

May 4, 2006

We will be in Washington with honor and respect to hear your name read.

Linda Rittenhouse, Matt's Mom
Matthew Rittenhouse EOW 9/16/04

Linda Rittenhouse

May 2, 2006

Tom,
You and your were and still a great friends to my family. Thank you for your sacrifice and for all that you accomplished in your many years of service. May God bless your family and keep watch over all.

Very respectfully,
Jason Kreinhop
Legalman First Class
United States Navy

Navy Petty Officer Jason Kreinhop
Family Friend

April 20, 2006

Hey daddy!
How are you? HAPPY EASTER!! we miss you so much here at home! I hope you know how much we love you. We will be leaving for Washington here pretty soon! I can't wait to see all my friends from camp! The Kreinhops are joining us too! So are alot of other people. We all are pretty excited about it. Well i just wanted to say Happy Easter! I love you with all my heart!
Love your baby girl,
Jess**

Jessica Cochran, Daughter

April 16, 2006

Hi Dad,

Well in one month they will add your name to the wall of fallen officers in Washington. You will be a part of history and your name read by many for as long as the wall stands. What an honor and how deserving. I can't begin to tell you how much I miss you still and think of you daily.
It is turning warm and the grass and leaves are turning green for the second time since you have been gone. Your poker run will be comming up soon. High school kids will be able to have the scholorship money to pursue a profession in police work. I know that pleases you. Chuck did a good job of putting it all together. Macy is 11 weeks now and so chunky. She is such a sweet baby. She loves to hear herself squeal. Blue eyes and strawberry hair, just a beautiful baby. I am so blessed. She sleeps through the night and the angels must talk to her because she giggles in her sleep. I lay awake at night just to stare at her. Zach, Riley and Syd are so good with her. I wish you could see her. I told her that pappaw would just eat her up. Of course she just smiles having no idea what I'm talking about. Well I just wanted to say I love you and I miss you. Watch over your grandbabies and keep them safe for me.

Love,
Trace

Tracy

April 12, 2006

Hi Jo'Nee & Josh!
I'm hoping you will remember me. We met on the Carnival Cruise in February in the Karoke Bar. My husband is also a Detective Sergeant with the Ontario Provincial Police (Major Crime Unit). He, too, gets called out at crazy times & eventhough I don't worry about him all the time, there are some days I'm glad to see him walk through the door. My heart goes out to you & your family & I can't imagine what it would be like to have to raise kids on my own. Our boys just turned 20 & 19 this month and our daughter is almost 17.
Meeting you & Josh was one of the highlights of our cruise. Jo'Nee, you should be very proud of Josh - he seems like a really great kid! Josh, you should be proud of your Mom - she's doing a great job on her own. And whoever gave you your great singing voice should be really proud! Next time American Idol is close by, you should audition! Everytime Brad Paisley is on the radio, I think of the Fishing Song & of you guys!
Eventhough I never met Tom, I know he was a good man by the great family he left behind.
Jo'Nee, please know that you are always in our thoughts & prayers. Josh, do good at school & always remember where you came from.
A Canadian Friend,
Jo Nicholas

Jo Nicholas
A Canadian Police Officer's wife

April 5, 2006

Tom,

I just found this board on Chuck's laptop. We are in Boston for some training and Chuck is in Bed sawing some serious logs. So as you have gathered I can not sleep so I got up to surf the net and found this site. I guess you know by now, I got the job. I think of you daily, Shep and I talk of you often. You are not FORGOTTEN and we know you have not forgotten us as well.

I was flipping through the channels on TV the other night and came across that movie "Nell" I laughed and then got choked up thinking of our inside joke we shared over that movie.

I don't have much to say besides I miss ya man watch over us while on patrol. And we will laugh again together someday.

Officer David W. Schneider
Lawrenceburg Police Department

April 4, 2006

Dear Daddy,
Hey daddy i am so sorry i haven't wrote lately. I always think of you every minute of every day. Thinking of the day when you went away, What a life to take. What a bond to break. Josh and Kaylee are still going strong. They have been together for a long time now. I love Kaylee and you would have too if you only got to meet her. She is always there for Josh and I am thankful for that. Im okay I just miss you so much. I just hope you know how much i love you. Mom misses you too. Everyone does. Cheryl, Britney, and Kristin moved in their new house. It is very cute and fits them good. I have lost about 80 pounds now. I did it daddy. I kept my promise to you. I hope you can see me. I just wish you were still here because you know how we were supposed to do it together. But i know your still around because I couldn't have did it without you and I thank you. I wanna thank you for being there for me all the time. You were such a great dad. I couldn't have asked for anyone better. And you know i mean it because i always told you that you were the best daddy in the world and you would say well your the best daughter in the world. I always remember that. The great memories between me and you always keep me going through the day. I would give anything to hear you again or see you again. I know the first thing i am going to do when i get to heavan is hug your neck. I miss you so much daddy and no one in this world is able to fill your shoes. You were such a great man and you still are. I love you so much daddy XOXOXOX,
your little princess,
Jessica*

Jessica Cochran, daughter

March 25, 2006

SGT. Cochran your work on this Earth as we know it is done. You are in God's Care now. May you rest in peace brother....God Bless !!

SGT. Daryl Brewer
Clarksville Police Dept. Clarksville, Tennessee

March 22, 2006

To Detective Sgt. Thomas Cochran and his loved ones:

On this the fourteenth month after your tragic death, please know that your memory is honored and revered today.

My heart goes out to your family. You’re in our thoughts and our prayers.
Your wife, children, and grandchildren all leave such loving reflections to you. I hope that I get to meet them in D.C.

Tom, you rescued us, saved our possessions, our lives and our families. You are one of the rare heroes among us. You were always there for us in the most traumatic moments of our lives. No matter when we called, we just expected that you would come and do whatever it took to help us, and you always met our expectations. Your selflessness and dedication are awe-inspiring.

This world, this country, your community truly are better places because of you. To have lost you is a great tragedy, an irreplaceable, immeasurable loss for society. We are grateful for and to you, and honor you for all you did for us day in and day out whether you received a word of thanks or praise.

Rest in Peace, Detective Sgt. Thomas Cochran. I am humbled by your valor, courage, and the way you lived your life.

This reflection is sent with the utmost respect for the distinquished service Thomas gave to his community and the citizens of Indiana, and for the supreme sacrifice he and his family made on January 26, 2005.

Phyllis Loya, mother of fallen officer Larry Lasater, Pittsburg PD, eow 4/24/05

March 11, 2006

Hi Dad,
I have noticed that the reflections have slowed down, an indication that people have moved on in their life or have found some peace since your death. It has taken everyone a long time to realize that you were really gone, you were (at least for me) such a part of this area. Everything I see (steak and shake, frishes, LPD, squad cars, back roads to rabbit hash, movie gallery, and everywhere in between)holds a memory of you. The last time we went to Bob Evans was histerical, your jokes and Josh's hot chocolate. I don't know if this feeling of you being all around me if helpful or not. I know that I still catch myself looking at the police cruisers and wondering if it is you. Syd was talking about you yesterday and I began to cry, even at her age she has wonderful memories of you. But just because we don't all write as much as we use to doesn't mean we have stopped thinking of you daily because we haven't and we never will. Summer is almost here and I think that with every sunny day I will see your smile and with every breeze I will hear your voice and with every sound of a motorcycle I will remember your childlike antisipaton of getting to ride.
I love you always.

Tracv

March 2, 2006

Dad,
It is a beautiful day out today. The sun is out and there isn't a cloud in the sky. I am really bored being couped up in the house. I am hoping that it starts to warm up so I can get out. Right now it is too cold for Macy. She is almost 5 weeks old and she is smiling and she giggles (which is so funny). I wish you could see her. She is such a good natured baby, rarely unhappy. She just started cooing, I can't wait until she can make all kinds of noises. I miss you still and think of you every day. I still wonder why your accident had to happen, of course I know there is no answer for that question. There is so much left for you to do and be here for, that it just doesn't seam right. I have so much I need to say to you and I can't. I never knew I had so many tears. I has been over a year and I can still see your smiling face and hear your voice as if it were yesterday.
I love you and miss you.

Tracy

February 24, 2006

Hey daddy,
I am so sorry i haven't wrote in a long while. It's been busy and chaotic around the house. We all were talking about you today and i laughed so hard. We were remembering about 2 years ago when we went on that cruise and how you were scared to death of flying in an airplane. I remember you sitting next to Josh yelling " the landing is just a controlled crash! Everyone stay calm!" or when we were in the airport and you saw our little porpellar plane we had to ride in and you started to show us how we were going to land and it wasn't a good one! Or when you made that little joke. You said to Josh "how long do you think we will travel in the air when one of the engines fall off?" Then you'll just chuckle and say "yeah well it will take us to the scene of the crash" You thought it was so funny! My favorite was when me and you were together on the cruise and we had that drill. We all had life vests on and everything and we had to walk down about 12 flights of stairs with thousands of people and you were yelling "Okay Everyone stay calm eventhough we are gonna die, It'll be Titanic the 2nd!" We all were dying laughing of what all you were saying. And then I got to thinking about the dance we shared on the dance floor with the ceiling looking like stars above us. And the photograph of us, a family around one. I think about you every single day and miss you more each day. I will always love you no matter what! You are the best father, friend, and person I could have ever met and i have thanked God many many times for knowing you and being your daughter. I love you with all my heart and I'll see you again some day!
Hugs and Kisses...Your Daughter,
Jessica**

Jessica Cochran, Daughter

February 9, 2006

Well Dad Macy was born on Jan.23rd at 2:09 p.m. and she is absolutely beautiful. When I got to the hospital and the nurse came in to give me my IV, I was so nervous, and every light on the labor and delivery floor went out except the light over my bed. The nurses were going on about how werid it was that the only light on that floor that stayed on was the one over my bed. I couldn't help but think it was youletting me know you were there. Crazy I know but it helped to think you were there. You would have been so proud of Chuck, he was one heck of a labor coach. Little Syd was in the labor room and she was so amazing, she helped to clean Macy when they put her on my chest. Macy's first outing was to your memorial. It was so emotional seeing you hold all of your grandchildren as babies and knowing I couldn't share Macy with you. And hearing your voice again if only on video was a welcome sound. I miss you and I love you.
Love,
Trace

Tracy

February 2, 2006