Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

To the family of Det. Cochran,
Please accept my sincerest condolences on the loss of your dad, grand-dad, and husband. I pray that God gives you comfort and strength in the difficult time ahead.

His service and sacrifice will never be forgotten. He will live on in the memories of his love.

Valarie Bell Wright
Daughter of Ptl. William B. Bell, EOW 11-19-02

January 30, 2005

I am sorry for your loss. No words can ease the pain but remember our prayers are with you.

Sister of Officer Duke Aaron III, E.O.W.
MD Transportation Authority Police

January 30, 2005

My prayers and thoughts go out to you, your family, and your police department.

God Bless.

Police officer Smith #2833
Prince George's County Police

January 30, 2005

These messages reflect the love and respect you commanded by those who knew you best. Thank you for your 35 years of outstanding service.
May God be with all who mourn your loss & even those who didn't know you- all across these states of America. John 3:16 and John 14:6
Lynn Kole
Washington State

January 29, 2005

Rest in peace, Detective Cochran. Thank you for your many years of service. You are truly a hero. God bless your family, friends, and department.
Mom of S/A Jay Balchunas, EOW 11/5/04

Police Chaplain Mary Kay Balchunas
New Berlin, WI PD

January 29, 2005

Our sincere condolences go out to the family of Detective Cochran and to all the personnel of the Lawrenceburg Police Department who worked with him.

While it is no consolation for your loss, remember that we, and many others in this country, appreciate the sacrifice that he made in his effort to ensure the safety of the public.

God bless.

Southwest Central Dispatch
Palos Heights, IL

January 29, 2005

Our prayers are with all the surviving family, friends, and fellow officers.
We know your pain. My father was killed in the line of duty Nov. 13, 2004. Peace be with you now, say hello to our beloved Bob Grim!

Bobby and Kelli Grim, Jr.

Bobby and Kelli Grim, Jr.
Daytona Beach Police Dept.

January 29, 2005

Detective Cochran,

Thank you for your many years of service as a law enforcement officer in Indiana. My thoughts and prayers go out to your family and the Lawrenceburg Police Department. God bless you and may you rest in peace brother. There is NO JUSTICE, THERE IS JUST US! THE THIN BLUE LINE!

Officer Kyle Landgrebe CPD# 3274
Crane Police Department, Indiana

January 29, 2005

My God bless your family at this most difficult time in their lives. May God send down his Angels of mercy and peace upon you now and forever more as I know that God has extended his hand and accepted Tom into his kingdom where we shall all see him again in eternal rest.

Deputy C W Boening
Harris County Sheriff's Office Texas

January 29, 2005

Rest in peace sir.

Shannon
concerned citizen

January 29, 2005

Detective Cochran,
Thank you for your service to the citizens of Lawrenceburg.

R.I.P.
Anonymous

January 29, 2005

Our thoughts and prayers go out to your agency and fellow loved ones. Rest in Peace Brother..

police officer Jim Gilbert
Columbus Div of Police (Ohio)

January 29, 2005

The Tri-State has lost a fine Officer, God speed Brother.

Officer Joe Wilder
Cincinnati Children's Hospital

January 29, 2005

Our deepest sympathy to the family of Detective Thomas Cochran and the Lawrenceburg Police Department...our hearts and prayers are with you all...... Thank you for a job well done Thomas... rest in peace as you continue your watch from the heavens......your memory will never be forgotten...

God Bless....Be Safe..... and wear your vests...

Vin, Pook and all of us at beyond-the-blue

Vinman and Pooky- Site Owners
beyond-the-blue

January 29, 2005

May God watch over you and your family. My deepest sympathy to the Cochran family. I hope his brothers and sisters in Blue watch over his family during this very trying time. You are to be considered a hero and you will never be forgotten the the Blue Family.

Robert Gordon, father of Officer Michael P. Gordon, EOW: 8/8/04

Asst. Chief Robert Gordon (Retired)
Riverside PD, IL

January 28, 2005

“REMEMBER ME”
Law enforcement officers are, indeed, a special breed of people. Ask anyone on the street and they will tell you that they would not have our jobs for anything in the world. It takes something special to do what we do and at the same time be able to even contemplate retirement. We try to be optimists. Unfortunately, there are a few of us who will never make that date with retirement. By the very nature of our job, we are at risk everyday of losing our lives, either at the hand of some deranged individual or in some other situation that we, by virtue of our occupation, may be unable to avoid. Some people have recognized the hazardous duties we involve ourselves in, the risks we take, and the pride we take in accomplishing that job. There is National Law Enforcement Week, dedicated to us who gladly accept the responsibility of protecting the citizens in our respective jurisdictions. National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Day is dedicated to those who gave their lives in the line of duty. These are but a two examples of remembrances specifically for law enforcement personnel. Remembrances that come but once a year. We should remind fellow officers of another type of remembrance, one that will last a lifetime. Sooner or later, a doctor will pronounce us dead. It is inevitable. Regardless of whatever happens, death is the end we will all have to face.
“IT IS IN DEATH THAT WE CAN LIVE FOREVER”
Author Unknown

Jim Moore
New Orleans P.D., Retired

January 28, 2005

There are heroes who walk among us.
They seek no glory; they seek no praise.
They ask not for recognition
for their kind unselfish ways.

They live a life of deep commitment
safeguarding us and calming our fears.
While steadfast with that quiet strength
through days of crisis & times of tears.

All of this, you were to me
The most selfless one by far.
So officer, I'd like to thank you
For being the HERO that you are.


Rest in peace Thomas, you will never be forgotten

Detective Dana Cornerlison
Salinas PD, Calif.

January 28, 2005

I first became acquainted with Tom Cochran in 1973 and it was not long before we became close friends. Through the years, Tom and I worked together on many criminal cases. You may hear or read what a good detective Tom was. Tom was not just a good detective, he was a great detective. Like many other police officers and individuals, I respected and admired Tom for his work ethic and his many accomplishments. No stone was left unturned when Tom was involved with an investigation. He had a drive and determination to see that justice was done that was second to none. It was always about the victims and helping them. I learned much from Tom and he made me a better detective. If anyone was born to be a police officer, it was Tom Cochran.

While I liked Tom on a professional level, I loved him like a brother on a personal level. We had much in common and shared many of the same interests. When we were younger, we played basketball and baseball together on FOP teams. Tom especially loved baseball and we often attended Cincinnati Reds baseball games. Tom was a kind and very caring individual with a great sense of humor. I always felt comfortable being around and with Tom. It makes it easy to care for someone when you know they care for you.

The loss of Tom and his friendship has been devastating to me and I will greatly miss him. My thoughts and prayers go out to his wife, Jo'Nee and his children. May he rest in peace.

Detective/Sergeant Michael Kreinhop
Indiana State Police

January 28, 2005

Det. Thomas Cochran saved me in a very difficult time of my life. Thank you Det. Cochran for saving my life and for making sure the bad guy didn't win!! May GOD bless you and keep you in his loving arms forever and ever. My prayers are with his family forever and always. He will never be forgotten. Rest in Peace.

Sharon Siefert(one he saved!)

January 28, 2005

THANK YOU MY BROTHER FOR YOUR YEARS OF FAITHFUL SERVICE.MAY YOU REST IN PEACE.

MPO SCOTTY MOORE
CARMEL POLICE IND.

January 28, 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 28, 2005

Rest in Peace...

Police Officer
Syracuse Police Dept,NY

January 28, 2005

I have known and worked with Tom for over 25 yrs. His professionalism, friendship, and humor has had a great influence on my career and personal life. I will miss him greatly. Tom, may the winds gently caress your face as you ride through the streets of Heaven. God Bless you and your family.

Charles Ashley, Retired
Lawrenceburg Police Dept.

January 28, 2005

I had known Tom only by reputation for many years, but I was given the chance to meet him when I was hired as a deputy in 1993 by the Dearborn County Sheriff's Department. Tom was the veteran chief detective at the time and I was the typical wet behind the ears newbie on the dept. Tom and I immediately hit it off as co-workers and as friends. He took me under his wing and always kept an eye on me, encouraging me to look harder and dig a little deeper. Tom coached me along the next several years in criminal investigations. I tired to imitate his skills and learn as much from him as I could. In 1998, I was appointed as the detective for the Rising Sun Police Dept. and Tom was the first person to congratulate me. He didn't say it, but I knew he was proud of the officer he helped me become. Further in our careers, Tom paid me one of the greatest compliments that I could receive when he would ask my opinion or advice on a case. It was at those times that I knew I finally had made it in my law enforcement career. Tom was many things to many people, but to me, he was my surrogate father in the police world. He was my teacher, my advisor, my co-worker, but most of all he was my friend and I will deeply miss him. My heart goes out to Jo'nee and the family during this difficult time. For all of you other guys out there in the inner circle, a vital link in our chain is gone, but not forgotten.

Chief David Hewitt
Rising Sun Police Dept.

January 28, 2005

RIP Brother

71
MPD

January 28, 2005