Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

REST IN PEACE....GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY......

TROOPER J. R. FLEMING
NC STATE HIGHWAY PATROL

February 14, 2005

Deputy koester, My prayers are with
You and Your family as well as your
Fellow brothers & sisters .
To the family of our fallen brother
My wife stacy And I, along W/ our
Two children our thoughts and prayers
Are w/ you and every L.E.O. and their
Families . " Blessed are the peace Makers " Deputy Koester you and your
Family are loved by many . May your spirit Carry on My Fallen Brother

SGT. Mark Miller
McGriffs Prof. Security

February 14, 2005

Wayne,

Although I never met you, February 9th, 2005 will never be forgotten in my heart. The same day of your shooting was the same day at 10:00am our (Wayne County Airport Police) best officer/SGT Mike "Scrappy" Scarbrough died in the line of duty in an auto accident. Today, (02/14/2005) we laid Mike to rest with a full police officer funeral and I thought of you knowning the same would be happening over a 1,000 miles away. RIP Wayne your watch is over, we'll do our best and take it from here.

To the family, friends, and fellow co-workers of Deputy Koester our deepest sympathy and prayers are with you. God Bless, The Fortney Family

OFC. Robert C. Fortney #311
Wayne County Airport Police (Detroit, MI)

February 14, 2005

As a daughter of LCSO Deputy and a wife of a Lake County Fireman, my thoughts and prayers are with Ashley and the entire family who mourns the loss of a wonderful man. Knowing that Wayne passed while doing his lifelong love will offer comfort, but nothing can take the place of your loss. God Bless the family and the servicemen and women of our community.

Lake County Citizen

February 14, 2005

Rest in peace brother. Please protect us from up above. You shall not be forgotten...

Trooper
Florida Highway Patrol

February 14, 2005

To the Koester Family. May you find strength in all the memories you have. Wayne was a great officer at Umatilla. I had an incident that I was called home from work for and when I got to Umatilla, Wayne was the Officer there (a rookie then). I was a raving/outraged Mother, Wayne had such a special way about him. He was understanding, patient and he had the upmost concern for my child. A few days later I seen him again. He approached me to ask how everything was going and I apoligized for my reaction to the incident. He extended his arm to me that no apology was necessary because I was raving for my child's saftey. That is the Kind of Man you are. You did not have to acknowlege me again but you went out of your way to check on my child. You were my hero then and you are now the Hero of Lake County. Wayne Lake County has lost one of the Finest Officer's and you will never be forgotten. Thank you for everything, we will miss you. Rest in Peace My Friend.

Umatilla Patron

February 14, 2005

Those of you who don’t know I am Wayne’s sister, Paula, Wayne may have been known as my brother, Michaels brother-in-law, and my children’s uncle, but he was much, much more then that. He was our son and my children’s brother.
We wanted to personally tell all of you who knew and loved him and those of you who didn’t know him, Thank-you so much for keeping our family in your thoughts and prayers through these difficult times.
We believe that God gives us the honor of having his children that he entrusts in us in raising them for him, to glorify God. Wayne has done that. We know in our hearts that God has just come to take him back home with him. That his job here for God is done, but the many hearts that Wayne has touched well never forget his love. If you are one of those who knew and loved him please feel honored and privileged for the time God loaned him to us. Job well done, Wayne, We will miss you and we love you.

Paula Cassella

February 14, 2005

It was with great sadness that the members of our agency learned of Deputy Koester's death. We are all praying for his family and wish them and the Lake County SO to know that we are there for them should they need anything at all. Our prayers are with you all.

Sincerely,

Police Sergeant M.D. Clements
Jacksonville Sheriff's Office

Police Sergeant M.D. Clements
Jacksonville Sheriff's Office; Jacksonville, FL

February 14, 2005

We are the carriers
Of the torch that lights the way,
Holding back the darkness
From the innocent each day.

Wayne,
Your torch is being carried by your Brothers and Sisters now. We will continue to do what you loved doing. We will always protect the innocent and pursue those that promote darkness. I hope the job I do will meet your approval.
May God bless you and your family.

Deputy Holcomb
LCSO

February 14, 2005

Our family received this poem after we lost my younger sister. May it console Deputy Koester's family (including his law enforcement family) as it did mine.
Wayne you will be remembered and you will be missed.

Do not stand at my grave and weep;
I am not there. I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow.
I am the diamond glints on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the mornings hush, I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry;
I am not there. I did not die.

a fellow LEO
Lake County Sheriff's Office

February 14, 2005

Again we mourn as another hero is taken from us. My deepest sympathy to the family, friends and co-workers of Deputy Koester. May the Lord give you strength and bless each of you during this time.

Rest in peace for your watch here is over; walk in heavens beat and guide us to protect and serve others safely.

US Ranger Catroppa
National Park Service Kennesaw GA

February 14, 2005

My thoughts and prayers are with your family and fellow deputies. I pray God carry all you through this.

Deputy Kyle Burton
Mille Lacs County Sheriff's Office, MN

February 14, 2005

As a guardian, yours was a life well lived. When called, to say you lived your life in service to your fellow travellers is the highest honor. You live on in the hearts and minds of your fellow guardians.

Captain Robert R. Johnson
Chicago Police Department

February 14, 2005

I consider it a honor to work in a profession where there are heroes such as yourself. It would have been an even bigger honor to have known you. Everyone is proud of you.
My prayers are with your family. We know that you will be watching over them. Wayne, you will be missed, but will never be forgotten. Rest easy my brother. God Bless.

Deputy Doug Gillum
Lake County Sheriff's Office

February 14, 2005

May god bless the family. We are all deeply sadden by this loss.

Trooper
FHP-Troop D

February 14, 2005

Yet another hero has had their life taken too soon. My deepest sympathy to the family, friends and co-workers of Deputy Koester. He protected us down here and now will protect us from above. Rest in peace deputy - Gone but never forgotten.

Lt. Jeffrey P. Johnston
City of Sheboygan Wisconsin Police Department

February 14, 2005

It is a sad day in law enforcement...to lose a "brother" is the ultimate worst feeling....
My heart, thoughts, and sympathy goes out to Deputy Koester's family.

Officer Mallo
University of Florida PD

February 14, 2005

Deputy Koester you brother have paid the ultimate price. God bless you, your framily and the LCSO.

Deputy
MCSO, FL

February 14, 2005

My deepest sympathies for your loss Mrs. Koester for the loss of your husband. He died knowing that your children and you loved him dearly, his pain is over on one day you'll be reunited with him. For all the officers and supervisors, I know this will hurt for along time. Not just because of losing Wayne in your life, but Wayne losing his precious life and knowing that he will never grace this earth again. My deepest sympathies. Hang in there guys and remember to CYA

Police Officer
CPD 017/215

February 13, 2005

May God Bless Deputy Wayne Koester's wife, children and other family memebers, as well as his friends and co-workers. What a tragedy that we have lost another fine officer, He will always be remembered.

Sincerely,
Lyndell & Elizabeth Taylor
Parents of
Deputy Sheriff
Morris Lyn Taylor
Douglas County Oregon
EOW 9-14-02

February 13, 2005

May God bless your family and brothers in blue with the strenght to carry on. Rest in peace brother.

Officer William Inman
Birmingham Police Dept. West Precinct

February 13, 2005

Rest in Peace, Brother. We'll take it from here.

Officer Vince Carnes
St. Petersburg Police Department

February 13, 2005

GOD LOOKED AROUND AND FOUND AN EMPTY PLACE. HE THEN LOOKED DOWN AND SAW YOUR LOVING FACE. HE PUT HIS ARMS AROUND YOU AND LIFTED YOU TO REST. HE ALWAYS TAKES THE BEST. YOU LEFT YOUR PRECIOUS MEMORIES,YOUR LOVE WILL BE OUR GUIDE.
IT BROKE OUR HEARTS TO LOSE YOU, BUT YOU DID NOT GO ALONE. FOR PART OF US WENT WITH YOU ON THE DAY GOD CALLED YOU HOME.
YOU WILL ALWAYS BE REMEMBERED AND NEVER BE FORGOTTEN.

MIKE TAJDIN
A.Z.SUPERETTE
EUSTIS

February 13, 2005

To Deputy Koester's family,
I was out of town in training when I heard of the tragic events that claimed your loved one's life and I prayed that all of the officers would be ok (at the time I didn't know of Wayne's death). Then later in the day I checked the news again & heard the bad news. As wrong as this may be, I prayed again only this time I wanted the coward who killed him to die from his injuries. My heart breaks for you. To his wife: I read that you were a dispatcher - if so I know all too well what you will deal with if you ever go back to work dispatching. It's not easy & especially if your husband worked with the same department. My first husband and I both worked with the NCSHP and he was killed on a day that I should have been working that shift. The only good thing about that day was that I had taken the day off & wasn't working the radio when it happened. After about another 1 1/2 years, I was lucky enough to find another job and get out of that dispatch office. My prayers will be with you. May God hold you close and carry you through the rest of your days.

Denise - Survivor of Trooper Calvin E. T

February 13, 2005

WAYNE

IT IS MY LOSS THAT I NEVER GOT TO MEET AND GET TO KNOW YOU. I DO HOWEVER FEEL I KNEW YOU BECAUSE OF THE MANY TIMES I'VE SEEN YOUR WIFE ASHLEY TAKE HER BREAK TIME FROM DISPATCHING GRAB HER CELL PHONE AND CALL YOU. SHE ALWAYS SEEMED TO HAVE A SPARKLE IN HER EYES WHEN SHE WAS TALKING TO YOU.

YOUR PASSING HAS BROUGHT BACK A PASSION AND BROTHERHOOD BETWEEN YOUR CO-WORKERS THAT HAS BEEN MISSING FOR YEARS. WE WILL CONTINUE THIS IN YOUR MEMORY.

TO THE HUNDREDS OF LAW, FIRE AND E.M.S. BROTHER'S AND SISTER'S WHO RUSHED TO OUR AID. WE WILL NEVER FORGET!

WAYNE'S TRAGIC DEATH IS ONLY OVERSHADOWED BY THE LIFE HE LED. A COWARD DIES A THOUSAND DEATHS, BUT A HERO DIES BUT ONE.

IT IS MY PRAYER FOR YOUR FAMILY THAT THEY RECEIVE PEACE THAT GOES BEYOND OUR ABILITY TO UNDERSTAND "WHY".

GOD BLESS MY BROTHER,
SGT. J. THORNTON
LAKE CO. S.O.

SGT. JOHN THORNTON
LAKE CO. SHERIFF'S OFFICE

February 13, 2005