Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

I just wanted to say that Byron was a good man and that he will forever be missed. I have known Byron all my life and I wish to extend my thoughts and prayers to his family and department. Thanks Byron for a job well done.

T.C. Branch

patrolman T.C. Branch
Mt. Holly Police Dept

November 8, 2006

They say time heals - well in our case, it's just not true. There's not a day that goes by that I don't ask "why"? I know one day I'll understand but till then I'll go on missing you and loving you more and more. You were one tough cop who loved every aspect of the job but I knew the real you! The big teddy bear that melted when me or the kids were around. In my eyes you were perfect - the perfect husband, the perfect father. I was so very lucky to have 18 wonderful years - so many people can't say that. We were the fairy tale love story even though our happily ever after came a little too soon. The kids are growing and continuing on-you would be so proud of both of them. They can finally speak about dad without tears-they are so proud of you. Of course your name is so alive in town - everyone knew you and the wonderful person under the tough exterior. You know, I never imagined life without you-I would give anything if I didn't have to experience it. Like I tell everyone, we were one! You were the blood that ran through me - you were my life and I miss you so very much. Relax now - you deserve it - keep an eye on me and the kids. Be our angel! Honey, I miss you so much and my love for you still deepens with each passing day. Till we meet again - all my love.

Kelly Carpenter
wife

August 17, 2006

My Dad was a great man. He was a friend to all and a larger than life police officer. He will be greatly missed.

Benjamin Douglas Carpenter
Son

August 7, 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 4, 2006

My deepest sympathy to the family, friends and fellow officers of Captain Carpenter on your loss.
On May 9, 2006, I will be participating in the Police Unity Tour annual bicycle ride from Florham Park, NJ to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington DC. The purpose of this event to raise awareness and funds for the Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund. The Tour will be arriving in Washington, DC to correspond with the 18th annual candlelight vigil on Saturday May, 18, 2006 at 8:00pm.
It is with the greatest honor that I will be wearing the bracelet that bears the name of Captain Carpenter.
I hope that this small tribute will help to keep your memories alive.

Lieutenant Mitchell Stern
Verona, NJ Police Department

April 27, 2006

Your dedication and sacrifice are appreciated and remembered on this first anniversary of your death. Rest in peace, sir.

Linda Lamm - LEO wife and sister of
Jay Balchunas EOW 11.05.04

April 16, 2006

Captain Carpenter,

As I prepare to eat Easter Dinner with my family I reflect on your courage and dedication to the citizens or Belmont and North Carolina on the anniversary of your death.

Your sacrifice is appreciated and the gift of freedom and security that you have provided will be an everlasting tribute to your courage.

Respectfully,

Mark Bond, Ph.D.
Criminal Justice Professor

Mark Bond, Ph.D.
Criminal Justice Professor

April 16, 2006

May you rest in Peace Sir and may Our Lord give your family special comfort and strength today and in the future.

April 16, 2006

It will be one year since your tour of duty ended. I know it has been a long and tough road for your loved ones and close friends. You have not been forgotten nor will you ever be as you are a true hero. Keep watch over your family as they go on with their lives, stay in their hearts so they can feel your love for them. You have not been forgotten.

Bob Gordon, father of fallen officer
Michael P. Gordon, EOW: 8/8/04

Bob Gordon

April 15, 2006

You are all in my thoughts and prayers as the one year anniversary of Captain Carpenter's passing approaches. The first year is so very hard.

To his wife: I lost my husband in the line of duty last March and am left to raise 2 young children on my own - I share your agony. This is a very difficult journey that none of us expected - or wanted - to take. I have found comfort in knowing that we do not walk this path alone but with many others who have endured similar losses.

I pray that this new year brings you hope and new beginnings. That the waves of darkness and despair begin to recede and that the light at the end of this very dark tunnel gets closer and brighter. That your memories of your husband begin to bring you more joy than sadness. I pray all these things for myself, also.

Thank you, Captain Carpenter, for your service and ultimate sacrifice. May God bless you and may you continue to rest in eternal peace, forever safe in the arms of the angels.

They are gone, but they are never forgotten.

Carin E. Sollman, surviving spouse
Officer Jesse E. Sollman, EOW 3/25/05

April 15, 2006

To the family and friends of Captain Byron Carpenter and his fellow officers of the Belmont Police Department:

I wanted to extend my deepest condolences to all of you for the grievous loss you suffered when Captain Carpenter died. His dedication to his job will be forever remembered. I know this loss really affects not only his agency but the surrounding agencies who serve back up for each other.
To his family, I know they will be embraced by a circle of love and support from the law enforcement community and other police survivors. Our family lost our beloved Larry Lasater of the Pittsburg, CA Police Department when he was fatally shot on April 23, 2005 during a foot pursuit of two bank robbers. Our family shares your agony and we grieve for you. My son Larry and I were born in North Carolina and most of our family still lives there, thus I was especially sorry to read of the loss of a North Carolina officer. This reflection is sent with the utmost respect for the many years of distinquished service Captain Carpenter gave to his community and the citizens of North Carolina, and for the supreme sacrifice he and family made in the line of duty.

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

August 24, 2005

I am not an officer...but Byron Carpenter was my little brother. I wanted to post this in his honor...and to thank all police officers for what they give up to keep us safe. Thank you.

When God Made Police Officers



When the Lord was creating police officers, He was into His 6th 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 specs on this order?"

A police 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 his/her uniform. "He/she has to be able to sit in an undercover car all day on a stakeout, cover a homicide scene that night, canvass the neighborhood for a witness, and testify in court the next day." "He/she has to be in top physical condition at all times, running on black coffee and half-eaten meals. And 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 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/she asks, "May I see what's in there?" (When he/she already knows and wishes he/she had taken that accounting job.) "Another pair here in the side of his/her head for his/her partners' safety. And another pair of eyes here in front that can look reassuringly at a bleeding victim and say, "You'll be all right, when he/she knows it isn't so."

"Lord," said the angel, touching his sleeve, "rest and work on this 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 a civil service paycheck."

The angel circled the model of the police officer very slowly, "Can it think?" she asked. "You bet," said the Lord. "It can tell you the 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 that it takes five learned judges to debate on the legality of the stop...and still it keeps its sense of humor. This officer also has phenomenal person control. He/she 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 police officer. "There's a leak," she pronounced. "I told you that you were trying to put too much into this model."

"That is not a leak," said the Lord, "it's a tear."

Author unknown.

Debi
Family

July 16, 2005

HE WAS A COP!

Although I never met him, I knew him.

He was idealistic and believed he could make a difference.

He was immensely proud of the uniform and the badge and what they represent.

He felt privileged to be of service to his department, his community and to his country.

He was a cop.

Although I never met him, I knew him.

He was friendly, courteous, and polite, yet firm.

He laughed and joked, but was serious when necessary.

He was competent, trained, and professional.

He was a cop.

Although I never met him, I knew him.

He had a strong sense of right and wrong and became frustrated when true justice became sidetracked.

He felt the sharp criticism that goes with the job, but he never wavered.

He stood by and for his fellow officers.

He was a cop.

Although I never met him, I knew him.

He longed for his family during the long hours.

He worried about them during his shifts and the lonely

weekends,holidays and midnights when they were apart.

He felt guilty about the lost time, but knew his calling and prayed they would understand.

He was a cop.

Although I never met him, I knew him.

He was a good son, a loving husband, and a devoted father.

He was dedicated to the profession and cared about the people he served.

He wanted to do the best job that he could and strived to be the best he could be.

He was a good citizen and a good neighbor.

He was a cop, a husband, a father, a son. He was a cop.

Written by - Lt. William Smith



I did not know you Captain but your family and friends are in my prayers. I am a rookie just starting out and I felt in my heart to leave something to you as a tribute. I came across this poem last week and went back to it. It says alot about what kind of COP you were...even if we never met. I hope that we meet someday when I make it through heavens gates as well.

Keep watch on the beat up there and you will have all our fallen brothers and sisters in blue looking up to you to be their Captain now.

A Rookie
Beautiful Carolinas

June 30, 2005

Dear "B D",

Twenty years ago I met a guy who gave the impression, he was a grizzly bear.
The more time passed, you were a bear
alright, but more like a teddy bear.
You were my friend...most people called you Officer Carpenter...later Capt.
Carpenter...some close to you called you Byron...to me you were B.D., my friend. Each year I loved you more...
No man could have been a better husband to my daughter or father to my wonderful
grandchildren... We miss you... Take pride in a JOB well done...You are our Hero... Thanks for being you and belonging to our family.

Your Mother-in-law...Mary

Mary Voss

May 11, 2005

The death of Captain Carpenter was a total shock to me because I had just talked to him the night before he passed away. The week prior to his death we had an officer that had been shot and Byron had helped us out greatly in the manhunt for the suspects. I can say this about Byron, he was ALWAYS prepared and ALWAYS was willing to help. e will be missed by a number of people throughout the state. It was an honor to have been a part of his funeral. God be with his wife and children at this time.

Captain Scott Wright
Mount Holly Police Department

May 2, 2005

It was a pleasure to have known Captain Carpenter, not only as a fellow Officer, but as a person. I know I speak on behalf of every Officer in Gaston County when I say he will be greatly missed.

Deputy M. Sanford
Gaston County Sheriff's Office

April 28, 2005

Thank you for your service.

Ofc. S.L. Coffman #15174
California Highway Patrol

April 27, 2005

My fiancé, Dennis McElderry, was the first law enforcement casualty of 2003. Dennis was a Deputy Sheriff with the Davis County Sheriff's Office in southeast Iowa. Dennis died doing a job he loved, just as I'm sure Byron did. It saddens me to know that Dennis was not the first to die in the line of duty, nor will he and Byron be the last to die this way.

Having gone through the pain of losing Dennis I can truly understand and feel the pain that Captain Carpenter's family, friends, and co-workers must be feeling. My heart goes out to you all, especially to his wife. No one can truly understand the pain of our loss until they've walked in our shoes. I wish I could give you a few words of wisdom to help you through this tough time, but there isn't anything I can really say or do to make the situation better. Just know that my thoughts are with you. If you ever need anything please do not hesistate to contact me. Dennis' department will always know how to reach me.

Please accept my condolences on behalf of the McElderry family and remember that Byron is part of huge law enforcement family. If you ever need anything any number of them will be there for you (as I've quickly found out!) From reading the many reflections posted here, I am certain Byron was well respected and well loved. You were blessed to have had him in your life, even for a short time.

Thank you Captain Carpenter for a job well done and for helping to make this world a safer place for us all. Please say "hello" to my fiancé Dennis for me.

Wishing you brighter and better days,

Jocelyne :)

Jocelyne Brar (Winnipeg, MB Canada)
Fiancée of Deputy Sheriff Dennis Ray McElderry - EOW (01/03/03)

April 27, 2005

Again we mourn as another hero is taken from us. My deepest sympathy to the family, friends and co-workers of Captain Carpenter. 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

April 26, 2005

TO ALL OF CAPTAIN BYRON'S FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND COWORKERS. OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS ARE WITH YOU ALL. THANKS TO ALL THE FALLEN HERO'S FOR THE GREAT SACRIFICE THEY HAVE MADE. GOD BLESS YOU ALL.

BETTY
SISTEROF FALLEN OFFICER GLENN H. HICKS EOW 2-20-2003

April 26, 2005

Rest In Peace.

Darin Paul, Special Agent
FBI

April 25, 2005

Rest in peace sir.

Shannon
Collins Fire Dept.

April 24, 2005

REST IN PEACE BROTHER.

P.O.Chris Welby
Bridgeton, Mo PD

April 24, 2005

Although your watch has come too an end, rest easy my brother knowing that the battle will rage on and that your sacrifice was not in vain, nor will it ever be forgotten.

God bless you and your family.

PC Christopher Ferko
Toronto Police Service, Canada

April 24, 2005

I pray that your family and friends find strength and support in the reflections left by your extended family. We share in their sorrow. May your spirit have a joyous homecoming and may you rest peacefully on your perch “High on the mountain”, you have earned that right!

D/Sgt. Vencent Woods
State of Michigan Department of Environmental Quality

April 22, 2005