Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

As the girlfriend of one of Trooper Larkins THP friends I mourn for him, his family and THP Brothers. Trooper Board is not one to show emotion, but when he called to tell me the news I could hear the tears in his voice and feel the sadness in his heart at the tragic loss of his friend. Everyday they leave to protect and serve and you never know if they will come back. We have to help watch out for these officers when they are doing their duty. I did not know Trooper Larkins but feel the sadness that his loss has brought. May God be with his family and friends.

J.Williams

July 11, 2005

To the family of Trooper Larkins,
Our prayers are with you and may God give you strength in this very sad time.

Greg Williams

Captain Greg Williams
SC Highway Patrol

July 11, 2005

Our thoughts and prayers go out the family of Trooper Larkin who made the ultimate sacrifice. Please know that we will keep your family close in our hearts.

Lt. M. C. Bowman
SC Highway Patrol

July 11, 2005

On behalf of the men and women of the Camillus Police Department, our deepest sympathys to the family, friends and co-workers of Trooper Todd M. Larkins. May you rest in Peace Brother, we now have the Watch.

PBA
Town of Camillus Police Department, CNY

July 11, 2005

I was blessed to have Todd as a friend at college and my heart goes out to his family. May God bless all of our state troopers.

B. Beaty

July 11, 2005

May God be with your family and co-workers at TSHP as they try to deal with this horrible event. We lost two of our Troopers in the same county on I-40 near the same place, the same way a few years back. It seems we cannot keep this from happening even though we try. These "professional truck drivers" keep killing our officers then they get little if any jail time, usually just a little smack on the hand and a "dont do that again". I wish i had the answer but i dont. Maybe Tennessee will be tougher than N.C. and send him away for life, i know that want change this but it may keep him from killing any more of our nations officers. For the family and co-workers please know we will NEVER give up the fight and we will NEVER forget. The State of Tennesse and a greatful Nation will be forever in your debt.

Cpl Gary Mintz, Director Traffic Enf.
Henderson County Sheriff's Office, North Carolina

July 11, 2005

Trooper Larkins so young and so brave.Thank you for a job well done. Your job to serve and protect ended in the untimate sacrifice. Thank you and rest easy there are many here to hold your family in their arms and we will keep them in our prayers.
Debra Martin
Mother of Officer Cole Martin EOW 4/25/03

July 11, 2005

My heart breaks for your family & friends for I know the pain they are feeling. My first husband was also killed on I-40 when a tractor-trailer also struck him while he was on a traffic stop. He was just across the TN/NC line in Haywood County. I pray that you (like Calvin) were killed instantly so that you didn't know any pain. There is some comfort knowing that your loved one didn't die in pain nor suffer. I pray that the Lord will wrap his loving arms around your loved ones left here & help them make it through the rest of their days...they will have days that they can't make it alone. Know there are many of us out here praying for them and feeling that heart break with them. I'm sure Calvin will show you around heaven...give him a hug for me!

Denise
Survivor of Calvin Taylor NCSHP

July 11, 2005

Rest easy fellow Trooper, we'll take the watch from here. God bless you and your family.

Trooper Hutchinson
Indiana State Police D13 Lowell

July 11, 2005

My heart aches for Todd's widow and daughter, and his entire family.

I know because my son, SCHP Senior Trooper Michael J. Rao, was also struck by a passing vehicle when he stopped to help a stranded family on I95. Just as he told the mother to step back into the grass, a Chevy S10 truck struck him and pinned him under the vehicle. Mike was airlifted to hospital and lived on machines for two days. His watch ended on June 12, 2002.

We miss him more today than yesterday. However, we take refuge in the Lord and find strengh by leaning on Him. The days go so slowly, and we wondered how we would get through each day. Well, we have survived, but my heart aches every day for the daughter Mike left behind.

We thank you, Todd, for serving the citizens of Tennessee. We are so proud of your duty to serve--you will not be forgotten. We will "go on" for you!

Lois Rao
Surviving Mother of
SCHP Senior Trooper Michael J. Rao
EOW June 12, 2002

Lois Rao
Surviving Mother

July 11, 2005

Godspeed brother!

Mark Holthaus
Washington State Patrol

July 11, 2005

I pray your family and friends will find strength and comfort in the reflections left by your extended and fraternal family. May your spirit have a joyous homecoming and enjoy your new post, “High on the mountain”

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

July 11, 2005

Trooper Larkins,
Your sacrifice will not be forgotten. You and your family are in our prayers. Rest Easy Brother !

Dep. Paul Sperandeo, Off. Amy Sperandeo
Jeffeson Parish Sheriffs OFfice, Gretna Police Dept. LA

July 11, 2005

The Florida Police Chiefs Association would like to express our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Trooper Todd Larkins, and the Tennessee Highway Patrol. Our thoughts and prayers are with you during this time of great sadness. Please take comfort in knowing that your extended law enforcement family grieves with you. Trooper Larkins, we thank you for your service. You will not be forgotten.

Members and Staff
Florida Police Chiefs Association

July 11, 2005

My heart aches for Trooper Larkins' family. I know exactly what they are going thru and what they will experience. My brother was killed the same way, also leaving behind a wife and daughter. I hope Trooper Larkins' family will take comfort in all the resources available to them, C.O.P.S. especially. I also will be praying for Trooper Larkins' co-workers, as they will struggle to cope, as well. May God be with you in the coming days, months, and years to come.

With my utmost sympathy,
Kris Haimbach

Kris Rao Haimbach
Sister of SCHP Sr. Trooper Michael Rao, E.O.W. 6/12/02

July 11, 2005

Trooper Larkins,
My heart goes out to your family, friends and the Troopers at the Tennessee State Police Posts. You are a hero! There is no greater man than one that will lay his life down for another.
To the wife of Trooper Larkins:
My best friend was a Police Officer for the Indianapolis Police Dept. and was killed in the line of duty last year. I can't imagine what you are going through at this time. I don't want to lie to you and tell you it will get easier bc it won't, it just gets different. My heart is so heavy and saddened for you and your daughter. Please know that when your husband joined the police force, your family expanded the length of the nation. My prayers and thoughts are with you and your daughter. May you find the strength to keep putting one foot in front of the other. Take one day at a time, lean on us for support! We will not leave you...

Rest in Peace Trooper Larkins, rest in peace!

Wife of an Indianapolis Police Officer

July 11, 2005

May you rest in peace, Trooper Larkins. Thank you for serving your state with the dedicate that it takes to make a difference. To your family - I lost my brother back in May. The pain never goes away, but turning to Jesus will relieve a great deal of it. The Lord is the only one who can bring you comfort at this time. Have faith and it will get easier. You and all the other families of fallen heros are in my thought and prayers. God bless you all.

Kevin Cannon
Brother of Keith Cannon EOW 5/4/05

July 11, 2005

Trp. Larkins,

I never had the pleasure to meet you and I was stunned to hear what happened. Rest in peace my brother until we meet again.

Trp. Mark Self / K-9 Hondo
T.H.P.

July 11, 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

July 11, 2005

Trooper Larkins, it was an honor and a privledge to have been friends and to work with you. May God be with you and your family. May we meet again, Brother.

F.T.O. Dearborn
Dickson County Sheriff's Office

July 11, 2005

God Bless, Rest in peace.

Offc. Michael Walker
Tallahassee Police Department

July 11, 2005

Rest in Peace. Your work here is done. You served with honor and pride.

Lt. Stephen A. Joy
Prince George's County Police Department

July 11, 2005

Trooper Larkins

You will be missed by all. My prayers go to your family.

God speed to your heavenly home.

K-9 DAVID HOLLOWAY
COLLEGEDALE POLICE DEPARTMENT

July 11, 2005

May a loving Heavenly Father watch over you and your family. You are in my prayers.

Sgt. D. L. Thompson
Missouri State Highway Patrol

July 10, 2005

My prayers are with the family and Tennessee Highway Patrol.

Master Sergeant Tony Rasnake
Colorado State Patrol

July 10, 2005