Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

Hey my friend,
Just wanted you to know I think about you often. Everytime we are at the camp, we remember the fun times that we had there with you and Shelly and Justin. I miss getting there and having the note from you on the door that you had checked everything out and all was well. I especially miss our camping trips together. Just wanted you to know Can and I still like our steaks mooing!! Just know that grossed you out. Can just close my eyes and see the expression on your face as we cut into them and began to eat. Oh, by the way, got a camping fan that you would have had to have gotten too. Puts our yellow ones to shame. Laughed with Shelly the other day about it. I miss you my friend. Please watch over all of us. It seems as if it was just the other day that I got the news about what had happened to you instead of two years ago. Shelly and Justin are doing fine. Hopefully in the future,Shelly, Justin and I can get together and go camping again.
You wer

cousin-in-law

July 15, 2007

TWO YEARS TODAY SARGE. WE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR YOUR FAMILY. CONTINUE TO WATCH OVER YOUR WIFE AND CHILDREN.

SERGEANT GONZALEZ, NEVER FORGOTTEN.

JIM SWEENEY CIVILIAN NEW JERSEY
A FRIEND TO ALL PEACE OFFICERS

July 15, 2007

Rest in peace brother and thank you for your service.

nc game warden

July 15, 2007

Sergeant Gonzalez-
Today marks the two-year anniversary of your EOW. We are thinking of your family, friends and community as they bravely continue on. Thank you for your service to all citizens.

Pennsylvania citizen

July 15, 2007

On the second anniversay of his death, we can never say enough about the kindness, compassion, respect, and consideration that Roy Gonzalez displayed as an Officer and as a Citizen of Franklin Parish. He was dedicated to the cause of protecting and serving. His memory will be with us forever. He will always be on our minds and in our hearts.

Karen Herrington
Friend

July 14, 2007

Hello Sweetheart,
Well, tomorrow marks the second anniversary of your senseless death. Justin and I will always remember it on Friday...no matter what the date. Michael W. brought flowers last night from the FOP and APHOF...and "Monkey" came by to visit too. I enjoyed seeing them so much. I don't think they (the guys) realize how much Justin and I consider them family...and feel lost without them.
It has been hard not having you around. We miss you so much and think about you everyday. I know that you are watching over us...and so proud of your son. We love you and miss you dearly. Ride "shotgun" with "the boys" and make sure they are safe...and watch over Justin and me as I know you have been doing. Two years feels like an eternity in some ways and in some it feels like just yesterday that I was waiting on you to get home to finish dinner that faithful Friday night....
I love you and always will..Until we are together again....

Shelley Gonzalez,
Wife

July 14, 2007

shelly you had abrave husband and he fought for what was right so you and your son would be safe .i used to work in franklin parrish and it can be rough but you need to be strong for your son ,and roy will watch over you.may god be withyou and yours deputy sheriff rusty hawkins shelby county missouri.

rusty hawkins
shelby county sherrif deputy shelbyville,mo

June 2, 2007

Hello Baby,
On Friday, May 18, 2007, we honored you for the last time in New Orleans. It was a wonderful, honoring service that would have made you very proud. Kevin, Larry, Bryan, Brandon, Greg, Karen, Justin and myself were all there to honor you. I was so glad that Larry was able to attend. I know you were extremely happy that he was there.
Kevin gave a wonderful reflection of your life. He said something to Justin during that speech that I really never thought about...He told Justin there was one thing that he could ALWAYS have that nobody could ever take from him...and that was your last name!!! I never thought of it like that. It was a sad day yet I felt very proud of you (as I always did). The Chief of Police of a large city in Louisiana shook our hand and told us that you were a "stand-up" cop! That made Justin and me really proud. But, to be honest, I already knew that!!!
We miss you so much. I know that you are in a better place and one day we will be together again because seventeen years with you was not nearly enough!!
Rest in peace, Sweetheart. Keep watching over all of us...

Shelley and Justin Gonzalez
Wife and Son

May 22, 2007

JUST SITING HERE HOME THINKING OF YOU.WE MISS YOU SO DEARLY. WHERE IS MY BABY BROTHER ? WITH GOD.WAITING FOR THE DAY WE WILL ALL SEE EACH OTHER AGAIN .WE LOVE YOU AND MISS YOU VERY MUCH.I MISS OUR PHONE CALLS.YOU WERE ALWAYS THERE FOR ME. I HAD NOT HAD THE COURAGE TO FACE LOSING YOU.BUT I HAVE NEVER FORGOTTEN YOU OR WILL EVER FORGET YOU.SHELLY AND JUSTIN WE LOVE YOU.THANKS FOR BEING THERE FOR ROY(PAPI). LOVE DORA,JUAN ,JOHN.MIKE ANN ORLIE VILLARREAL.

DORA VILLARREAL
SISTER

May 16, 2007

My name is luis and i'm not sure how I got to this web site, but I did. I read about Roy's Life, family and friends. How he lived his life and How he died. To his family I'm sorry for your lost. To other officers sorry for the lost of a partner. I two lost someone very dear in my hear and know how you feel, how we think about our loved one, If only they were here today, what would they say or do? Why ? I ask over and Over again But I never get an answer.

Luis Colon
Just a human

April 3, 2007

Shelly & Justin
I did not know Roy, But just meeting you and Justin in Washington,and reading these reflections Leaves no DOUBT that he a great guy,and missed dearly!I know how you feel I've been there, All I can say friend is HANG IN THERE, GOD BE WITH YOU!

Wufe of a fallen Officer

November 12, 2006

To this day an officer doesn't know what's going to happen on the call their dispatched to, but any officer is willing and ready to take the call.
Sgt. Gonzalez answered the call that god made for him, Sgt. Gonzalez is now upstairs watching and protecting all of us. Thanks for your service to all citizens. Family, Friends and Co-Workers you all are in our prayers, and God Speed

Deputy
Madison Parish Sheriffs Dept.

November 11, 2006

Happy Birthday Roy Boy,
I miss you so much. Not a day goes by that I don't think about you. I do my best to help take care of Shelley and Justin (just like you would want me to do).

Karen Herrington
Friend

November 4, 2006

Sweetheart,
Happy 49th Birthday. We wish you were here so that we could share this special day with you. Justin and I would have showered you with black balloons, wilted roses, and a chocolate cake with chocolate icing. We love you and miss you. Keep watching us from Heaven.

Shelley and Justin
Wife and Son

November 4, 2006

It has been over a year that your tour of duty ended and I wanted to stop and leave a reflection to thank you for your service to law enforcement and for your bravery. You are a true hero and will never be forgotten by those that love you and try and make it through each day without you. Not a day goes by that they don't think of you and it will be like that for as long as they walk this earth. There are no magic words I can offer to help them with their grief except for them to take one day at a time and to talk about you as much as they can to whoever will listen and to especially tell your children all about their father, the Hero, which I have no doubt is being done already. Keep watch over your loved ones, wrap your wings around them and protect them and guide them. While you are on patrol with my son, look after him for me. I leave this poem for your loved ones that my oldest son found:

An Angel in the sky must leave his place of rest.
Gently tucking his wings beneath his armored vest.
For duty has called, there is much to do.
Little did he know this one is dressed in Blue.
Arriving at the scene he knows just what to say,
"Follow me fallen brother, I'll show you the way,
Your duty has ended, your work is now through,
Come hang your hat beside mine, I'm a Cop too."

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

Bob Gordon, Chicago Gold Star Father

August 13, 2006

Thinking of you on the first anniversary of your death.
Time has not diminished your sacrifice. God bless
everyone who is missing you.
Lynn Kole
Washington State

July 15, 2006

May Our Lord wrap His Arms especially tightly around your loved ones today so they can gain comfort from Him.May you Rest in peace and may He Bless you all.

July 15, 2006

Roy, I miss you so much, too. I miss all of the good times we had. I have thought about you lots today, and especially about dark when I was watering my flowers, which is exactly what I was doing one year ago tonight when I heard the awful news about your tragic death. Just couldn't let the day pass without letting you know that it's just not the same without you here.

P.S. Every time my mower goes on the blink, I think "Roy, where are you?" Thanks for being my friend big guy! Kathy Odom

July 14, 2006

Sweetheart,
Today marks one LONG year since you were taken from us. It may have only been one year but it seems like an eternity. We miss you so very much. There is not a minute of the day that goes by that something doesn't remind me of you. You were the love of my life, my best friend, my hero, and simply...my everything. You will NEVER be forgotten. Life here is just not the same without your smile, your laugh, and you just being you. We laugh very often about the things that you did and the way you said things. Justin is beginning to look so much like you that I am sure that he will be spitting image of you when he is older. I will always have you with me thru him. Words cannot tell you how much we miss you...but you know what is in my heart. Continue to watch over us from Heaven. Take care of our family and your friends at the Sheriff's Office. They rely on you to be their backup !!!
Justin and I rely on you to watch over us, too...

This is the last four lines of the poem that you loved so dearly. I wanted to share it on the one year anniversary:

Step Forward Now Policeman,
You've Borne Your Burdens Well.
Come Walk A Beat On Heaven's Street,
You've Done Your Time In Hell.

Rest in Peace, Sweetheart...

Shelley and Justin
Wife and Son

July 14, 2006

Shelley, you may not know me but I graduated the police academy with Roy in 1998. I wanted to let you know that you and your family will always be in our prayers. If there is ever anything that we can do for you please do not hesitate to call upon us.

Cpl. Brandon Waggoner
Monroe Police Dept.

July 2, 2006

Shelley, I of course did not know Roy, but reading these reflections leaves no doubt as to the type of person he was. I regret not having had the honor of knowing him personally. I know he is missed.

Hang in there.

Prayers sent up for Roy, Justin and you.

Dale

Sgt. Dale B.
Lafayette Parish Sheriff's Office

May 31, 2006

I never had the privilege to meet Sgt. Gonzalez,but I did have the honor to be on the same flight with Sgt. Gonzalez's wife and family, coming home from Police Week in DC. The wonderful stories that the family shared with me let me know what a wonderful man Sgt. Gonzalez's was and how much he is loved and missed.
Shelley my heart and love goes out to you and your family. Keep moving forward and sharing your wonderful stories of your true hero.
God Bless you and your family. Looking forward to seeing you again.

DJ Coursen, Surviving Spouse
Capt. AJ Coursen, E.O.W 1/8/02
Sheriff's Office, South Carolina

DJ Coursen
Widow of Capt. AJ Coursen E.O.W. 1/8/02 South Carolina

May 18, 2006

I am a Police Officer in Tallahassee Florida. Last week, May 10-12th, I rode in the Police Unity Tour. The group of approx. 250 officers from all over the country rode our bicycles over 250 miles in memory of all the officers killed in the line of duty. I carried Sgt. Gonzalez's memorial band on my left wrist the entire way and dedicated the ride to his memory.

I would like to give this band to the family as a memento of the ride and tried to locate them at the memorial but wih all the people I could not. Please contact me at the above email and I will get it to you.

Thank You-
Respectfully-
Ofc. D. Northway 710
Tallahassee Police Department

Officer D. Northway
Tallahassee Police Department

May 17, 2006

Today I had the privilege to meet Sergeant Gonzalez's wife at the airport in Washington, D.C. She was on her way back home from Honoring her husband during Police Week. She started off by thanking my partner and I for the job we do. Its something we rarely hear but is very well appreciated.

When I got back to my office, I had to find out more information on Sergeant Gonzalez and how he made the ultimate sacrifice. It was all very moving as read reflections from family and friends. It made me wish I had gotten a chance to meet him.

Deputy R. A. Kelly
Alexandria Sheriff's Office, VA

May 17, 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 8, 2006