Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

To Ofc. Cantrell's family. Words cannot express my sympathy for your family. Your family is in our thoughts!

Det. Robert Ponzetti
Absecon Police NJ

August 1, 2005

I am so sorry for your tremendous loss. Words cannot express your emotions at this time, I lost my husband Shelby Blackfox (age 30) in a traffic accident on 11-6-01 & can only imagine your sadness with losing 2 family members. My thoughts and prayers are with you!

Jennifer Blackfox Wilson

August 1, 2005

MAY GOD BLESS THE FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND COWORKERS OF OFFICER CANTRELL DURING THIS VERY SAD TIME IN THIER LIVES. MAY GOD BLESS THIS OFFICER AND HIS DAD. MY BROTHER, YOU ARE A HERO. YOU HAVE SERVED WELL, NOW REST IN PEACE.

CHIEF RONNIE WATFORD-RET.
JEFFERSON POLICE DEPT,S.C.

August 1, 2005

My thoughts and prayers go out to Officer Cantrell's family as they endure the loss of both of their loved ones. May God bless you with his peace and comfort. Psalm 55:22

Denise Nichols - surviving spouse
Alabama State Trooper Brian K. Nichols EOW 2/17/2002

August 1, 2005

I was saddened to hear of this tragic death. What saddened me even more was reading that Officer Cantrell's father was in the vehicle. I participate in ride-alongs with my local Sheriff Deputies, and I always fear that I too, will be injured\killed.
Rest in Peace Officer Cantrell
and to his father: This is what your son devoted himself to, and now you can help him continue his job in heaven

Explorer Aaron McLearen
Clare County Sheriff Department Michigan

August 1, 2005

Our heart felt condolences goes out to the Cantrell family and friends. We are praying for you all here in Ohio.

Amy Caldwell
Marion, Ohio

August 1, 2005

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

August 1, 2005

This officer's courage and will to do right will never go unnoticed and my deepest sympathy and prayers are with the family and the law enforcement community surrounding these two fine men.
Fort Smith AR

Eric Hadley

August 1, 2005

God’s Hero in Blue

He walked life’s lonely path with honor, Lord,
Protecting those you sent his way…
Until, at last, with task well done,
Your call is heard today.
We hear you saying:
“Come, my friend, with me apart…from years of service rest.
You’ve helped the poor, protected all, you’ve passed Life’s every test.
You did not falter, did not fail though weary was your soul
I saw your tears, I felt your fears…I helped you toward your goal.
Beneath that badge there beat a heart, strong, courageous, true…
When duty called, you answered, my hero dressed in blue!
Come, my friend, your reward awaits: the law you did obey.
Faithful through life’s endless storms you showed my people the way.
Your beat is ended; roll call’s done! Now, rest on Heaven’s shore.
The good you did so willingly will remain forever more.”
Thank you; Father, for your great love as we cherish his memory dear
We offer this brave soul to you…be with him ever near.
And when, at last, we hear your call may we each take our place
On Heaven’s shore, eternal home, beneath your kindly gaze.

P/O retired

August 1, 2005

May God's eternal love and endless blessings be upon the family, friends and co-workers of Officer Larry Cantrell and his father.
This is such a tragedy but I would like for those close to these two men to know that there are folks all across this country that will lift them in prayer before the Almighty. God bless you.

Patrolman Doug Hutchison
Irving Police Department, Texas, retired.

August 1, 2005

Such a Tragic Loss for One Family. God Bless You and Your Father.

George
Albuquerque PD, Retired

August 1, 2005

Just today I responded to a burglary in progress with lights, sirens and the whole nine yards. Someone was backing out of there driveway and I had to swerve sharply to avoid a collision. I'd like to think that Officer Cantrell was looking over me.
Rest in Peace, Offcier Cantrell, we've got it from here.
Ofc. Culver, RJ #138
Holly Hill Police Department
volusia County, FL

Ofc. Culver, RJ
Holly HIll Police Department

August 1, 2005

How can I even begin to put into words the feelings and sorrow that is felt when one loses a partner and a friend?

The closeness of partners is often misunderstood by those outside of the law enforcement community. A true partner is one who sacrifices himself unselfishly for the safety and security of his own. A true partner makes himself available to his brothers in times of great anxiety and sorrow, with care and full regard for his brother. A true partner does not take selfishly from others, but rather gives freely of his heart and services to those he loves. A true partner hurts when others hurt, bleeds when others bleed. Officer Larry Cantrell was one such partner to me.

A true friend is someone who loves you despite your imperfections and your habits. A true friend is unafraid to tell you the truth and will guide you in the proper direction. A true friend makes himself a crutch when others cannot stand without support. A true friend loves unconditionally. A true friend will often times sacrifice his own needs and desires for those of others. A true friend laughs when you laugh, cries when you cry. Officer Larry Cantrell was one such friend to me.

Larry was an officer who served Sapulpa with great pride. Never once did I ever question Larry’s motives, as they were all to benefit and provide for his fellow officers and community alike. Larry possessed a confidence and devotion few have seen. He had a natural aura about him that made it impossible for his partners not to want to grow close to him. Larry was always quick to offer himself to his fellow officers in times of distress. Larry knew what it meant to care and to give. Larry gave the ultimate sacrifice.

Larry, you have been both a great friend and partner to me. The members of the Sapulpa Police Department and the city of Sapulpa grieve for your loss, but are quickly reminded of your unselfish sacrifice. As a citizen of the city of Sapulpa, a partner with you at the Sapulpa Police Department, and a personal friend I love you and will greatly miss you.

Fellow Officer
Sapulpa Police Department

August 1, 2005

My deepest sympathies to the family of Officer Cantrell - you have suffered a double tragedy. May you find comfort in the fact that God welcomed them into His kingdom together.

Linda Lamm-LEO Wife and Sister of
Jay Balchuns EOW 11/05/04

August 1, 2005

REST IN PEACE, MY FRIEND. I SALUTE YOU. MY THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS ARE WITH YOU, YOUR FAMILY AND COWORKERS. AND GOD BLESS YOUR DAD, WHO ACCOMPANIED YOU ON YOUR FINAL WATCH. I THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO YOUR COMMUNITY AND OUR NATION. YOUR ARE A TRUE HERO INDEED. YOUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN BLUE WILL TAKE IT FROM HERE. PLEASE WATCH OVER AND GUIDE THEM.

JIM SWEENEY
A FRIEND TO ALL POLICE OFFICERS

August 1, 2005

An officer and his father in the same incident! What a tragedy for this family. My sincere condolences for this family and this police department-May God comfort you all!

Anonymous

August 1, 2005

May God give you all the strength and comfort needed at this time. God bless Officer Cantrell's family, friends and co-workers in their losses.

LaVerne Sanborn, Retd
Indianapolis Police Dept

August 1, 2005

I AM SADDENED BY THIS VERY UNFORTUNATE TRAGEDY. MY PRAYERS GO OUT TO THE FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND COWORKERS OF THIS BRAVE OFFICER AND HIS FATHER. I AM AT A LACK OF WORDS RIGHT NOW BECAUSE OF THIS INCIDENT. WE ALL THAT BLEED BLUE HAVE BEEN IN THIS TYPE OF SITUATION AND I CAN HONESTLY SAY THAT I HAVE HAD SEVERAL CLOSE CALLS MYSELF. THEIR LIVES WERE NOT IN VAIN. I PRAY THAT THEY WILL WATCH OVER US FROM HEAVEN AND CONTIONUE TO GUIDE US AS THEY ASSIST US IN OUR EFFORTS TO CONTINUE TO FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT. NO MATTER HOW HARD WE TRY, AS OFFICERS, TO EXPRESS TO OTHERS OUTSIDE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT THE DANGERS OF THE JOB, THEY CAN NEVER FULLY UNDERSTAND THAT WHEN YOU ARE A POLICE OFFICER, THERE IS ALWAYS DANGER THAT LOOMS IN VERY DIFFERENT FORMS. GOD BLESS YOU OFFICER AND TO THE MANY THAT PROTECT AND SERVE WORLD WIDE. BE CAREFUL AND STAY SAFE!!

OFFICER SEYMOUR COUNCIL
PLANTATION POLICE DEPARTMENT

August 1, 2005

May God bless Officer Cantrell's family and friends during this time of sadness. We as fellow officers know the dangers involved with this wonderful job. Officer Cantrell was doing what the public wants us to do, protect the innocent. May he continue his watch from the Golden Streets. Rest in peace brother.

Officer B. Makovy P343
Grand Prairie Police Department (Tx)

August 1, 2005

My thoughts and prayers are with the family and my heart goes out to you during this great loss. Rest easy Brother.

Officer S. Tarpley
Union City Police Dept. UC, GA

August 1, 2005

THERE IS NO WORDS I CAN THINK OF FOR THIS REFLECTION.I AM IN SHOCK TO KNOW THAT A FELLOW BROTHER AND HIS PROUD FATHER HAVE LOST THEIR LIFE.MAY GOD BE WITH BOTH OF YOU.

J. CISNEROS
LOS ANGELES SCHOOL POLICE

August 1, 2005

God bless you our Brother. Rest in peace.

Officer Keith E. Nicholas
Warren, MA Police Dept.

August 1, 2005

To the family of Officer Cantrell and Mr. Cantrell, I send to you my prayers and sympathy. I can only pray that God will hold you all close during these extremely difficult times.

As a wife of a law enforcement officer and a COPS survivor, it is my nightly prayer that all our LEO's stay safe.

Peggy Dreher

Peggy Dreher
Sister of Patrick Maher EOW 8-2-03

August 1, 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

August 1, 2005

I have had my father on many a ride-alongs and this is the ultimate fear. Not only did Officer Cantrell give all of himself he could humanly give, but there was another innocent life lost in this trajedy.

To the family and friends of Officer and Mr Cantrell...your loss is felt much farther away than you can even imagine. Know that there are people everywhere praying for you. Not just in law enforcement, but everywhere.

To the Sapulpa Police Dept...please know our family will also be praying for your healing during this grieving time from the wounds this trajedy brings.

May you all feel the love these men brought to each of you and stay strong for them. I never had the honor of knowing either of these men but I'm sure they would expect nothing less of you.

God Bless the peace keeper and the families that support them through the best and worst of times.

Patrolman
Ft Wayne Police Dept.

August 1, 2005