Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

Thank you for your service. You are appreciated by many.

LEO WIFE
Ohio

August 28, 2005

You are a true hero! My thoughts and prayers go out to your family and friends, I didn't know you but we lost a close friend and officer, Depty Mike Bancroft this past week and I felt the need to say that I know that you will be misses Im sure as much as he will. I hold the upmost respect for the men and women who by choice leave home every day to protect and serve thier fellow man, not knowing if they will return. For that I thank you and every fallen officer every were. God Bless your family and friends for I know thier pain, May you, and all fallen officers rest in peace,and I pray that you and Mike may be the last!

August 28, 2005

Although I did not know you, your loss has deeply touched my heart. Being an officers wife, I think about what can happen everyday while my husband is on duty. I pray for you and your family daily.

Police Officer's Wife
Los Lunas Police Dept.

August 28, 2005

It was an honor working with you Rich. May God watch over you as you have always watched over us. You are indeed a hero in my heart.

Karen Dennis, former NCIC operator
APD

August 28, 2005

Rick, I never formally met you before you died, but I remember your big smile at UNMH. I remember you leaning back in a chair once laughing with your co-workers. I was lost and asked for directions and you were very kind and helpful to me. I attended your funeral with my husband. Your friends' reflections of you were beautiful and I think we all felt like we knew you by the time we left. When your Final Dispatch was given, I lost it. I am consoled by knowing that you are truly with God now. You served this community well. Rest well, my friend. God bless your and Officer King's families.

Mara, APD officer's wife

August 27, 2005

I was a City Police Officer for a while, before coming back on the Highway Patrol, and I feel deeply for your loss.
Only God knowes why this officer, and his partner were called to Heaven to finish their tour of duty.

May God; rest, peace, and blessings go with you, and your family, and fellow officers.

Trooper Larry Gladden
Tn. Highway Patrol

August 27, 2005

WE THE PEOPLE OF THE ALBUQ POLICE DEPT'S ID UNIT SEND OUR DEEPEST SYMPATHIES TO THE FAMILIES OF OFFICER MICHAEL KING AND OFFICER RICHARD SMITH, WE WILL ALL MISS THERE SMILING FACES BUT KNOW THEY WILL ALWAYS BE STANDING BESIDE YOU, TAKING CARE OF YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES AND ALSO STANDING AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD.

APD ID UNIT
ALBUQ POLICE DEPT

August 27, 2005

Our thoughts and prayers are with your families.

Police Officer
Massachusetts

August 27, 2005

Another hero gone, rest in peace. My heart and prayers go out to your family and friends during their time of need.

New Mexico Dept. of Corrections

August 27, 2005

GOD BLESS YOU MY BROTHER. YOU AND YOUR FAMILY WILL ALWAYS BE IN MY HEART. I FEEL BLESSED TO HAVE KNOWN YOU AND HONORED TO WORK IN THE SAME UNIT AS YOU DID.

TRAFFIC UNIT/RON QUINTANA
ALBUQUERQUE POLICE DEPARTMENT

August 26, 2005

I pray your family and friends will find comfort and strength in the reflections left by your extended family. May your spirit have a joyous homecoming and may you eternally rest peacefully “High on the mountain”

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

August 26, 2005

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS POLICE
OFFICERS SEND OUR CONDOLENCES. OUR
THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS ARE WITH OFFICER
SMITH, HIS FAMILY AND CO-WORKERS.

GOD BLESS...

PO ERNEST G. PENN
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS POLICE - BUFFALO, NEW YORK

August 26, 2005

May you rest in peace while serving the rest of your tour of duty in a place reserved for heroes. The Albuquerque Police Department and City of Albuquerque were blessed by your service. My prayers go out to your family and colleagues. The officers of Albuquerque hold a special place in my heart.

Sergeant P.C. Foster
Mesa, AZ Police Department

August 26, 2005

Rest in Peace Brother. We appreciate you and are grateful for your faithfulness and dedication to duty. Rest assured your loved ones are not alone for we are but a phone call away.

Bob Johnson VA-VI

Bob Johnson U.S. Marshal's (Ret'd)
Blue Knights International Police Assn.

August 25, 2005

Officer Smith and family, thank you for your sacrifice.
Words alone cannot express the deep pain felt by the community.

Anonymous
Probation/Parole Officer - New Mexico Corrections Department

August 25, 2005

Thanks for everything you've done in Law Enforcement. Rest in peace brother.

Officer
Fort Lupton, CO

August 25, 2005

Officer Smith...I shed some tears for you and your family as your motorcade rolled by APD Headquarters this afternoon. I would like to thank you for keeping us all safe and it's a tragedy that you were taken from us all too soon. I prayed for you and your family and I will continue. May God Bless You and Your Beloved Family...

To the Smith family...you are not alone...we are all grateful for the wonderful job Officer Smith did by protecting us..we all lost a hero...I am so sorry. God Bless You All...

Anonymous in Albuquerque

August 25, 2005

Officer Smith,
I am the son of an Albuquerque Police Officer and know all too well the sacrifices you , and all other APD officers, have made to protect our homes and neighborhoods. However, you have made the ultimate sacrifice... Thank you so much for keeping my family safe while I am away from home. My prayers are with you and your family.

Spc. Huntsman
US Army Air Defense Artillery

August 25, 2005

In Valor there is Hope. Rest in Peace brother.

P.O. Chris Welby
Bridgeton, Mo. PD

August 25, 2005

Brother, may God bless you. Your sacrifice will not be forgotten.

Special Agent
FBI New York

August 24, 2005

RICH,

IT WAS A PLEASURE AND A HONOR WORKING WITH YOU. YOU AND YOUR FAMILY ARE IN MY THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS. GOD BLESS

BOBBIE JO LUCERO
APD

August 24, 2005

On behalf of the officers in my agency and more the entire State of Michigan, we send our prayers to your family. Please know that you are being thought about.

God Bless.....

Lt. Bryan Illig
Davison Township Police Department

August 24, 2005

Officer Smith,

May God take you into his kingdom and grant you the peace which you so deserve.

May he ease the grief of your friends and family who are left behind, and remind us all how lucky we were to have known and worked with you.

May he remind me, before each shift I work, how you have honored all of us who bear the title "Police Officer" with your association.

May he impress on me the shinning example of service and dedication which you seve as, to all of us.

And may he grant me the strength to follow that example.

Annon. P 1/C
Albuquerque Police Dept.

August 23, 2005

I first met Rich when I transferred to the traffic division in Jan 2000. As I sat quietly in my seat at roll call, Rich stretched his hand to me, welcomed me to the unit and with another hand, sprayed "silly string" all over me, and helped others do the same. Since then, Rich became a friend I knew I could trust. He was a quiet man, but he was the one of the greatest cops I have ever had the pleasure of working with. He just wanted to do his job and go home to his family. I miss you Rich, and I know you are in a better place.

Pete Dwyer
Albuquerque Police Department

August 23, 2005

Thank you for serving for 22 yrs. in a thankless job. It's truly sad to see a veteran officer make it through as many close calls as I'm sure you had only to loose your life near the end of a career.

9 yr. veteran
Flint City Police

August 23, 2005