Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

My sincerest sympathy to the family and friends of Police Officer Matt Redding as well as to the Rocklin Police Department. Rest in peace Officer Redding, you are gone but will not be forgotten...

Dispatcher Sue Rusch
Punta Gorda PD, Punta Gorda FL

October 11, 2005

Nothing I can say will express the thanks I feel for your service to the community. When I hear of an officer's death, even if I don't know them, it feels like losing a friend. Know that I have sent prayers to your family to help them through this time.
Thank you.

Dispatcher
Chesapeake Police Department, VA

October 11, 2005

My condolences to the family, friends and co-workers of Officer Matt Redding. I lift you all up in prayer. Thank you Officer Redding, for your bravery and dedication.

Civilian
Gallup Police, NM

October 11, 2005

As a mother of an officer, I express my deepest sympathies and condolences to Matt's loved ones and friends. Thank you, Matt, for your dedication and service. It will not be forgotten.

Nancy Collins
Wes Collins' (Grass Velley PD) mom
member of Adventure Christian Church

Nancy Collins

October 11, 2005

Lord I ask for courage
Courage to face and conquer my own fears
Courage to take me where others will not go

I ask for strength
Strength of body to protect others
And strength of spirit to lead others

I ask for dedication
Dedication of my job to do it well
Dedication to my community to keep it safe

Give me Lord, concern for those who trust me
And compassion to those who need me
And please Lord through it all
Be at my side


Lay in peace knowing that you have done a good job. My heart goes to your family and friends.

acadmey graduate corvello

October 11, 2005

MATT-
THANK YOU SO MUCH, I DID NOT KNOW YOU AS WELL AS OTHERS, BUT YOU WILL ALWAYS BE REMEMBERED. YOU ARE MY HERO AND SOMEONE I WILL ALWAYS LOOK UP TO AS A GUIDE AND ROLL MODEL.
THANK YOU FOR THE MEMORIES,
MAY GOD BLESS YOU MATT

WES

October 11, 2005

We watched this young man grow up, and become the stellar individual pictured here. There are no words to express the sorrow we feel for Matt, his family and his extended family of fellow officers. May God Bless and comfort you all.
Kinne Family
Rocklin, CA.

S. Kinne, Civilian

October 11, 2005

Rest in peace, brother.

Officer R. Law
Burbank Airport Police Department

October 11, 2005

I still can't believe it! My prayers are with your family and friends. I met Matt through softball about 7 years ago he played on the same team as my boyfriend. He always had a smile on his face. I would see him at Bel Air always ask me how things were going. He is a special man and a hero in my eyes. I will miss him.

Teresa Ellis
Rocklin Civilian

October 11, 2005

Brother,
God has seen us make due with the world, unfair and unfit as it sometimes is, and he has seen you make his world a better place by your labor and service. I wish you Godspeed to Heaven's bright shore.

Lieutenant Phillip Ferguson
Town of Duck Police Department (NC)

October 11, 2005

To the family and friends of Officer Matt Redding and his fellow officers with the Rocklin Police Department:

On behalf of our entire family, I wish to extend our sincerest condolences on the grievous loss you suffered when Officer Redding was so tragically killed. His valor and dedication to his job will not be forgotten.

Our family grieves with you and for you. We share your agony as we lost our beloved Larry Lasater of the Pittsburg Police Dept. when he was fatally shot during a foot pursuit of two bank robbers on April 23rd. I am so sorry that another family has to face this devastating trauma. It is infuriating that a fine young man is killed because of the senseless, irresponsible, and above all criminal conduct of another.

In reading the reflections posted about Matt, it is obvious that he was well-loved by many and well-respected by his peers. To his parents, I know that you feel like a piece of your heart is missing and will forever be because of the void left when your child is so unjustly taken from his loving family.

May you be comforted by the caring and support of your law enforcement community, and other police survivors. There will be many who will be with you each step of this awful journey.


This reflection is sent with the utmost respect for the distinquished service Matt gave to his community as a police officer, and for the supreme sacrifice he and his family made on October 9, 2005.

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

October 11, 2005

On behalf of the Napa County Sheriff's Office, I would like to send our thoughts and prayer's to our brothers and sisters in Rocklin and to the friends and family of Officer Redding.

Deputy Geoff Rochester
Napa County Sheriff's Office

October 11, 2005

To the family and friends of Officer Matt Redding and his fellow officers with the Rocklin Police Department:

On behalf of our entire family, I wish to extend our sincerest condolences on the grievous loss you suffered when Officer Redding was so tragically killed. His valor and dedication to his job will not be forgotten.

Our family grieves with you and for you. We share your agony as we lost our beloved Larry Lasater of the Pittsburg Police Dept. when he was fatally shot during a foot pursuit of two bank robbers on April 23rd. I am so sorry that another family has to face this devastating trauma. It is infuriating that a fine young man is killed because of the senseless, irresponsible, and above all criminal conduct of another.

In reading the reflections posted about Matt, it is obvious that he was well-loved by many and well-respected by his peers. To his parents, I know that you feel like a piece of your heart is missing and will forever be because of the void left when your child is so unjustly taken from his loving family.

May you be comforted by the caring and support of your law enforcement community, and other police survivors. There will be many who will be with you each step of this awful journey.


This reflection is sent with the utmost respect for the distinquished service Matt gave to his community as a police officer, and for the supreme sacrifice he and his family made on October 9, 2005.

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

October 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

October 11, 2005

God Bless!

Trooper
Arizona

October 11, 2005

On behalf of my department I am sending condolences in regards to Officer Matt Redding's passing. I met Matt during a ride along I had with a good friend of mine Officer Jeff Kolaskey on New Years Eve 2004. Matt and I spoke during that evening and I found him to be a motivated, upstanding man and officer. Matt as well as Jeff had wishes for me to make the department and work with them. I am sending this with Matt's family, and Rocklin in mind because at a time Matt had me in mind as well.

God Bless....

Police Officer Loren Mixon
Los Rios Police Department

October 11, 2005

My heart goes out to the family and friends of Officer Redding. I'm so very sorry for your loss. My God give you strength to make it through. I just recently had a loss. My brother in law was a police officer who was shot and killed on a traffic stop September 28, 2005. It's very hard to lose a family member and a fellow officer. Rest in peace brother, the watch is ours now.

Deputy Wesley Waites
Wayne County Mississippi Sheriff's Department

October 11, 2005

I have heard nothing but wonderful things about the work Matt did while he was here on earth, and I can only imagine the work Matt will do now. My prayers go out to the family, friends, and co-workers of Matt. No words can describe, but know that love is being sent around the world to comfort you all.

Sheila

October 11, 2005

Rest in peace brother... your job is done now. God bless Officer Redding's family & friends that are left behind.
You all shall be re-united again one day.....

Ptlm.
Philadelphia Police Dept.

October 11, 2005

Our thoughts are with you, you have done a fine job on your watch, we will cover while you rest. Thank you for your sacrifice and keeping the people safe. Rest in peace brother. Bob

Sergeant Robert Denault
Department of Defense Police

October 11, 2005

Hero,

You will be missed by all. We will never forget you.

Harris Family
Rocklin

October 11, 2005

The policeman stood and faced God,
Which must always come to pass.
He hoped his shoes were shining,
Just as brightly as his brass.

"Step forward now, policeman.
How shall I deal with you?
Have you always turned the other cheek?
To my church have you been true?"

The policeman squared his shoulders and said,
"No lord, I guess I ain't,
Because those of us who carry a badge
can't always be a saint."

I've had to work most Sundays,
and at times my talk was rough,
and sometimes I've been violent,
Because the streets are awfully tough.

But I never took a penny,
That wasn't mine to keep
Though I worked a lot of overtime
When the bills got just too steep.

And I never passed a cry for help,
Though at time I shook with fear.
And sometimes, God forgive me,
I've wept unmanly tears.

I know I don't deserve a place
Among the people here.
They never wanted me around
Except to calm their fear.

If you've a place for me here, Lord,
It needn't be so grand.
I never expected or had too much,
But if you don't I'll understand.

There was a silence all around the throne
Where the saints had often trod.
As the policeman waited quietly,
For the judgement of his god.

"Step forward now, policeman,
You've born your burdens well.
Come walk a beat on Heaven's streets,
You've done your time in hell"

GREGG HOUSTON
SOUTH CAROLINA

October 11, 2005

God Speed Brother

Police Officer
Petaluma Police Department

October 11, 2005

Matt, My fellow SWAT brother! It doesn't seem real that only one week ago we were at training and felt that rough hand shake and hug. I heard that famous "what's uuuuuup" come out of your mouth. Your easy going demeanor will always be missed. On behalf of the Roseville/Rocklin Regional SWAT team and especially myself, I pray you rest in peace. Strength and Honor by brother! With love

Mike Anderson-Police Officer
Roseville Police Department

October 11, 2005

Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of Officer Matt Redding, his good deeds to his community and country will always be remembered. May God bless you.

Chief Ferrell J. Stewart
Cooter, MO Police Department

October 11, 2005