Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

My fiancé, Dennis McElderry, was the first law enforcement casualty of 2003. Dennis was a Deputy Sheriff with the Davis County Sheriff's Office in SE Iowa. Dennis died doing a job he loved, just as I'm sure Robert did. It saddens me to know that Dennis was not the first to die in the line of duty, nor will he and Robert be the last to die this way.

Having gone through the pain of losing Dennis I can truly understand and feel the pain that Lieutenant Cabral's family, friends, and co-workers are going through in losing him. My heart goes out to you all, especially to his wife. No one can truly understand the pain of loss until they've walked in our shoes. Please know that my thoughts are with you and that you are not alone in your "journey". Should you ever need anything please do not hesitate to contact me. (The Davis County Sheriff's Office will always know how to reach me or write jocelyne1974 at canada dot com)

As a fallen officer "survivor" and a friend, please accept my condolences on behalf of myself and the McElderry family. I never got the opportunity to know Robert but, I am certain he was well respected and well loved. Robert will live on in the hearts of all the lives he touched. You were all blessed to have been able to know and love Robert, even for a short time. I pray that Robert, Dennis, and all the other fallen officers will continue to watch over us all as only they can.

Thank you Lieutenant Cabral for a job well done and for helping to make this world a safer place for us all. Please say "hello" to my fiancé Dennis for me.

Wishing you and all those who's lives you touched brighter and better days,

Jocelyne :)

"Wherever a beautiful soul has been ... there is a trail of beautiful memories."

Jocelyne Brar (Winnipeg, MB Canada)
Fiancée of Deputy Sheriff Dennis Ray McElderry (EOW: 01/03/03)

November 12, 2005

Sending many blessings and prayers from the City of New Bedford. As a former Case High Graduate Class of 1985 I know that Lt. Cabral will be dearly missed. He has touched the lives of all who passed through Swansea schools.

Deb (Rego) Lawrence

November 11, 2005

ABOUT 2 WEEKS AGO I WAS CLEANING OUT SOME DRAWERS IN MY KITCHEN AND CAME ACROSS PHOTOS OF BOB'S WEDDING. I SMILED WHILE LOOKING THROUGH THEM REFLECTING ON THE BEAUTY OF THE CEREMONY,AS WELL AS THE FUN AT THE RECEPTION. THAT DAY I THAUGHT ABOUT HIM FREQUENTLY, AND WONDERED HOW HE WAS. STRANGLY ENOUGH I BUMPED INTO HIM THE NEXT DAY. WE SPOKE FOR A FEW MINUTES ABOUT HIS FANCY NEW CAR, AND HOW HE APPARENTLY WAS SUFFERING A MID-LIFE CRISIS. WE JOKED AROUND AS WE ALWAYS HAD IN THE PAST,HE KISSED ME ON THE CHEAK,AND OFF HE WALKED. THE NEXT DAY I BUMPED INTO NANCY, WHO I HADDN'T SEEN IN MONTHS. I WAS IN FRIENDLY'S AND SHE WAS JUST ON HER WAY. WE TALKED OF THE COINCIDENCE OF SEEING THEM BOTH IN A TWO DAY PERIOD, WE TALKED A BIT MORE AND SAID WHAT A SHAME IT WAS THAT WE ARE ALL SO BUISY IN OUR LIVES THAT WE CAN'T FIND THE TIME FOR EACH OTHER.WITH A HUG WE PARTED AND SAID WE'D HAVE TO FIND THE TIME TO GET TOGETHER. LATER THAT WEEK I WOKE UP TO A PHONE CALL FROM A FRIEND THAT A SWANSEA OFFICER HAD BEEN KILLED IN A CRASH. I KNEW IN MY HEART THAT IT WAS BOB. I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO GET HIM OFF MY MIND SINCE.MY HEART GOES OUT TO NANCY AND THE BOYS,HE WAS THE KINDEST MAN I'VE EVER KNOWN. A MAN SO GREAT MUST HAVE A SPECIAL SEAT NEXT TO GOD. I WALK AWAY FROM THIS GREAT TRAGEDY FEELING GREATFUL TO HAVE KNOWN HIM.I ALSO HOPE THAT IF YOU READ THIS, YOU'LL FIND SOME TIME TO CALL A FRIEND IT'S EASIER THAN MISSING THEM FOREVER.

WITH DEAPEST SYMPATHY,
LORI MACHADO SHUBERT

November 11, 2005

Robert, as you now know, Jesus Loves You. So do we.


John 3:16



Only Bosco knows the pain of losing a brother...

Ret Officer RB Wade
Richmond Va Police

November 11, 2005

Bob,
you were my dare officer and a mentor. You showed me strength and values to stay with me forever. Some many people have gained so much from your presence. You lived an honorable life to make your family proud and you will be missed dearly by so many.

with love,
ally

Allison Meshnick

November 11, 2005

TO: The family; loved ones; friends and department members: A POLICE OFFICER’S PRAYER:--- O, gentle Lord ! Keep the day/night watch with me. As I begin my tour of duty, I ask your protection from all mental, physical and spiritual harm. Sustain me with the knowledge that I am doing your work, endeavoring to keep peace among your people. Help me to be just as I enforce the law without prejudice or favor to anyone. May I be courageous but not reckless in carrying out my duties. Let me respond to all calls with haste realizing that so many are dependent upon me for life and safety. Support me with your consoling power when I am tempted to think no one really cares and that I am taken for granted. Sustain in me the conviction that so many thousands do care and are grateful for my presence. Grant that I may be loyal to my partner and my fellow officers, and that I may back them up effectively when called upon for assistance. Lord, I ask that I may return safely, after my tour of duty, to my loved ones and those who love me. I pray that I may be a good and honorable police officer; and after my tour of duty is over here on earth, may I enjoy the peace and happiness of heaven that you have promised to those who serve you well. AMEN. *** REST IN PEACE ***

Chief ( retired ) Douglas A. Koeppen
Washington New Jersey

November 11, 2005

Rest in Peace with the strength you had in life and passed on to so many. Best wishes to the family of Lt. Cabral and the Swansea Police Dept.

Brother Officers
Shrewsbury PD

November 11, 2005

We walked in silence, we saluted a brother some have never had the pleasure of meeting and we prayed for the family. The Thin Blue Line is now one officer thinner. Rest in peace "Officer Bob".

Ptlm.
North Providence Poice

November 11, 2005

My thoughts and prayers go out to Lt. Cabral's family and the Swansea Police Department. Despite making the ultimate sacrifice, you continue to live in our hearts.

Rest easy, Lieutenant. We've got the watch from here.

God bless and stay safe,
Deputy Sheriff Chris Rego
Volusia County (FL) Sheriff's Office

Deputy Sheriff Chris Rego
Volusia County Sheriff's Office

November 11, 2005

REST IN PEACE MY DEAR BROTHER

P/O SAMUEL MCCLAIN #2470
PHILADELPHIA POLICE DEPT.

November 10, 2005

you were a great neighbor! Always went down the street to see if people were parking illegaly in our yard. Well everyone will miss you. I kno I will always remember you....as a freind. RIP you will always be in our hearts. Jenna

November 10, 2005

I knew you touched a lot of lives but it was not un till today at your service that i realized how many lives and kids lives that you have touched. Rest in Peace you will be missed.

November 10, 2005

Lt.,
Miss you very much!You were a great person and a great friend. I am so sorry your gone.

Jenna Mitchell

November 10, 2005

He was a great person. We will all miss Officer Bob. I feel bad for Mitch and Alec,they must be so devistated . The firefigther even new him. That's terrible. I am very sorry, he was a great D.A.R.E officer, police man, and freind. Everyone who new him will miss him he will always be remembered.

Jenna Mitchell

November 10, 2005

Loving son, father figure to Jo, Susie and Tom, you were the Altar Boy mentor at St. Dominics in the 1960’s, the big brother on the trip to Fenway in 1968 to see “The Hawk”, hoop teammate and opponent at “the courts” and the Junior High throughout the 1970’s and 80’s (“Eggy” to all , thanks to Charlie Dave , Dave , Dave and Paul ), teacher at Case, Officer Cabral, Sergeant Cabral, Officer Bob to thousands of sixth graders in the DARE program, Uncle Bobby, Coach Cabral to hundreds of hoop,baseball and soccer players, gift-wrapping partner at the Mall for the Lions after the midnight-8 shift when sleep would have been expected. Lieutenant Cabral. You squeezed a lifetime into a short 52 years.

It’s an amazing resume highlighted by being a great Dad to Mitch and Alec.

Rest well with Judy.

Steve, Lin, Alanna, Jessalyn and Eric

Steve Hyland

November 10, 2005

Mr Cabral is a kind-soul. I can say that he has truly touched the lives of the children in this community. I had him as a subsitute teacher and he deeply cared about all the kids in this town. This town has suffered a great loss. He will be truly missed. Tasha
As sons of a police officer, we know what a great loss this is to both the community and the police department.
Kirk & Kris Solomito

Tasha LeBlanc & Kirk,& Kris Solomito
Swansea Residents

November 10, 2005

Officer Bob,

You will be sadly missed and will always be in our thoughts and prayers. God bless you and your family....Thank you for giving so much of yourself...our town will never be the same..Donna Rossi and Sarah Medeiros

Donna Rossi
swansea town resident

November 10, 2005

I can't express enough, my sadness, of you dying at such a young age. You had so much more to offer and your smile will be remembered and missed often. You are now an angel and I will look to heaven and think of you.

Mindy
Middleboro

November 10, 2005

As a member of the HTFD Polce Dept for the past 17 years I and the rest of the HTFD police Dept send our deepest sympathy to Lieutenant Cabrals family and friends and the whole Swansea Police Dept.Our hearts and prayers go out to all of you who put thier lives on the line everyday.

Off. Don Linde
Hartford Police Dept

November 10, 2005

I had officer Bob as a teacher. He was always there for us. I owe him so much for keeping tabs on me to get me where I am now. Thank You Officer Bob, I'll miss you.

Nathan Justa, SN, BCC

November 10, 2005

Thoughts and prayers are with the Swansea Police department who at times we work so close with. Lt. Cabral was an exceptional man and all officers should strive to follow in his footsteps. Swansea Pd if you need anything you know where to find us.

Fall River Police Dept. (Massachusetts) Dispatch

Dispatchers FRPD
Fall River Police Department

November 10, 2005

Rest, brother.

Cpl Steve Headley
Mishawaka, IN police

November 10, 2005

This community has lost a true hero. Our thoughts and prayers are with Lt. Cabral's family, colleagues, and friends. May he rest in peace.

United States Marshals Service
District of Rhode Island

November 10, 2005

My thoughts & prayers are with the family and friends. It's tragic to hear a fellow brother was killed by a drunk driver. The same thing happened last year to the mother of one of the officers at our department. I believe this happens more than we think it does.

Ofc. Justin Cantees

November 10, 2005

My thoughts and prayers are with the family and the Swansea P.D

Fallen but not forgotten

Bryan Laurie
Haltom City Tx

November 9, 2005