Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

Erick, God bless your family and friends. Thank you for your commitment and service to the people of California. My condolences to the Manny family.

James A. Shadoan
(Classmate, CTC IV-00)

James A. Shadoan
California Highway Patrol, El Cajon

December 23, 2005

Officer Manny. God speed. I will pray for your family each night.

new york state police

December 23, 2005

My heart goes out to you and your children. Having just lost my husband in the line of duty on December 1st I can imagine just what you are going through. You never think it could be you but for some reason God had the plan. Though neither my husband or your husband was with us for very many years we can rest knowing they were doing a job that they loved. It takes a very special person to be in Law Enforcement. As you mourn for your husband and your children's father rest asure there are other wives out there feeling your pain. God Bless you!

Teresa Nava
Wife of Henry "Hank" Nava, Jr.
Fort Worth Police Department
EOW: 12-1-2005

Teresa Nava Wife of Officer Henry Nava
Fort Worth Police Department

December 23, 2005

Officer Manny may God bless your family, friends, and department. Rest in peace brother.

Corporal
Fort Lupton, CO

December 23, 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

December 23, 2005

It's as though I heard the wings of a mighty angel, a powerful angel...and he raised his wings crying to the earth: "On this day, the Lord has received another warrior! On this day, one of our own is injured! On this day, raise your voice to the heavens above so that all the earth can hear! Hear that we have joined as one mighty wing and that we can never be undone!"

Rest in peace Brother!

Tpr. Adrian LaPaglia
PA STATE POLICE

December 23, 2005

Rest in Peace Brother, may God bless you!

Patrolman

December 23, 2005

My heartfelt condolences to the family of Officer Manny, and to his CHP family as well. It is always difficult to lose someone we love, but this time of year it seems so much worse. You will all be in my prayers.

Detective G. Russell
Los Angeles Police Department

December 23, 2005

My heart goes out to your family, esp. during this time of the year.

Detective Sergeant
Maui Police Department

December 23, 2005

My heart goes out to your family, esp. during this time of the year.

Detective Sergeant
Maui Police Department

December 23, 2005

It's people like yourself who are hero's every day they put on there uniform. No greater gift than yourself. You will always be remembered. Even by people that never new you. God Bless you Trooper Manny

Rick T
Citizen State of Washington

December 23, 2005

God Bless, Rest in Peace

Chief George Yaccich
Rochester Township Police PA

December 23, 2005

No more will our son see your face looking at him, backing him up while answering calls, or even sharing the precious few minutes together during a dinner break. It's hard for us to listen to the stories without getting the lump in our throats, the tears in our eyes, and the heaviness in our hearts.

Dear Erick, we know you can see the face of God now as well as reaching out your hands and touching all those who loved you. We will never give up on people we love. Love is so incredibly powerful.

Talk to us and let us feel your spirit. We know you will always be there.

Grandma & Grandpa Hinkle
Parents of your Deputy Sheriff Friend

December 23, 2005

Rest in peace, blue angel... May God comfort your family and friends during this terrible time.

Rosa Waters
Mother of Michael Waters
EOW: September 11, 2003

December 23, 2005

May God be with your family and brother officers. Rest now brother you watch is now ours.

Chief N.L.Spittler
Somerville Texas

December 23, 2005

Erik you were a great paramedic and a wonderful person to work with. I'm sure you were just as great of an officer. You, Nina and the kids will be in my prayers.

Larry Roberts EMT
Hall Ambulance

December 23, 2005

To the family, friends, and fellow officers...hold tight to the memories of the good times and never let them go. They can get you through some of the hardest moments. Our thoughts are with you.

the Franks Family
Merced Area CHP

December 23, 2005

The lost of this officer, husband, Father and firend is not one we can understand.. Why is one taken so young and sudden.. My heart and prayers go out to Officer Erick Manny's family and firends.. Words that were given to me in my time of loss that helped me.. John 13:7 Jesuse replied, "You do NOT realize now what I am doing, but LATER you will understand." Know that through GOD all things happen for the GOOD.. He LOVES us all and oneday wants us all to be with HIM.. Merry CHRISTmas ALL IN HIM Sarah Beth Atlanta, GA..

December 23, 2005

I have been a law man for 25 years. During my tour of duty many brave men and women have made the ultimate sacrfice. There names are inscribed in stone on police memorials through out our country. There names remain as scars on my heart as daily reminders of what, "sacrafice", means.

Officer Rick Geller
California Highway Patrol San Bernardino Area

December 23, 2005

My condolences to the family and friends of Officer Manny and to my brothers and sisters in the California Hwy Patrol.

Rest easy brother. Your watch is ours now.

Tfc Surowiec
Delaware State Police

December 23, 2005

My thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of Officer Manny. Rest in peace brother....we have your watch.

Officer Frank Plourd
Scarborough Police Department

December 23, 2005

A deep appreciation for your duties.
May God watch over your family.

H.S.,
Citizen of Colorado

December 23, 2005

May God Bless the entire Manny Family, and look over them during this difficult holiday season. Yet another BROTHER taken from us and detailed to patrol The Ever Growing Precinct In The Sky. "He's Not Heavy, He's My Brotether." REST IN PEACE... Fidelis Ad Mortem

Police Officer
New York City Police Department

December 23, 2005

Rest easy, Brother. We'll take it from here.

Trooper
Michigan State Police

December 23, 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

December 23, 2005