Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

To the Prendes Family,

I never had the opportunity to meet Sgt Prendes in the years I have been w/ metro, but from his picture you can tell he was a good man and a loving husband and father. I am sorry he was taken so tragically. Mine and my families thoughts are w/ Sgt. Prendes and his family and friends. His death has affected everyone in Metro including the civilian employees w/ LVMPD. He will be missed by everyone. Please know that we are all thinking of you duringing this time and will keep you and Sgt. Prendes in our prayers always.

Marissa Greissel
LVMPD

February 6, 2006

Rest in Peace. Now you patrol the streets of heaven.

Detective Mead
LVMPD/Gang Unit

February 6, 2006

Sgt. Prendes, Rest in peace. You will be missed by all.

Detective David Molnar
N.L.V.P.D.

February 6, 2006

I worked with Henry at an office supply dealer here in Las Vegas prior to his joining Metro. We were good friends. He told us the he was going to try out for Metro. I asked him why?
He said that he wanted to make a difference in the lives of victims of Domestic Violence. I attended his wedding, and now will cherish those photo's forever. I've talked with him on many occasions since. He loved his job, his family, and his life. He rarely had a bad day. After being with Metro for some time he told me of some domestic violence calls. I was stunned!
I have always had, and will continue to have GREAT RESPECT for the person I gladly called my friend, Henry Prendes. Rest in peace. I will miss you!

Mr. William Moser
Personal Friend / Co-Worker prior to Metro

February 6, 2006

May the deepest sympathy be with your family during this turbulent time. Although many did not know you; you touched their lives in a personal way. For every officer in this department, they take that extra moment each morning to kiss us goodbye, not knowing what door God will open for them when they put on that uniform each day. Thank you for your sacrifice.

Amy Novak
Wife of LVMPD officer, Las Vegas

February 6, 2006

To the family of Sgt. Prendes:

I never had the privilege of knowing Henry. From all I have read, he embodied what all police officers strive to be; professional, caring, strong, and fair. What Sgt. Prendes did on a daily basis, both at work and in his community, will never be forgotten. His name and memory will live forever.

The Lord called Henry to His eternal service. God only selects the best, He picked Sgt. Prendes.

May God bless you Mrs. Prendes. Girls, your father was a hero to us all.

L. Nowak
Criminal Justice Instructor
CCSD

Teacher - L. Nowak
CCSD

February 6, 2006

i went to high school with henry did not know him very well but my heart goes out to him and his family.

classmate of 1985 jodie moore

Jodie Moore

February 6, 2006

It is with great sadness that we of the Pascagoula Police Department receive the news of Sgt. Prendes death in the line of duty. We mourn with our brothers and sisters of the LVMPD and we extend to Sgt. Prendes' family our heartfelt sympathy for their loss.

Respectfully,
Lt. Chuck Fowler
Pascagoula Police Department
Pascagoula MS

Lt. Chuck Fowler
Pascagoula Police Department

February 6, 2006

My fiancee, a patrol officer, was on his way to work when he heard of the tragedy that had unfolded. He knew Sgt Prendes personally, and the family member who called him with the horrible news. Though my fiancee' was distraught, confused and hurting he continued on with his duty that night just as all law enforcement does when they are faced with tragedy, destruction and death. Sgt Prendes would do the same....you are warriors with an unimaginable strength. Please stay strong and remain focused. The community needs you. My deepest sympathy to the family & friends of Sgt. Prendes and the entire law enforcement community.

Tracey
LVMPD Patrol Officer's Fiancee

February 6, 2006

PRIDE INTEGIRTY & GUTS !

Some of you may know my face, but not my name. Most of you have seen me around the city and some have even met me, but not always under the best of circumstances. Some of you have even spoken to me on the phone, when you called me while I was working.

Most of you have an opinion on how my job should be done, but would never take my job if it was the last one on earth. And some of you who don’t even know me, hate me because of my job. But when I go to my job, I go to make a difference and so I can fight what everyone else fears.

When most would be running away from danger, my job requires me to run towards it. I do this in the hopes of making a difference for someone else I don’t even know. Most people say I make too much money, because my pay is published in the newspaper. But don’t think twice about hearing about another sports player sign a 20 million dollar contract for 6 months a year of playing a “game.”

Since my job’s base pay isn’t the best I must work extra to pay the bills. Including working extra shifts, on holidays and pick up side work at construction sites as well on my days off, most still complain thinking I am greedy, but don’t they realize that I to must pay taxes, have a mortgage car payments and kids in collage as well?

Don’t they understand that I am not paid for what I do, but for what I am willing to do for them? After all how can you properly compensate someone to risk their own life and face danger everyday they go to work?

And when I go to work I am punched, kicked, spit on and called every name in the book for doing my job. And every night I leave my house to go to work I realize I may not come back home in the morning. Because when I go to work I can be stabbed, shot, drown, fall, be electrocuted, or die in a car accident rushing to help you.

My job also requires me to carry special “tools” to help me do my job. Sometimes even while doing my job I have to defend myself from someone attacking me. Although, the newspapers will report to you that I “beat someone down”, and not that I defended myself from an attack.

While at work I must also carry a gun to protect you, but should I have to use it, the media reports to you that I “gunned someone down” or that I “shot and killed” somebody, not that I defended myself. Don’t they realize that I shoot to live and never to kill?

Also when I go to work I wrap a protective vest around me to help keep me safe through my shift. I use this vest so that I will be allowed to live to the end of my work day. And hope and pray that should something bad happen that this vest helps keep me alive so that I will be allowed to see my children grow.

When I go to my job, I will see more pain, sorrow, agony, death and destruction in one month than most of you will see in an entire lifetime.


And to the ones who don’t know me, I unforunetly will meet most of you at the worst times in your life. You often will call me to come help you out with a problem. But if you have a really big problem you can get me at a special 3 digit number and me and my coworkers will race to your house, just to help you no questions asked. All you have to do is call and we will be there for you, no matter what time, day, night or holiday, rain shine or blizzard.

Sometimes my job also requires me to deliver lectures, babies and even bad news. I am also the one required to ring your doorbell in the middle of the night, swallow hard and advise you that a loved one will not be coming home tonight, then I spend the rest of my shift wondering why I ever took such a job.

Some people even refer to me as a “pig,” but when I hear that word called to me or one of my coworkers I think of Pride, Integrity and Guts, which everyone in my profession needs to do this job.

Me and my coworkers must be able to have muscles of steel, have a sense of humor and put ourselves into dangerous situations and face danger head on all in a days work.

We must act in a second and make a decision in the blink of an eye, and spend the rest of our life hoping we made the right choice in that split second. If not we can be arrested and charged with breaking a law, be sued for violating someone’s rights, or end up with even a worse fate.

My job requires me to take an oath to be their and to risk my life to protect you. And it is an oath that me and my fellow coworkers have taken and is one that we will never break.

What, you ask is my job? I am your local police officer. And what do I ask in return of doing all this and risking my life for you? Nothing at all, because it is my job and my hope of being the one who makes the difference.


- Paul Cotter, Lynn Mass

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This article was written by me for a local newspaper to remember our fallen brothers and sisters during national police week.

It was later re-published in 4 more newspapers and one national police magazine.
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Sgt. Prendes, sir you are in my thoughts and prayers. God bless you!

Ofc. Paul Cotter
Lynn (MA) PD

February 6, 2006

To Henry,
As I last saw you before that fateful day ,and talked about sharing a cup of coffee the next time I was assigned to your area..that will never be.. but let you know brother when we see each other again we'll share that cup of coffee that I promise...Being a member of the LVMPD Honor Guard I will make sure your name is spoken in high regards..rest in peace...

PO Dale Alley
LVMPD

February 6, 2006

Courage is that firmness of spirit and swell of soul which meets danger without fear. You embody what we officers strive everyday.

SA
USSS

February 6, 2006

What an honor it is for me to be able to say that you were my friend. My deepest sympathy to your family. Although it has been many years since I have spoken to you, I will miss you. I know that you are now in the presence of Our Lord and what a magnificence place to be. I look forward to seeing you again when I am called home. You are a true hero to our community and your family.

LaDonna

February 6, 2006

My heart goes out to the Prendes family. Rest in peace Sgt. Prendes

Patrol Officer
Tucson Police Department

February 6, 2006

I remember Henry at Fremont Jr High and Las Vegas High...always smiling and getting into everything with his friends. I spoke to Henry briefly a few months ago when a close friend of his passed away. He was so happy in his life...he beamed about his wife and daughters.

To his family, I want to express my deepest sympathy and God's blessings. To his brothers and sisters at LVMPD....keep up the great work!!!

Carrie Butche-Roberts

February 6, 2006

Thank you for your dedicated service to your community and your department. May the Lord bless you and keep you. May they never forget your faithful service to your community and department and the brave HERO that you were. To Mrs. Prendes, children, family, friends and co-workers, our heartfelt prayers and sympathies are with you. May God be with you all during this very sorrowful time. Words will never compensate the loss you have suffered. We pray that He now gives you all strength in your time of need. May you find peace in the thought, that we as friends in law enforcement, take this time to lift you up in prayer.

For your act of unselfish bravery and courage Sgt. Prendes, we salute you. Blessed are the peacemakers.

Denise & Erin Hunter, Widow and Daughter
Sgt. Gregory L. Hunter, Grand Prairie, TX Police Dept., EOW 6-18-04

February 6, 2006

I remember Henry back at Fremont Jr High and at Las Vegas High....always smiling and getting into everything with his friends. I spoke to Henry briefly a few months ago when a good friend his passed away. He was so happy in his life and spoke of Dawn and his daughters....you could almost see him beaming on the other end of the phone.

To his family, I want to express my deepest sympathy and God's blessings. To his brothers and sisters on LVMPD, keep up the great work!

Carrie Butche-Roberts

February 6, 2006

You made the ultimate sacrafice. You are truely a hero, and now your beat is on the streets of Heaven. Your family, friends and brothers in blue, are in my thoughts and prayers. Please watch over and protect the LVMPD officers as they continue to make the world a safer place.

Dispatcher and cousin to LVMPD OFFICER

February 6, 2006

As the wife of an officer and a Christian I thank you for the ultimate price you paid and I honor your sacrafice. While no words of comfort can take the grief and pain away from your family and friends, I know you are now watching over us all and we will see you again. My prayers and thoughts are with all of your loved ones during this time. You will never be forgotten.

Tammy Wagner, Wife of Metro Sergeant
Las Vegas Metropolitan Police

February 6, 2006

You and your family are in our thoughts and prayers. May God watch over them and keep them safe.

Trooper
Pa State Police

February 6, 2006

On behalf of the Chicago Police Memorial Foundation, we would like to express our deepest sympathy on the tragic loss of Sergeant Prendes, Our thoughts and prayers are with his family. His name will never be forgotten.

CHICAGO POLICE MEMORIAL FOUNDATION

February 6, 2006

I just want to say thank you and to all the men and women in law enforcement who lay down their lives every day for us,my deepest sympathy to your family God bless you.

February 6, 2006

My wife and I would like to send our deepest sympathy to the family, friends and co-workers of Sergeant Henry Prendes of the Las Vegas Metropolitian Police Department. Thank you for your years of service and dedication. May God Bless.

Timothy T. Royster
Huntsville P. D., AL.

February 6, 2006

My wife and I would like to send our deepest sympathy to the family, friends and co-workers of Sergeant Henry Prendes of the Las Vegas Police Department. Thank you for your years of service and dedication. May God Bless.

Timothy T. Royster
Huntsville P. D., AL.

February 6, 2006

Sarge,
Although I did not know you, I have a friend that works for Metro. My friend had nothing but good words about you. You are a hero to all of us in blue......RIP

Deputy Sheriff
Lake County IL

February 6, 2006