Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

A good friend for over 18 years. A true good guy. Always on the job and always ready to help those he met. MPD lost a great a faithful officer.

Tom Stallone
TapSec Consulting

March 30, 2006

Rod, I will miss you like no other.

We've been friends since we were both 5 years old and were inseperable throughout high school. You were selected as my best man for my wedding.

I've loved you like a brother as well as feeling a part of your family, especially around the holiday seasons.

You always went out of your way for everyone. You are one of the most caring people I've known. This is a loss I will never live without. You've taken a piece with me now you are gone from us.

May your soul rest in eternal peace and heaven be more suited for you.

Richard "Spyder" Frisch
childhood friend

March 29, 2006

Rod, it is so hard to believe you are gone. You were one of the good guys a better friend I could not have asked for. You loved what you did and it shows. I will forever miss you. God Bless you Sgt. Rest in peace.

A friend

March 29, 2006

Your brother and sister officers of Troy PD send our condolences and pray for the strength of your loved ones.
Rest In Peace

P/O Jack McMahon
Troy N.Y. PD

March 29, 2006

Rest in Peace

Chief George Yaccich
Rochester Township Police PA

March 29, 2006

Sergeant Burke,

Your dedication to your career and to the citizens of the District was shown that faithful day when you took action while off-duty. Thank you for your service and for your example. Rest in peace, brother. We have the watch.

Officer Tyson #2836
Prince George's County Police

March 29, 2006

What a wonderful friend.

Vicky Caspar Eichler
Friend

March 29, 2006

"I shall be telling this with a sigh somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I - I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference."
-Robert Frost

Thank you, Sgt. Burke, for always choosing the road less traveled. You will forever be remembered as an inspiration to your brothers and sisters in blue.

Police Officer's wife
MPD

March 28, 2006

In Valor there is Hope.

Policeman's 23rd Psalm

The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want,
His comforting hand reduces fear to naught;
He makes me walk through streets of crime,
But He gives me courage and peace of mind.

He leads me by still waters in the path I trod,
And He says in Romans I'm a "minister of God,"
He leads me in righteousness as He restores my soul,
For His name's sake He keeps me whole.

When I walk through death's valley, right up to the door,
I will fear no evil, for He comforts me more;
For Thou art with me every step of the way,
As thy rod and thy staff protect me each day.

He prepares a table, especially for me,
As I work daily among life's enemies;
He gives me authority to uphold the law,
And He anoints my position in the midst of it all.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me,
Each day of my life through eternity;
As I long to hear Him say, "Well done...,"
When I lay down my life, my badge, and my gun.

Author Unknown

P.O. Chris Welby
Bridgeton, Mo PD

March 28, 2006

May the memory of your service, heroism and sacrifice remain forever. May God hold you in a special place and watch over your family forever....................AC

Trooper
Pennsylvania State Police

March 28, 2006

Rod, you impacted my life more than you knew. Thank you for everything you did for me and all that you did for your city. You are loved and missed, and will not be forgotten.

My deepest sympathies to your family, friends, and fellow officers.

Lyndsay Boggess
A good friend, Huntington Beach, CA

March 28, 2006

Dear Sgt. Burke, I'm glad you were my Daddy's best friend. You were our friend too. We love you and hope you are happy in heaven.

Megan, Jack and Kelly FitzGerald

March 28, 2006

My most heartfelt condolences to the family, friends and fellow officers of Sergeant Burke. You are all in my thoughts and prayers.

Thank you, Sergeant Burke, for your service and ultimate sacrifice. May God bless you and may you rest in eternal peace, forever safe in the arms of the angels.

Carin E. Sollman, surviving spouse
Officer Jesse E. Sollman, EOW 3/25/05

March 28, 2006

You were my sergeant and my friend. We all are grieving because you are gone, but you are not forgotten. Everyone that has come to know you has known you were a great cop, but an even better person. I am a better person to have known you. I will never forget, nor will your family in blue. Rest in piece.

Ofc. Henry A. Gallagher, Jr
MPDC

March 28, 2006

I did not know Sergeant Burke, but I have great respect for him. He served and protected until the day he passed. Wish we had more men like him protecting our streets. God bless his family and may he rest in Peace.

Jeremy Pea
SPC, USA
United States Army

SPC Jeremy Pea
United States Army

March 28, 2006

Roddy,
Though we may not have seen each other in a long time, you have always been very special to both myself and Rich. You were always a GREAT friend and will be missed very much. Rest in peace my friend!

Andrea Frisch-Barbakoff
High School Friend

March 28, 2006

Sergeant Burke..you - your family - friends & co-workers are in my thoughts & prayers during this difficult time..watch over them & your fellow brothers/sisters in blue..YOU ARE GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN..REST IN PEACE & WITH EASE BLUE ANGEL!!!!

MI State police recruit
michigan

March 28, 2006

You will never be forgotten by your brothers in BLUE!! R I P your watch is over we will take it from here. Your brothers in Michigan!!!

Ofc. J. Dixon
Brownstown Police Department,MI.

March 28, 2006

Although there is no consolation for your loss, the prayers of my family go out to the family and fellow officers of Sergeant Burke.
I did not know him but, I am certain that he now sleeps with the angles.

Aline L. Davis - Mother of an Officer
Columbus, Ohio

March 28, 2006

I did not work directly under you Sarge, however I was the benefit of your knowledge and wisdom on one occasion. You graciously provided assistance to me and my partner with a choatic scene that started 4D and ended in 3D. Your smooth and professional presence put me at ease. Your investigatory knowledge and smarts brought about a resolution to the matter that did not seem possible at the start. And for that, I was forever grateful to you.

I saw you at the 2005 MPD awards ceremony at DAR Hall. I make it a point to stop and thank you for the assistance that you provided me and my partner that day. You acknowledged me with a thankful reply that made me feel happy to have had the chance to work alongside you.

MPD, especially 3D will sorely miss the likes of you. Just from one chance meeting, I can say that you represented all Sergeants with excellence.

Rest in peace, Sgt. Burke.

Officer Sean Hill
MPD-4D

March 28, 2006

Rest in peace brother, May God bless you and your family.

Patrolman

March 28, 2006

You will never be forgotten by your brothers in BLUE!! R.I.P your watch is over we will take it from here. Your brothers in Law from Switzerland.

PS Peter Hofer
City of Zuerich (Switzerland)

March 28, 2006

I worked with Sgt. Burke when he was an officer and as he became Sergeant. He was a hard worker and loved his job. Sgt. Burke was known on our beat as real go getter and he had the drug boys running in fear because they never knew when he was coming around, rather in car or on his scooter. Sgt. Burke will be sorely missed.

Officer E. Davis
MPD

March 27, 2006

Sergeant Burke,
You and your family are in our prayers. Rest Easy Brother!

Officers Paul and Amy Sperandeo
Westwego and Gretna Police Departments LA

March 27, 2006

GERARD....MY WIFE AND I SEND OUR DEEPEST THOUGHTS, AND PRAYERS TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY, AND TO ALL THE OFFICERS AT THE METROPOLITAN POLICE DEPARTMENT. WE ARE VERY SORRY TO HEAR ABOUT YOUR LOSS. MAY GOD BLESS YOU ALL.

OFFICER MICHAEL ROSE (RETIRED)
SAN LEANDRO POLICE DEPARTMENT.

March 27, 2006