Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

I accidently typed targosz in my address bar when I was trying to go to another web page and came accross this webpage. The page certainly moved me since I share your last name which is not common in the states. What is your husband's history. I moved to the states at the age of 7 (now 32) from Poland. We now live in Utah.

Paul Targosz

September 12, 2006

I see the love of our Lord in your eyes. May you stand tall and proud in God's rank and file.

Officer Erin Tarver
Guardsmark Security

September 10, 2006

Sweetheart,
It's been four months today since we lost you and it still seems so unreal. Not a minute goes by when your not on my mind. I miss you so so much...I love you forever...

To My Dear and Loving Husband
IF ever two were one then surely we.
If ever man were loved by wife, then thee;
If ever wife were happy in a man,
Compare with me, ye women, if you can.
I prize thy love more than whole mines of gold
Or all the riches that the East doth hold.
My love is such that rivers cannot quench,
Nor aught but love from thee give recompense.
Thy love is such I can no way repay,
The heavens reward thee manifold, I pray.
Then while we live, in love let's so persevere
That when we live no more, we may live ever.
Anne Bradstreet

Your loving wife, Brigitte

Brigitte Targosz - Wife

August 30, 2006

Sir, I honor your service and your sacrifice. "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the children of God." Matthew 5:9.

Daniel
Citizen

August 29, 2006

ROB,
its 3 months since you were taken from us,not one minute goes by that you're not on my mind and that i don't think about the way you lived and the way you died but how you lived that is important.
i'm so sorry that you didn't live to see you're first anniversary with you're wife and i find myself reading her reflection over and over and every time i do it makes me cry.she loves and misses you so much that it just makes the pain, shock and disbelief even harder to cope with. she is in my prayers every day and i pray that as time goes on peace comes to her and the "what ifs" she is expiercing dissolve away and all she has to think about everyday are the good things and loving memories.
Rob, i hope you're rest is one of great beauty and peace and that you can help those of us down here to try and come to terms with this..
my husband wants you to know that you're death was not in vain and that every time he takes one more off the road as he has done on a more frequent basis lately that hes carrying on the tradition and dedication in which those that have died doing it would be proud.
ride on motorcycle man and soar with you're new wings!!!

senta eilola
friend

July 30, 2006

Rob, I wrote a poem the other day that was inspired by you. I plan to share it with our brothers and sisters at Gilbert PD soon. It was a privilege working with you for the 6 years I spent with you at Gilbert PD. You always had my admiration and were always a great friend to me. Our loss is painful, however, I know that you are in God's embrace and that He will reward you in Heaven for your sacrifices here on earth. We miss you my friend.

Former Gilbert PD Officer, Jeff Chapman
Friend

July 17, 2006

Oh, My Sweetheart…
It was one year ago today that we had the happiest day of our lives. Your dad said it best, “It was a day made in heaven.” Even though you are not right here with me now I feel you are close by and just waiting. As I have always told you, I am the luckiest woman in the world…Some women can live a life time and never get the privilege to experience the kind of pure love from a loyal wonderful husband like you. You remain my better half.

Life is so sad, hard, lonely, empty without you. I am so tired of feeling these big hot tears run down my cheeks. You were the one that would wipe them away wrap those big strong arms around me and make everything O.K.. There is not a minute goes by you are not on my mind. I wish I could have taken all your pain away that night…if only I could have traded places with you I would have done it in a heartbeat. There are so many regrets, so many “what ifs” that will torment me for the rest of my days…The only thing that gives me comfort is knowing that you are safe happy and at our Savior’s side and that I will get to see you again. Hopefully soon…I wish I could have been there to hear him say, “Well done my good and faithful servant.”

So many people are hurting because we miss you so so much. There is just a giant hole left.

I know you did not realize it when you were here on earth (because we talked about that) but you made such a tremendous impact on so many lives…and will continue to. Your hard work and passion has not gone unnoticed and appreciated and will continue to. Your family, friends, and I intend to see to it. All of the beautiful things that these lovely caring people have written/said about you are a great testament. I’ve always told you how proud I am to be your wife. You are a true HERO to many. You would probably be embarrassed by all the ways you have been so greatly honored. I’m not because you deserve it…

I’m just so so sorry we didn’t get the chance to experience the joy of having our little one. You know you were going to make such a great daddy…I assure you Sweetheart your legacy will live on…

You probably know all the things I’m telling you. You are probably smiling down on us. I happily image that you have finally gotten all the answers you so fervently sought. Can there really be a time machine? Where would a worm hole lead? Your innocent sweet curiosity was such a large part of your charm. I bet you are in your glory. I just hope there are books in heaven…

I miss you every minute…I love you forever…
Until our Reunion Day…
Happy Anniversary Sweetheart…

Song of Songs 2:16

Your Loving Wife Brigitte
July 17,2006

Brigitte Targosz - Wife

July 17, 2006

Peace be with you always...

Mrs. Natalie Jensen
wife of Detective Jared Jensen EOW 2/22/06

July 15, 2006

HAPPY FOURTH!!! we miss you and you are always at the forefront of my mind and thoughts and it hurts alot but you are in no more pain and thats at least a very tiny consolation..i hope your journey has been one of peace and i'm sure you're trying out your new wings up their...
I miss you bubba!!!

senta
friend

July 4, 2006

My dear brother in law,
Yet I knew you a short time, large was my love for you. Love because of the work you did and its sacrifice. Love for your unstoppable faith in our Lord. Love for your love to my sister. You are a rose. Complicated, yet simple. Thorny and rough at the edges, beautiful in the middle. Ever will I salute your passion, purity, and persistence. In my last conversation with you we talked about standing for something. You stood even as you fell – and still stand today -- In our hearts, memories, and ideals. May you ever rest in the Arms of the One who has held you all along, may your spirit soar to heights it could never have dreamed of, and may your ever seeking spirit find its eternal satisfaction in the knowledge and grace of your Lord. I’ll catch you on the Bright side soon brotha. “For I am convinced beyond doubt (am sure) that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities, nor things impending and threatening nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
– the Apostle Paul (Amplified Bible Romans 8:38- 39)

Jamie
Brother in Law

June 29, 2006

WE THAT STAY BEHIND REMEMBER AND RESPECT YOUR MISSION HERE ON EARTH. THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT YOU WILL BE MISSED BUT WE KNOW THAT GOD HAD A BIGGER PLAN FOR YOU. YOUR EFFORTS WILL FOREVER FUEL THE PASSION AND DEDICATION TO LAW ENFORCEMENT.
THANK YOU FOR THE JOB WELL DONE!

MASTER SERGEANT
ILLINOIS STATE POLICE D-15

June 28, 2006

Rob I wished We could have meet. We lived in the same city and I just recently heard you were there. I had just told my wife I need to meet you and that was saturday. At church a friend asked if I had a relative named Rob and that he had passed. The comfort I take is that You knew the Lord Jesus as your personal saviour and are in his present even now. We will continue to pray for your family and I have already made plans to get to know your side of the Targosz family. Ted Targosz

Ted TArgosz
Cousin

June 21, 2006

Rob,
I went to see you today and talked to you (and cryed) for a while and i had to keep telling myself this is real and yes in fact i was at your grave site.I know you were listening to me babbling not knowing really what to say but in a strange way it was a very peaceful sense that eventually came over me the longer i sat and talked it was the same windy day as it was when we took you there i got this sense that you knew i was there and your spirit is so present, it filled the air.
Its a beautiful spot under a big tree,near the water which you love so much. Its a peaceful place for you to spend eternity resting.
always in my thoughts and heart forever.

senta
friend

June 17, 2006

Why challenge a senseless, heroic death?

The death of a fellow DUI Motor and friend, Rob Targosz, on Sunday morning, April 30, 2006 forced me to face that which I typically ignore; none of us are invincible. Rob’s death at the hands of a twenty year old impaired driver was devastating.

Why did it happen? Where does it all end? It ends with the fact that we passively watch as impaired drivers, do it again, and again, and again and we (as a society) continue to do nothing. Now we mourn the loss of yet another hero who laid down his life so that we all may sleep better knowing that others watch over our families as we rest. Yet even hours after the death, as we mourned, others were looking to benefit from Rob’s death.

Monday morning, scarcely 30 hours after his death, defense attorneys were demanding dismissal of the DUI cases in which Rob was involved. My first thought after hearing this was, “no this can’t be”, surely decency alone dictates that even the most callous among us would not look to immediately benefit from his death-- I simply could not believe it was true. Unfortunately friends and colleagues in the Gilbert City Court, Mesa City Court, and Maricopa County Attorney’s Office confirmed this chilling reality. Yes brothers it’s true, at 0810 hours on Monday morning, 30 hours after Rob’s death, defense attorneys were demanding the dismissal of DUI cases in which Rob was involved. One local attorney went so far as to yell at a Mesa City Prosecutor, “Your Officer is dead, dismiss the cases”.

The very thought that as funeral plans were being made by Rob’s family, defense attorneys were petitioning for dismissal of his cases, is unconscionable. It is an insult to all of us who serve; and, yes, we should all take it personally. It’s bad enough that we fight an uphill battle with impaired drivers. To grapple with the death of Rob Targosz, and the deplorable behavior of a group of soulless defense attorneys took many of us beyond the limits of emotion.

Why am I shocked by the actions of these attorneys? I guess because I still, naively believe that decency, respect, and compassion for those in mourning still exist. I am deeply disappointed to have to confront the fact that there are a number of defense attorneys who willingly and callously trample even the most basic standards of conduct.

I have no problem facing vulture attorneys who have no morals, values, or ethics. They need to be held publicly accountable for their actions, as we all should be. I for one am thoroughly disgusted by their actions. They reflect badly upon their profession and magnify the pain for all those who cared about Rob Targosz.


Motor Officer Bradley R. Withrow

“We sleep safely in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm”.
George Orwell

We will continue to take the battle to them Rob, as you would do for us.....

BRW
Mesa PD

June 16, 2006

Rob,

Coming from a family of law enforcement, I was excited at becoming the first female to join the ranks. But because of back problems, I wasn’t able to pass the physical agility tests. That didn’t stop my passion of wanting to be in a field where I could help others and try to make a difference, so I became a dispatcher. And that’s what I did in two states for 18 years. I was also a certified DUI instructor in Illinois, so I understood your passion for keeping impaired drivers off the streets.
Sad to say, you’re the 2nd officer I knew whose life was taken by an impaired driver.

I couldn’t tell you how many officers I’ve worked with and gotten to know over the years, but there are only a few who have left a memorable impression, and you were one of them.

As I read all the wonderful tributes here, it’s very obvious that I wasn’t the only one you left an impression with. I had the privilege of knowing you and being your dispatcher for about 4 years before I left on disability. We didn’t always see eye to eye and there were times I wanted to reach through the radio and just “shake some sense into you” and no doubt you wanted to do the same with me. 

But those times you stopped in dispatch, we always had some interesting and memorable discussions. I remember the night we were discussing poetry, (don’t know how that got started!) we surprised each other that we both liked Dylan Thomas. I quoted a bit from “And Death Shall Have No Dominion” and I’ll leave that as my tribute to you.

And death shall have no dominion.
Dead mean naked they shall be one
With the man in the wind and the west moon;
When their bones are picked clean and the clean bones gone,
They shall have stars at elbow and foot;
Though they go mad they shall be sane,
Though they sink through the sea they shall rise again;
Though lovers be lost love shall not;
And death shall have no dominion.

And death shall have no dominion.
Under the windings of the sea
They lying long shall not die windily;
Twisting on racks when sinews give way,
Strapped to a wheel, yet they shall not break;
Faith in their hands shall snap in two,
And the unicorn evils run them through;
Split all ends up they shan't crack;
And death shall have no dominion.

And death shall have no dominion.
No more may gulls cry at their ears
Or waves break loud on the seashores;
Where blew a flower may a flower no more
Lift its head to the blows of the rain;
Through they be mad and dead as nails,
Heads of the characters hammer through daisies;
Break in the sun till the sun breaks down,
And death shall have no dominion.


Death shall have no dominion over you Rob, your love of poetry, and your passion for life, your dedication and commitment to your chosen profession will live on in the hearts of those that knew and loved you. God blessed us with the pleasure of knowing and learning from you. Your mission on earth has been fulfilled and He has called you home.

God bless you and may His love bring comfort to those who love and miss you.

Sam
Former GPD dispatcher

Sam
Former Dispatcher, Gilbert PD

June 9, 2006

I come to the ODMP often to remember my late fiancé Dennis. Everytime I come here it breaks my heart to know that yet another officer has fallen and that yet another family has to live their lives without the man they loved. My heart goes out to everyone who knew and loved Officer Targosz, especially to his wife. Know that you are not alone in the "journey" that you walk. Should you ever need anything please don't hesitate to contact me. The Davis Co. Sheriff's Office in Iowa will always know how to reach me. You will be in my thoughts.

From reading all the reflections left for Robert, he sounds like he was a great man with a beautiful spirit. Those of you who knew him in life were so blessed to have been able to share in it. I hope that you will all continue to find a way to celebrate and remember Robert's life and the MAN that he was. Remember that Robert's life was about so much more than the way he died. Robert will continue to live on as long as we continue to remember him.

Officer Targosz, thank you for helping to make this world a little safer for us all. YOU will not be forgotten. Please continue to watch over all of us as only you can. If you happen to bump into my fiancé Dennis up there give him a big hug for me and the kids. It's been three years but we still miss him terribly.

Wishing you brighter and better days,


Jocelyne :)

"Forever Remembering 26-3"

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

June 8, 2006

Rob

God came today,
To take Rob away.
Called before his time,
Your life is sad, so is mine.

The young came, as me,
Not just to look, but to be.
Tears from them today, tears tomarrow,
Too old to cry, to young for sorrow.

Rob, his dark hair shine,
Why god, must he go before his time?
The young stand in a circle about,
Trying to get the sorrow out.

Duty comes when children bury parents,
Parents burying children has the wrong sense.
In years Rob was young,
In maturity he was a kingdom.

He knew where he wanted to go,
Charting a life toward a goal.
But God had reasons for his plan,
He called Rob to a grandeur stand.

If God does rule us all,
Then we come when he calls.
Rob is gone, easy to see,
He's with God, forever to be.

Allan Gillingham
Gilbert

Allan Gillingham
Gilbert Police Volunteer

June 5, 2006

In loving memory of P.O. Rob Targosz: When I first looked at your picture , I couldn't take my eyes off of your beautiful smile and the gleam in your eyes. It is so hard to read about any l.e.o. losing his life, but the young ones just send me over the top. I couldn't even begin to put down my thoughts in writing until I had some indication that you were a follower of Christ while on earth so that you can be with Him for eternity. Now that I have that assurance, I can cope with your destiny. According to these reflections, you knew Jesus personally and that blesses me greatly as I know I will meet you face to face one day and be able to thank you for your sacrifice. There is none greater than Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. We don't get to Heaven based on what we do, but by the sacrifice He made on the cross for our sins. AMEN! Thank you for your fine example to those that worked with you and knew you. There is now a huge void that cannot be filled, but as you are remembered, thoughts will turn to your exemplary life and we will be filled with pride and respect and love for the man you became. You were a wonderful testimony to the Lord you served. God be with all those who mourn and may His promises lift all those with heavy hearts for many years to come. I am reaching thru this computer and giving a big HUG to your sweet widow and your family, both at home and at work. I wish I could erase your pain, but it is God-size and He's the only One up to the task. My heart is full of love and sadness for our loss, but also joy that your are in a happier place with Jesus.

Lynn Kole
Bellingham, WA

June 1, 2006

Officer Targosz,
I would like to say thank you for your service and sacrifice for the citizens of Gilbert. And to your family, I wish to extend my deepest sympathy.

R.I.P.
Anonymous

Anonymous
Anonymous

May 31, 2006

I had to come back again to get a glimpse of that damn Targoszian grin. It still makes me giggle to think of the time you made a defense attorney cry during an interview because of how he made a living. I'm doing my best to instill your Warrior Spirit in the new officers, but it still pales in comparison to the original.

Ride On, Rob!

Remo
Gilbert PD

May 31, 2006

Thank you foryour service.

Ofc. S.L. Coffman #15174
California Highway Patrol

May 31, 2006

ROB,
today is memorial day a holiday you would be working very hard and making a difference but you're up there watching and proud of all thats being done. i caught a glimpse of bob and jim on t.v. working the d.u.i. patrols each conducting a stop but i'm sure you know that.
on such an important holiday that means so many things, remembering those that have gone ad those that are still here some friends of mine had a baby girl yesterday and she is so beautiful and just seeing her i had so many emotions and it made me think of all the the bad things like losing you but for a minute it all went away with this new life.
so please look after her so that she has a wonderful life and please look after her daddy as he goes to work everyday working to keep the waterways here safe.
this weekend is dedicated to you and to the newest angel here on earth MONET ALEXA RATTNER.
happy memorial day rob!!!

senta
friend

May 29, 2006

TO THE FAMILY AND FRIENDS AND CO WORKERS. WE WOULD LIKE SEND OUR LOVE AND SUPPORT TO ALL OF YOU, DURING THIS TIME. SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS. OUR DEEPEST SYMPATHY THE ROLNIAK FAMILY .GOD BLESS YOU ALL
DET WILLIAM ROLNIAK JR EOW 2- 4-04

riverdale pd WIFE OF DET

May 29, 2006

ROB,
every time i see your picture i still can't believe your gone.i will always remember your big beautiful smile and i'm quite sure you've already made a huge impression on everyone and introduced them to that TRAGOSZ charm!!!
we miss you so much down here but you're in a wonderful place.the pain and shock are still so fresh but i know you would want us to not dwell and go on with our lives which we are doing SLOWLY but we're trying but at the same time i know that it's perfectly fine to hurt still but that's ok because we have a wonderful spirit up there. god speed rob!
one more thing to tell you about. that van you worked so hard to get and dedicated your self to, well the guys have renamed it "ROBBIES VAN" and put your picture up in your honor and man are they working hard! but why should we be surprised by that.they're wonderful and they miss you so much.but one day you'll all be together again to ride and be one big squad again. miss you and love ya' rob!!!

senta
friend

May 27, 2006

I will keep with me forever the one thing we all knew best ~ Robbies love for life. It was infectious and you couldn't help but smile when you were around him. Go with God friend, for He is the reason you were who you were. We are here with Brigitte until it is our time.

Diane Campbell
Friend / Tempe Police Dept.

May 27, 2006