Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

Words escape me when I Learn that an Officer has fallen in the line of duty. Thoughts and prayers.

Officer Ryan Freeman
Arizona DPS Highway Patrol

May 1, 2006

Godspeed Officer Targosz. God bless you and your family. You are a true hero. Thank you for your service and your ultimate sacrifice.

Wife and mother in law of LEO's

May 1, 2006

REST IN PEACE BROTHER YOU WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN. OFFICER ROBERT DANIEL TARGOSZ THANK YOU FOR YOUR DEDICATION AND SERVICE AND THANK YOU FOR WEARING THE BADGE. YOU ARE A TRUE HERO. MY DEEPEST SYMPATHY TO YOUR WIFE, FAMILY FRIENDS AND DEPARTMENT.

Deputy Davis
Pittsylvania County Sheriffs Office

May 1, 2006

My thoughts and prayers are with the family of Officer Targosz. I am very sorry that you must walk this painful journey. May you rest in peace, Officer Targosz. You will not be forgotten. Heroes live forever.

Mary Kay Balchunas
Mother of Jay Balchunas, EOW 11/5/04

May 1, 2006

Officer Targosz,
Your sacrifice will not be forgotten. You and your family are in our prayers. Rest Easy Brother!

Officers Paul and Amy Sperandeo
Westwego and Gretna Police Departments LA

May 1, 2006

To Officer Targosz family and friends our hearts and prayers go out to you

God Bless you

Terry Miyares, surviving spouse
Officer Emilio Miyares, Hialeah PD, Fl 11/6/86

May 1, 2006

Rest In Peace Brother

Officer Eric Newbury
California Highway Patrol

May 1, 2006

Some words for a fallen brother...

"Nine planets round the sun
Only one does the sun embrace
Upon this watered one
So much that we take for granted
So let him sleep outside tonight
Lay down in his mother’s arms
For here he can rest safely

If green should slip to grey
But our hearts still would bloody be
And if mountains crumble away
And the river dries
Would it stop the stepping feet
So let him sleep outside tonight
Lay down in his mother’s arms
For here he can rest in peace

Take all that we can get
When it’s done
Nobody left to bury here
Nobody left to dig the holes
And here we can rest safely

One sweet world
Around this star is spinning
One sweet world
And in her breath I’m swimming
And here he will rest in peace..."

Officer C. Weidenbach #6395
Arizona Department of Public Safety

May 1, 2006

My heart goes out to Robert, his wife and family. Law enforcement will suffer, as will his community. I pray the remaining family and friends feel the love and support of all. Robert has left a legacy for others to follow...
Friend of:
Patrolman Kip E. Boulis
EOW: Sunday, May 30, 1976

Kathleen

May 1, 2006

Rob,

Over the past nine years that I have worked along side you, you have been a friend, role model, crime fighter, and warrior. You are a true hero to those who work with you. You always had a way of letting your SWAT brothers know that every operation we went on was going to be alright, even when the chips were down.

You will never be forgotten and I know things will be alright because you are still watching over us. Your memory continues on in the hearts of your fellow warriors of Gilbert SWAT.

Rest in peace Rob Targosz. Your SWAT brothers will continue the fight to keep our community safe until we meet again in heaven.

God bless you, Rob. You will be truly missed.

Your SWAT brother,
Ofc. Scott Perron #1357

Ofc. Scott Perron
Gilbert Police Department

May 1, 2006

I want to send my condolences to the famlily,friends and the Gilbert Police Dept. Officer Targosz,Thank you for your services.

Ofc B. Loveless
Suffolk Police,VA

May 1, 2006

Rob, I remember the first day we met and hung out together. We were in Washington D.C. for the DRE Conference and you joined us for a trip to the National Law Enforcement Officer's Memorial and lunch. You were a pleasure to speak with and I am very honored to have met you. Your efforts will not be forgotten and I will personally strive to continue your work for you.

To your family, I offer my condolences and appreciation for letting Rob be a part of our family.

Jeff

Motor Officer Jeff Grow
Tolleson Police Department

May 1, 2006

Rob,

I have known you since Phlebotomy School, and enjoyed our time together at the DRE Conference last year. You shared you thoughts on life and work with me, and I will remember that always.

We will all miss you. God bless you and your family.

Alan

Officer Alan W. Haywood
Arizona Department of Public Safety

May 1, 2006

Rob, thank you for your service. From everyone I've spoken to, you were a great officer. I'm sorry I didn't know you personally. I would like to offer my condolences on behalf of the Mesa Fire Department. You will never be forgotten.

Mark (brother of a State Trooper)

Battalion Chief Mark Nyhart
Mesa Fire Department

May 1, 2006

Our thoughts and prayers are with the family, friends and co-workers of Officer Targosz.

Deputy Sheriff's PBA
Madison County Sheriff's Office (NY)

May 1, 2006

Pride Integrity and 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, and 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 unfortunately 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 not 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.

Phoenix PD

May 1, 2006

You are a hero and will never be forgotten. To your wife, family, and friends our thoughts and prayers are with you during this time of sorrow. You served your city well. It is ironic the element you sought so hard to protect us from, claimed your life.

GOD SPEED OFFICER TARGOSZ!!!

Rest in Peace.

Phoenix Police Officers

May 1, 2006

May GOD bless your family and friends at this terrible time. Thank you for serving and protecting, Sir. Rest in peace.

Shirley Roberts
Aunt of Fallen Hero John Logan EOW-3-14-04

May 1, 2006

my deepest respect and thoughts go to you and your family. thanks for keeping the world safer! from belgium-europe

wygers francky

May 1, 2006

I am truely saddened to read of yet another officers senseless death from someones act of sheer selfish stupidity.
My most sincere condolences to family, friends and co-workers.
Go boldly and with God now brother. Be at peace mate.

Senior Constable
South Australia Police

May 1, 2006

"And from the darkness comes a smile that reaches out for many miles...touching everyone. No more shadows of the past. Your spirit free to fly at last, shining in the sun." - Whitesnake - Judgement Day

I was on duty when they said that you didn't make it. My heart sank and I said a prayer for you and your family. Rob, you have blessed us with your life and service, and now your spirit lights a path for you to heaven. You have touched everyone with your love and your life. You will be missed and never forgotten. God bless.
Neart, Gra agus Onior (Strength, love and honor)

Crime Scene Specialist K. Martin #B1162
Scottsdale Police Dept.

May 1, 2006

THANK YOU MY HERO,MY CONDOLECES TO YOUR FAMILY,CO-WORKERS AND FRIEND. YOU'RE A TRUE HERO ,TIME TO GO 10-8 IN HEAVEN,,,WE'LLL TAKE OVER FROM HERE,MY BROTHER. GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY,,REST IN PEACE

OFC.J.L."PEPE'"HERNANDEZ
ALBUQUERQUE POLICE DEPT.(NM)

May 1, 2006

My heart sunk when Bill Campbell called me yesterday and asked, “Have you heard about Robbie?” I knew it had to be very bad; it could not have been worse.

After the call, I immediately started remembering Rob and every memory I have of him is positive and includes him smiling. When I came to the Officer Down page and saw the photo, I thought, “That’s the Rob I know.” His beaming smile was capable of picking you up during the worst of times. I think he is trying to do just that in this photo, in death as he always did in life.

Rest in peace my brother; you did good and made people safer. You held the line against those who would do others harm. It is ironic that your last act was to stop a drunk who was a terrible danger to everyone on the road. You lost your life in pursuit of your goal of saving others. You are a true hero and you will never be forgotten.

Tim Bedwell, Police Officer / PIO
North Las Vegas Police Department

May 1, 2006

To all of your brothers and sisters at Gilbert PD, and valleywide, I am so sorry for your loss. As a former dispatcher, for 5 years I assisted with the East Valley Holiday DUI task force, and I'm sure that I spoke to you often on the air, but never knew your name. Over my career I spoke to so many officers from so many different agencies; each one of you that we tragically lose hurts as if it were my own agency. To know that you were stolen from us by the very people you worked so hard to protect the rest of us from is the cruelest irony. Wind to thy wings, Officer Targosz, and know that we'll all keep fighting the good fight down here - as you take your well deserved rest. Godspeed.

Heather T.
Former MPD Dispatcher, Wife of LEO

May 1, 2006

Gilbert P.D. has lost a true warrior and a hero. God bless Officer Targosz' family and everyone he worked with.

Scott King (Retired Police Officer)
Tempe PD, AZ; Turlock PD, CA.

May 1, 2006