Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

Gary,

Thank you for your service and devotion, your kind acts and light hearted spirit are sadly missed.

Phila PD.
Fellow Officer.

June 16, 2006

May you rest in peace P/O Gary Skerski. Your service to the people is well appreciated. You brought new meaning to the word "hero." You now walk the beat in Heaven, where you can rest assure you will be remembered.

Michael, Philadelphia PA
Grateful citizen

June 16, 2006

Rest in Peace Gary, you are sorely missed by the comrades and community. God Bless the Skerski family and Friends.

P/O Danny Fegs
15th District Officer

June 13, 2006

GARY WILL BE MISSED BY ALL THAT KNEW HIM. HE WILL ALSO BE MISSED BY THOSE WHO DIDN'T KNOW HIM. HE WAS A HONEST AND SINCERE MAN. HE GAVE MEANING TO THE TERM COMMUNITY RELATIONS. HE WAS A TRUE FRIEND WHO COULDN'T DO ENOUGH FOR YOU. I GUESS GOD ONLY TAKES THE GOOD ONES. WE MISS HIM SO MUCH. I FIND ALOT OF PEOPLE THAT WORKED WITH HIM EVERY DAY USING HIS GARYISIMS (AS WE CALLL THEM). I WILL NEVER FORGET HIM. I'M PROUD TO SAY THAT HE WAS MY GOOD FRIEND.

POLICE OFFICER JENNIFER KING
15TH DISTRICT

June 13, 2006

On behalf of the members of the New Jersey State Policemen's Benevolent Association / Gaming Enforcement P.B.A. Local # 356.

Our deepest condolences go out to the Family, Friends, Sister and Brother Officers of the Philadelphia Police Department.

May Brother Skerski's sould rest in peace and in the hands of Almighty God.

Fraternally,
Bob Hughes

NJ State PBA Delegate
NJ Gaming Enforcement P.B.A. Local # 356

June 13, 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 Skerski. 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 Gary, 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 Gary's life and the MAN that he was. Remember that Gary's life was about so much more than the way he died. Gary will continue to live on as long as we continue to remember him.

Officer Skerski, 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 10, 2006

In Memory of Police Officer Gary Skerski

Khalil Gibran wrote:
“The bitterest thing in our today's sorrow is the memory of our yesterday's joy.”

Destiny comes suddenly, without ever knowing what God’s plan is for our lives.
When the news came, I stood there with tears in my eyes and mercy in my heart, no words came, only silent sorrow and absolute disbelief.

When death strikes close by, we suffer. Especially when it is taken by the hands of a thief! We immediately wonder where can we find comfort, and with what can we replace it? We are flooded with memories, stories and moments of a man who affected our lives by his generous actions, kindness, support and encouraging words.

I pray that God consoles the wounded hearts of Gary’s family, the officers of the 15th District and those who served with him, friends who loved him, and the lives he saved that tragic night at Pat’s Café.

I pray comfort and consolation.
Tracy Mazzagatti

Tracy Mazzagatti
Friend

June 9, 2006

HEART FELT CONDOLENCES FROM EVERYONE IN RADIO.

L PALMATORY
POLICE RADIO

June 9, 2006

Gob bless you brother. You will be missed but never forgotten!

Sgt. Chris Scholl
Tucson Az. Police Dept.

June 9, 2006

Gary, you made going to work fun. To give two examples of what kind of person you were, and I'm sure still are.... One time I had a personal problem with a city department, and like everyone else I went to you. Two minutes later you said, "Yo, Lt., pick up the phone." I picked it up and I had the city commissioner on the other end. I had to apologize to him for a half hour for bothering him. Another time, I said, Gary, there is a riot at a school and the squad working needs help. I said, get everybody geared up. I went and got my hat, vest, and equipment and ran outside. You gathered everybody up all right, but you left me. "the Lt.", looking at your exhaust. I thought I was going to have to take a bus. Gary you were and are, a good friend. There is not a day that goes by, that I don't think of you. Till I see you again.

Lieutenant Frank Banford
Philadelphia Police

June 7, 2006

God Bless, Rest in Peace

Chief George Yaccich
Rochester Township Police, PA

June 6, 2006

Gary, i had more fun in the 5 years i worked with you, then in my entire 20 years on the force. i will always remember our group in 5 squad and the times we had for the rest of my life. I am so sorry I was not home for you the Sunday before you were taken away from us. You and Hawk are greatly missed and never forgoten. I love you both like brothers. Please look after my godson Eddie and take him under your wing. God bless you and Anne, Robert and Nicole, and I'll catch up with you down the road.

Officer Scott Lichtenhahn
Philadelphia Police Dept

June 2, 2006

"Of necessity we must be sorrowful when those whom we love leave us in death. Although we know that they have not left us behind forever but only gone ahead of us; still when death seizes our loved ones, our loving hearts are saddened by death itself. Thus the apostle Paul does not tell us not to grieve, but rather, not to grieve like those who are without hope. Let us grieve, therefore, over the necessity of losing our loved ones in death but with the hope of being reunited with them."
Saint Augustine

Gary you will be sorely missed. It was truly an honor to have you as a friend. I admired you for your great devotion to your family and your never ending desire to help people. I will always be grateful for the times you stopped what you were doing to give me a hand. You were one of a kind, a model officer and a true gentleman. One would be hard pressed to find someone who touched more people in a positive way than you did! May God bless your soul and watch over your family.

Capt. James J. Kelly
Phila. P.D./Friend

June 1, 2006

God Bless the family and friends of this HERO.

Officer Bernie Ash
Louisville Metro Police

May 30, 2006

Officer Skerski was a one in million person.Having lived my whole life in the 15th I got to know him when he responded to community affairs on our block.He always had time for the people in his district and went the extra mile for them.He would always stop and talk to me when he would be on patrol.You could always depend on him.He will be greatly missed by the residents of the 15th district,the city of Philadelphia,his brothers in blue and his family which he cherished.To his wife and children you will not be alone for Gary will always be looking down on you and a whole city will always remember you in their prayers.May God have swift justice on the person who committed this senseless act.Rest in Peace Gary.

JAM
15th district resident

May 28, 2006

I would like to extend my deepest sympathies to the Skerski family and the entire Philadelphia Police Dept. This is such a senseless and tragic loss that the entire law enforcement and corrections community is experiencing. We have lost another brave brother in blue, but in I know that Officer Skerski is patrolling the streets of heaven, Officer Skerski was the true definition of a hero that will be deeply missed but never forgotten.

Heaven has called another hero to come across the Thin Blue Line
R.I.P Officer Skerski
10-7, 10-42 God Bless

CO I
WV Division of Juvenile Services

May 26, 2006

My thoughts and prayers are with your family, friends and co-workers at this incredibly difficult time.

Michigan Department of Corrections
Friend of Deputy Perry Fillmroe, EOW 4/27/04

May 26, 2006

I grew up in Philly and had nothing but respect for the Philadelphia Police Department and it's officers. I saw this on the news and my heart sunk to the floor. My prayers go out to Officer Skerski, his family and the Philadelphia Police Department. God Bless you all...

P-3 Joe Pope
LAPD

May 24, 2006

Gary was the best. Google his name and you will find a number of articles that prove it. He will be missed by my whole family. We been to his grave everyday since he was layed out. The kid that shot him should get death nothing less then that. Email the DA's office and voice your opinion.

spo Sam Higginson
close friend

May 24, 2006

Gary, we worked across the hall from one another and talked on many occassions and no matter how frazzled i was or how hectic things got at times you always had the same demeanor,calm level headedness.That i will always remember and that I thank you for.

Sgt. Lou Dilonardo
phila police

May 24, 2006

I wanted to say how sorry I am for this terrible loss. Although I did not know Officer Skerski I work in a neighboring town. Officer Skerski died a hero that night, Im not to sure if thats any help to his wife and children, but he is a hero. Take care of one another, to his widow stay strong just look into your childrens eyes and you will find the strength. May god bless you and your family. Once again Im so sorry.

Police Officer Wife, PA

May 23, 2006

Our hearts go out to you and your family in your time of grief. May God bless Officer Skerski's wife and children and give them the strength to get through this. May God always bless our officers who protect us everyday!

May 23, 2006

You were a hero to many people for what you did in your life and most of all you were a hero for what you did that fatal night.You put your life on the line to save the lives of others and you will not be forgotten for that.you were a brave man and not many people would have done what you did thank you for being a police officer and Rest in peace.

Michael Baskerville
son of retired police officer Mordie Baskerville

May 22, 2006

Gar,
My brother starts the Police Academy tomorrow. I ask that you look out for him like you looked out for me.

May 21, 2006

To the family, friends, and coworkers of Officer Skerski: You are forever in our thoughts and prayers. May God give you strength through this extremely difficult time.

Wife of a Police Officer

May 20, 2006