Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

#2 son

Found this poem the other day and thought it was so suited for us

THE BROKEN CHAIN

We little knew that morning that God was going to call your name.
In life we loved you dearly, in death we do the same.
It broke our hearts to lose you, you did not go alone; for part of us went with you, the day God called you home.
You left us peaceful memories, your love is still our guide; and though we cannot see you, you are always at our side.
Our family chain is broken, and nothing seems the same; but as God calls us one by one, the chain will link again.

Talk to you soon

As you know we will always love and miss you.

Barb

February 8, 2007

You will be missed Brother. Rest in peace. You will never be forgotten! Thank you for serving your community.

Patrolman Jason Bell
Bangor Police Department - Pennsylvania

February 7, 2007

6 Months.....
Half a year already.
Things are so different in so many ways.

STILL MISSING YOU.

Forever thinking of you.......Lisa

Lisa Leisey
Friend

February 6, 2007

Hi #2 son;

Been a while since I was here. Another month has gone by without you being here. It has been six horrible months. It just does not seen possilbe. They say time heals, but they never tell you how much time, a month a year or forever.

Trish needs some of your strength. She is getting some of your things together for your wall. It is really rough on her. I just want to take her and hold her and tell her that everything is going to be alright. I just want her to know that I am here for her if she needs me.

Josh and Jared are doing great in school.

John Mc. gave us shadow boxes of you that his girlfriend made and they are just so need and so true and so suited for you and about you. THANK YOU AGAIN JOHN AND FRIEND that was so thoughtful.

Talk to you later.

Barb

February 6, 2007

Hey Scott

Been thinking about you alot this week - I had this strange thing happen to me - so many circumstances that wouldnt normally be....I was home sick one afternoon with laryngitis when the phone rang. It was an "out of area" call which I never answer, but for some reason I did. This guy yells in my ear "Cathleeeen!" I just sat there frozen - I swear it was you, but I knew I couldnt be...again he yells "Cathleeen!" so I finally answer him - only for him to be some "telemarketer" soliciting me for funds for a "police cause". I couldnt believe it - it was too strange - he went on and on about this cause and how I should donate and proudly display the bumper sticker they would send me on the back of my vehicle - I was hearing him talk, but I kept thinking about you. Finally, I stopped him and told him I was sorry but I couldnt help at this time. He got a bit nasty towards me and asked how could I not help a cause like this? So, I told him that any extra funds I have for police causes would go to the memorials and fundraisers and family of a good friend of mine that was killed in the line of duty in my LOCAL town and I PROUDLY display HIS bumpersticker on the back of my vehicle. Not that I was looking for pity or anything like that, but I thought he would say ok, I understand - instead he hung up on me. I just sat there for a while cause I kind of went off on him (with my squeaky voice - Im sure I sounded great). The whole thing was just strange - normally Im not home in the afternoon, I NEVER answer out of area calls, I wasnt supposed to be talking - PERIOD, then the guy sounds just like you AND he's calling about a police cause. I dont know if it was a sign or what, but it freaked me out.....and made me think about you and just how unfair this whole thing is - for you, for us - its just wrong and it shouldnt have happened - to you or anyone. Well, I hope you're doing ok - keep looking down on your family and showing them your support and love and know that your friends will always be there for them.

You will never be forgotten!

Cathy

Cathy Hertzog
Friend & Neighbor

February 3, 2007

Hey Scott
Just wanted you to know we have been thinking about you.... Especially Emiley she keeps "seeing" you. She told me again the other morning that she saw a traffic accident on her way home from school and when she looked at the police car it was you... and of course it brings her to tears to tell me but I told her thru my tears that it is your way of letting her know you are OK.
I told her it is a good thing to see you and even though it hurts her that in the end it will make her feel better.
I cannot even imagine how trish does it.... Emiley just is a friend and it breaks her heart....

Well till next time.... keep smiling down on us

We love ya and miss you

Kelley

Kelley
friend

February 2, 2007

Hey Scott

Just wanted you to know we are still thinking of you and missing you now and forever.

Take care until we talk again

February 1, 2007

YO SCOTT,
HEY JUST CHECKING IN AGAIN WITH YOU AND WANTED TO TELL YOU SOME GOOD STUFF. TONIGHT AT WORK HAFER AND HAZER WERE CHASING A STOLEN CAR AND I GOT TO GET INTO IT WITH THEM. MAN WAS THE ADRENILINE GOING. IT WASNT A VERY LONG CHASE BUT WOW WAS IT AWESOME. HAFER AND HAZER DID A HELL OF A JOB CALLING IT OUT AND WE WERE ON TOP OF THEM VERY FAST. THE DRIVER ENDED UP THROWING THE STOLEN CAR INTO REVERSE AND SMASHING HAFERS CAR PRETTY BAD. I HIT HAZERS CAR IN THE BUMPER BECAUSE WE THOUGHT THEY WERE GOING TO BAIL ON US AT CHURCH STREET BUT THEY DIDNT AND I BUMPED HAZER FROM BEHIND WITH CAR 26, THAT CAR IS A PIECE OF CRAP. WE ENDED UP HAVING A 2HOUR STAND OFF WITH THE GUY. WE FINALLY GOT HIM TO SURRENDER BECAUSE OF SGT. CARR'S WAY WITH WORDS AND WE TOOK HIM INTO CUSTODY. ANOTHER WELL DONE JOB BY YOUR BROTHERS IN BLUE AT RPD. EVERYTHING WAS GREAT ABOUT THE PURSUIT BUT FOR ME IT WAS KIND OF CRAPPIE BECAUSE MY FIRST CAR CHASE AND I END UP BUMPING ANOTHER POLICE CAR. BELIEVE ME SCOTT I AM A GOOD DRIVER,LOL. WELL WE GOT THEM AND IM SURE YOU ARE SMILING AND WERE THERE EVERY STEP OF THE WAY. THE INCIDENT COULD HAVE GOTTEN REALLY BAD FOR ALL BUT IT DIDNT, I BET YOU HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH THAT! THANKS BROTHER. KEEP WATCHING OVER US LIKE YOU HAVE BEEN AND CONTINUE TO GIVE YOUR FAMILY STRENGH! TILL THE NEXT UPDATE MUCH LOVE AND RESPECT. ADAM

OFF. ADAM LINDERMAN #655
READING POLICE DEPARTMENT

January 30, 2007

Ya know, we still talk about you in the present tense, and I dont think that will ever change. We keep your picture in our family room and on our computer--Trish, that gift was priceless. If only we could turn back time.

Brooke Mish
Friend/Officer's Wife

January 29, 2007

Dear Trish Josh and
Jared,

Its been a while since I've seen you guys and I just wanted you to know that you are never far from my mind. I hope things are improving for you. Anyhow, I am not one who ever knows what to say and I am much better at putting my words on paper. I'm sorry it took so long but here is the poem from before and a new one that I wrote about how much I miss Scott and how I have been feeling inside and surmise that you have been feeling too. Well anyway here goes it.



In a frenzied, fleeting moment, time stopped still just long enough to allow the insanity of the city to fleece us all.

A Day in the Life without Scott

You need to know how each day for me starts...
With weary arms and heavy heart, a sea of tears, lives torn apart, a prayer for strength, a fresh new start. A prayer for you sons Jared and Josh.

I can only imagine how each day for you starts...
With weary arms and heavy heart, a sea of tears, lives torn apart, a prayer for strength, a fresh new start.
No time for remorse nor time to reflect, too numb to feel or share regrets.
Knocked to your knees, each day you rise to a world filled with false innuendos and often flat out lies.
The pain and the shock of broken routine succumbs to the cold reality of broken dreams.
Through family and friends, and deep from within you summon the courage, not knowing where you are going, but certain that HELL is where you've been.
You have become a pillar of strength despite lives new demands, while the rest of the world is quick to judge, they fail to understand.

I can only imagine how each night for you ends...
With weary arms and heavy heart, a sea of tears lives torn apart, a prayer for strength, a fresh new start. The cries of children in the dark, a dream of monarchs in the park, a pillow wet with salt stained tears, 3 a.m. reruns of the "Wonder Years" A body exhausted a mind still at work, thoughts of revenge that make you berserk. Wondering what tomorrow might bring all the while knowing it will be the same damn thing. Feeling lonely, powerless, lost, wanting him back irregardless of the cost.

You need to know how each night ends for me...
With weary arms and heavy heart, a sea of tears, lives torn apart, a prayer for strength, a fresh new start. A prayer for you sons Jared and Josh. Feeling lonely, powerless, lost, wanting him back irregardless of the cost.

Trish I wanted you to know that you are my HERO and I admire and believe in you. You have had to become a rock for your kids under the worst possible circumstances. Your poise, presence and perseverance through these most difficult times is stoic and admirable. As always, I am here for you guys if you need anything.


A City Mourn
From out of the gutter, one jellyfish crawled
spineless, gutless, deralect of balls.
Absent of conscience with weapon concealed,
he ran like a bitch, true colors revealed.
A modern day coward, un bato, a creep,
the life that he stole caused a city to weep.
With each passing day, I grow more disdain,
time manifests my anger, rather than mitigate my pain.

My only comfort is knowing, that my hero, my friend,
responded to duty, a man amongst men.
His badge he defended for a city he loved,
while the rest of us abandoned her to escape the violence, crime and drugs.
His life he lived so admirably, the ultimate price he paid,
willingly he made that trade for the many lives he'd saved.

In Idle times, my faith now shaken, befuddled by the cross.
Solace has come slowly, still numb, still reeling, inconsolable from this loss.
He visits me at ballfields, in pastures and in dreams,
As a monarch he flutters majestically, a quite fitting return it seems.
As a cop and as a person, his reign was quite supreme.
In all my days and all my nights,
Ive never met a more outstanding human being.

Selfishly, I've concluded that the price was far too steep,
justice is what I'm seeking, perhaps revenge would be more sweet, I promise you Scott that I will not rest until he fries in justice's seat.

Johnny

Johnny Reber
friend

January 28, 2007

Scott, I was not going to leave a reflection about your
pre-trail hearing , but Lisa got me granked up with
hers !!. Scott, to this day I refuse to accept to
use the name "Trish" and "Widow" in the same
sentence. Scott, back in the days there were
two things in your life that was soooooooo
important to you, 1st to win the heart of a
girl named Trish and 2nd to be a Reading cop.
Trish is doing the right thing by calling
herself a widow, it's good for her to do
this, I just have to accept this someday.

The 2nd part, I would like to see the name of
that "piece of garbage" and "death sentence"
in the same sentence. Scott, I was there the
first day you put on that badge 16 years ago.
You have been serving the criminal justice
system for 16 years, now it is time for the
criminal justice system to serve you !!!!!.
Scott, you left behind broken hearts, but
happy memories too....


good bye for now,

"Slinger"

Rick Genslinger
friend/former colleague

January 26, 2007

Scotty,

I can just hear it now, "Well, Well ,Well" I know its been a long time and I have no excuse except, I lost track of time...Mamasita and I miss you, everybody misses you. There's not a day that goes by that I dont think about you. I finally went to Brokos about a month ago and boy was that strange. Just didnt feel right. Nothing feels quite right anymore.
In case you didnt know, mama is pregnant. Stop laughing. Dont know what we're having, and the name game isn't going very well. If she would just recognize that Daddy thought of cool names, it wouldn't be a problem. And by the way, thanks for the thunder tears in St. Lucia. I was waiting for a sign, and I knew it would not be subtle. We all knew you were there, we just needed you to announce your presence with authority as usual.
There's a whole lot more I have to say, espically about certain ### and cars, but I will keep those irritating thoughts to myself. Take care my friend and I will be in touch.....

Off. Christopher Jenkins #625
Reading Police Department

January 26, 2007

I still can't believe you are gone and I will never see you again. I keep hoping that I'll wake up and this will all have been a terrible nightmare and you will be here and not gone. So many things remind me of you and I think about you constantly.

You are missed, Scott, and I hope you know that. Your time here was too short ...

January 26, 2007

Well the Pre-Trial is tomorrow. God Scott give us strength. I know a lot of people are thinking horrible thoughts about being in the same room with the "SCUMBAG" again and his "FREE" attorney. I can't help but feel the same way. YOU ARE TRULY MISSED!!!!!
With everything coming up, the memories of that horrible phone call in the middle of the night and the thoughts of what occurred that night keep haunting me. I tell Trish all the time that I don't know how she keeps it together. I know how proud of her you must be. She is pretty stressed to say the least. I keep saying this over and over again....she really doesn't deserve to be going through what she is going through.

Trish, be strong...your TRUE friends are here for you now and always.....(think February 19th).

Forever thinking of you Scott...Lisa

Lisa Leisey
Friend

January 24, 2007

Hey #2 son

Just wanted to let you know we are all thinking of you as usual.

We are going to need a lot of strength tomorrow since the hearing is tomorrow for the scumbag.

I also wanted to let you know that I nominated you for the Hometown Hero for Appleby's. Will let you know how it turns out.

My nominee read as follows

I would like to nominate deceased Reading Police Officer, Scott A. Wertz. He truly was a HOMETOWN HERO. He was gunned down on August 6, 2006 in the line of duty protecting the city of Reading which he so truly loved. He tried his best to make the city of Reading a safer and better place for people to live. He knew so many people in all walks of life and never hesitated to help them in their need. He went far and beyond the call of duty. He would go out of his way to help anyone. He saw the good in people and would give people a second chance. He had been helping people all his life in one way or another. He was a great husband, father and friend with who ever got in contact with him. He always had a great smile. He is truly missed by everyone who knew him and even people who didn't know him. Strangers come up and tell you they wish they would have known him and sounds like he was a wonderful person and our reply is he truly was a great and wonderful person and is missed and loved by so many friends and family. People looked up to him and were proud to have known him. He helped coach little league baseball, basketball and football. He would have given his shirt off his back or given his last cent to help someone.

Everything I said and probably didn't say is true. You were and will always be OUR HERO

We all miss and love you very much

Barb

January 24, 2007

Scott,

I did not know you personally, however I am an EMT with an Ambulance Squad East of Reading and I happened to be on duty the night you were shot and was in the middle of transporting a patient to the West Reading Hospital and when I arrived I was confronted with Police, Fire and Ambulances from all over Reading when I arrived at the hospital. I got to talking to a police officer and he proceeded to tell me what had happened to you that night. I cannot tell you the courage you and all other police officers have to go out there everyday and protect us. Thank you for your courageousness and bravery. May you rest in peace and GOD BLESS YOUR FAMILY

Erik
Citizen

January 24, 2007

I did not know you but from reading all the reflections that people have left for you it is easy to say that you were a great officer as well as a great person. You will be greatly missed. Rest in peace.

Angelo P
Citizen

January 21, 2007

I didnt know you but I did hear great things about you from your cousin and I just wanted to say thank you for trying to help the people in reading out I am glad they caught the person who shot you that is so horrible but I know you are in heaven right now looking down on all of reading you were an amazing police officer. Thank you so much. you will never be forgotten.

Courtney Kane
friend of realtve

January 20, 2007

hi scott i never got to meet u n it is really sad i herd alot of things about u but i couldent talk to u though i wanted to say thanx 4 fighten to help the streets get better im 13 n i associate with alot of people n one of my freinds noes the person who did this to you n i no longer talk to that person cuz he killed ma flesh n blood im related to u by jamie wertz a.k.a caroline barbera she was put up 4 addoption im sure u no all about it i have no grandpa or cosin now n people just look in the news paper n say at least it was me well y couldent of been i would like to of meet u but i cant now because some one decided to bring out a gun n i just wanted to let u no every one misses u even the ones that never got to meet u like me im not a perfect person u can look up my file at the police station im not a perfect person i get into alot of trouble i dont think b4 i do the dtuff i do mayb this time ill think of you n how you r lookin down upon your family n stop wat im doin
R.I.P SCOTT
your lil cos u never got to meet love ya

hailey kraft
secound cosin

January 19, 2007

Hey Scotty,
Just thought I'd check in and say hello and let you know as always, I've thought about you alot, especially the last couple days. We buried another one of our own Tuesday and it was like reliving yours all over again. I had the honor of being part of the rifle detail for the salute.
Det. Troy Chesley was shot and killed just after getting off of work and going home in an attempted robbery gone bad. Luckily he was able to return fire wounding the suspect who is now in custody.
I'd like to know when the justice system and courts are going to stop letting these scumbags go time and time again until they kill. This jerk was arrested 17 times in his pathetic 3 years since turning 18, served only 3 months out of a 10 year sentence for a stolen auto, violated his probation twice and has 2 open handgun cases still pending when this occurred. The courts reduced the $500,000 bail request from the states attorney to $100,000 which he promptly posted and then committed this crime.
I'm sick of seeing my friends die by these scumbags who shouldn't have been out on the streets anyway.
Trish forwarded me her victims impact statement for Feb 1st. It breaks my heart to see the pain she is going through and how much she and all of us miss you. Keep sending her those signs and giving her strength she really needs it. I'll drop by later, miss ya bud

Dustin
BPD Maryland & brother-in-law

January 18, 2007

Rest in peace my old friend. You are in my thoughts often.

January 17, 2007

hey scott, been awhile. just want to let you know, i miss you very much. tomorrow is mom's birthday, and i just was hoping that maybe if you were together, if you could give her a hug for me. love you scott. talk to you soon.

shelly

MICHELE
SISTER

January 16, 2007

HEY SCOTT,
JUST WANTED TO CHECK IN AND GIVE YOU A UPDATE SINCE IM NOW ON 3-11. I REALLY LOVE THE SHIFT BECAUSE ITS SO FAST PACE AND THE TIME FLIES. I WANT TO STAY FOR MIDNIGHTS BECAUSE I FEEL AS IF THE SHIFT WENT TO FAST. THE GUYS ON THIS SHIFT ARE AS GOOD AS THE ONES ON MIDNIGHTS. 3-11 CAN GO FROM REALLY QUIET TO ALL HELL BREAKING LOOSE. I BACKED UP ANOTHER OFFICER AND SEARCHED ONE OF HER PRISONERS AND GOT SOME DRUGS OFF OF HIM, MY FIRST TIME GETTING ANY DRUGS OFF SOMEONE, I WAS PRETTY EXCITED ABOUT IT. IM GETTING BETTER AT DOING ALOT OF THINGS THAT INVOLVE POLICE WORK AND GETTING A LOT MORE COMFORTABLE BUT I LOOK AT THE JOB A LOT DIFFERENT NOW SINCE THE INCIDENT AND BEING RIGHT THERE THAT HORRIBLE NIGHT, I WISH I COULD JUST FORGET ABOUT IT BUT ITS JUST WAY TO HARD AND I STILL THINK ABOUT THAT NIGHT AT LEAST 100 TIMES A DAY, ILL NEVER FOR GET. THAT SIX SENCE THAT YOU GET OVER TIME FROM THIS JOB IS REALLY STARTING TO KICK IN. EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED AND AND YOUR MEMORY HAS MOTIVATED ME TO THE POINT WERE I WANT TO BE AS GOOD OR BETTER THEN THE GREAT OFFICERS WE HAVE NOW IN THE DEPARTMENT, AND ILL TELL YA YOU KNOW AS WELL AS ME, BOY IS THAT GOING TO TAKE SOME TIME, BECAUSE WHEN EVER I SCREW UP I JUST TELL MYSELF WELL I ONLY 29 YEARS LEFT, LOL. WELL SCOTT I JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU A UPDATE LIKE I SAID I WOULD.YOU AND YOUR FAMILY ARE ALWAYS IN MY HEART AND PRAYERS. TILL THE NEXT TIME BROTHER, MUCH LOVE AND RESPECT.

OFFICER ADAM LINDERMAN#655
READING POLICE DEPARTMENT

January 16, 2007

Hi #2 son,

As you know I hate coming here to talk to you cause I have to face reality that you are really gone and never coming back. I would do anything in the world to just have a phone conversation with you or just to be talking to you in person, which I prefer, which I know is never going to happen until we meet again up there.

Everything (as Trish always puts it) just sucks since you are gone. Life was so much more simplier when you were here.

I was looking at a scrapbook that Shelly Fizz made up of all the sympathy cards and letters sent to the Reading Police Department from law enforcement offices all over the United States including Hawaii. It was so over whelming to see how many people loved you and still do and think of you every day.

The hearing is rapidly approaching. Please give us the strength we need to get through it. It is not going to be easy for anyone. Please give Trish the strength and courage she needs to get through this all.

You are on our minds and in our hearts every day. I only hope and pray that the judicial system doesn't drag this on and on for months so that the families and friends can get some closure of this horrible tragedy that has caused so many heartaches. We will never ever let you be forgotten. You are and will always be our and everyone's hero.

We love you and miss you so much. Just remember, we are always thinking of you.

Barb

P.S. By the way, thanks Kimber Sue for the wonderful reminder you gave Trish. That was the song that Scott played when he proposed to her!

Barb
Mother-in-law

January 14, 2007

Putting that uniform on and leaving for work in the streets of America is like going on patrol in a war zone. Only for us vets its only for a year. For a policeman its for many years. The policeofficer steps into a war zone everyday. We dont. We deal with people above the criminel element everyday and dont see what the police officer deals with in his element. When an officer is down it is the same as loosing a solder in battle. I sleep well at night knowing they are out there. Officer Wertz a true American hero now stands amoung the real keepers of peace.See you Pal. John Pappas Vietnam vet 68 Tet.

John Pappas
Vietnam vet. Just a citizen.

January 14, 2007