Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

Corporal Sutphin,
I feel so honored to have met you, for I truly knew a hero. We thank you for the ultimate sacrifice you made and we will remember you always. Go now to patrol your beat in heaven as we continue your watch here. God bless the family and the MCSO, my prayers are with you.

Deputy Christian Stoneman
Bedford Co. Sheriff's Office

August 26, 2006

Our prayers and thoughts are with you and your family. My son was gunned down 6 months ago in Upstate NY and I visit this site frequently. I will shed tears for you today and always. God be with you to give you strength and to take care of your twins. Kathy Corr (New Hartford NY)

Kathy Corr
Mother of Fallen Officer

August 26, 2006

No words can express the sorrow I have in my heart for your family. I did not know you but my husband got to know you while riding on the Huckleberry Trail with you Saturday night/Sunday morning after the manhunt started. He came away knowing that he met a brother in Christ. That has brought us both comfort as I pray it will bring comfort to others in their time of mourning. Rest in peace my brother. I look forward to meeting you on the streets of heaven someday.

BPD Communications Officer T.L. Brewster
& Wife of Blacksburg Police Officer

August 26, 2006

My most heartfelt condolences are with the family, friends and fellow officers of Corporal Sutphin. You are all in my thoughts and prayers.

Mrs. Sutphin ~ I share your pain. I also lost my husband in the line of duty and am raising 2 young children on my own. This is a very painful journey that none of us wanted to take; please know that time will soften your pain. Surround yourself with family and friends who love you - they will hold you up when you can't stand on your own.

Thank you, Corporal Sutphin, 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.

Gone, but never forgotten.

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

August 26, 2006

Lord,
He was yours to give,
and yours to call home,
please stand by his brothers,
so they don't feel alone,
dry the tears of his family,
so they clearly see:
that he gave his all,
so all could have peace.
Blessed are they,
the children of God,
with heavy hearts
and honor - they trod,
to pay their respects,
to give their salute,
and to ask for your mercy,
on heroes in Blue.
Amen.

Eric, rest easy brother, we have the watch.

Mesquite, TX

August 26, 2006

Never an answer of why, we always wonder, we always ask why? One day brother we will all know the answer, till then, you rest with God and the Angels in Heaven.

Officer Scott Parker # 603
Covington Texas Police Dept.

August 26, 2006

Eric,
I never got the chance to know or work with you. I've only been an officer for two and a half years. I can still remember the day Scott died. I can remember how glad I was to know that you were alright. I can also remember thinking how incredibly brave you were to put your uniform on and go back to work after such a close call. That is truely the measure of your character. It speaks of how much you loved your job and the community.
I got a phone call from another officer from my department at around 8 on Monday morning. One of those phone calls you never want to get. The call that an officer is gone. And now 4 days later i've finally gathered the courage to address you. Words can't describe how proud I am of you. You truely are a hero. You are in a better place now and I ask that you watch out for us while we TRY to fill your shoes. Although I don't think that's possible.
May God bless your family, friends, and brothers at MCSO. I mourn for them in this terrible time and pray that God will help their broken hearts to heal as quickly as possible. Rest in peace brother. We'll meet one day.

Ofc. J.D. Saul
Pulaski PD

August 25, 2006

My sincerest sympathy to the family and friends of Corporal Eric Sutphin as well as to the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office. Rest in peace Corporal Sutphin, you are gone but will not be forgotten...

Dispatcher Sue Rusch
Punta Gorda PD, Punta Gorda FL

August 25, 2006

Rest in peace brother

J Parris

August 25, 2006

I had never had the chance to me Corportal Eric, But after reading about his history he sounded like a "cops Brother", I grew up with cops in all my life! I have more respect for them than any other organization, I hearfelt Sympathy goes out to the Sutphin family, and friends, and coworkers, its Officers like Sutphin that make the world a safer place!
GOD BLESS YOU ALL!!!!

Karen McGlynn Resident of VA

August 25, 2006

God Bless you dear brother, rest in peace.

Sgt. Jim May (ret)
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Dept.

August 25, 2006

Like Det. Deckard, I too remember Sgt. Sutphin when I was a young soldier in those days at USAFS Sinop. I was disheartened to learn of his death, and upon realizing that 'Cpl. Sutphin' was indeed the Sgt. Sutphin that I remember, I searched through some old pictures of those days. Of course the one that I found and I have always remembered is that big smile of his and sense of humor.
What a tragic loss indeed.

With sympathy,
Tim Gibbs

Tim Gibbs
Old Friend

August 25, 2006

You will not be forgotten brother. We have your watch.

OFC G F Matheis Jr
Aberdeen MD Police

August 25, 2006

Rest in peace Brother Sutphin. My thoughts and prayers are with you, your family and the entire MCSO.

Chief S.D. Buckland
Glen Lyn Police Department

August 25, 2006

It is written on the S.C. Criminal Justice Hall of Fame Memorial "Blessed are the peace keepers for they are the children of god" I use to live in Christiansburg Va and the news of your murder that day hit me deep in my heart. But as I was viewing your page on this site and read that you survived being shot in 2003 coming to the aid of the Christiansburg officer showed me that you are really a Cop's Cop. I will pray for your family and the other deputies of the Mongomery County Sheriff's Office. Rest in peace.

Deputy R. A. Porter
Pickens County Sheriff's Office SC

August 25, 2006

My fellow officers of the Montgomery County Sheriffs Office. My heart goes out to you and my hat is off. Each of you conducted yourselves with the utmost dignity and valor in the days following the loss of your brother...Our brother. Although I had never had the pleasure of meeting Deputy Sutphin I have had the opportunity to work and train with many of you. I must say that I am honored to know each of you. There is nothing that can be done or said to take away the pain of such a loss, but know this, your neighbors to the west pray for you each day. You have our sympathy and our admiration for your courage in such a troubling time. We are proud to call you our brothers, our family.

God Bless
E.S. Thwaites
Giles County Sheriffs Office

Capt. E.S. Thwaites
Giles County

August 25, 2006

TO Corporal Eric E.Sutphin Family. Corporal Eric E.Sutphin is a hore may god watch over his family and bring them peace during this heart breaking time. Reat in peace BROTHER.

CPT JACKSON
PINEVIEW POLICE DEPAPTMENT

August 25, 2006

When the announcement was released on the news that there was a downed officer from MCSO. My heart just froze, and I am sure many others did too. I was praying it wasn't my son, but knew even if it wasn't, that it would affect my son and his fellow officers as well as families and everyone in the community.
May God bless you and your family and know that everyone is praying for you and will be there for you, when the numbness and shock and disbelief wears off...
SDM

Mother of another Montgomery County Officer

August 25, 2006

The Narrows Police Department would like to extend their deepest sympathy to the family of Eric Sutphin and the Montgomery County Sheriffs Office.
We were proud to be apart of the Capture of William Morva and know Eric would have done the same for us.
Rest in Peace Brother Eric.

Chief Thomas Gautier
Narrows Police Department, VA

August 25, 2006

A true warrior has left us.....RIP brother

Officer
Tampa Police Department

August 25, 2006

Eric,

Although I did not get to work with you for a long period of time while I was a dispatcher with the Montgomery Co. Sheriff's Office you have touched my life like you could not even imagine. If I was having a bad day you were always able to brighten it with your smile and great sense of humor.

You remain an inspration and role model to me and for that I am very thankful. You will be greatly missed brother.

Deputy Clifford Chewning Jr.
Randolph Co. Sheriff's Office Asheboro,N.C.(former MCSO dispatcher)

August 25, 2006

Eric,

Although I did not get to work with you for a long period of time while I was a dispatcher with the Montgomery Co. Sheriff's Office you have touched my life like you could not even imagine. If I was having a bad day you were always able to brighten it with your smile and great sense of humor.

You remain an inspration and role model to me and for that I am very thankful. You will be greatly missed brother.

Deputy Clifford Chewning Jr.
Randolph Co. Sheriff's Office Asheboro,N.C.(former MCSO dispatcher)

August 25, 2006

I didn't know him well, but what I did know was ALL POSITIVE. Eric will be sorely missed. To: Mrs Sutphin and his lovely daughters, I'm so sorry for the loss of Eric and please reach out to us if there is anything you ever need.

~Valerie (CPD-Communications)

SHIFTS OVER (by David Pike, adapted)

We watched as you pinned on your badge for the very first time.
You had trained and studied; learning what was needed to do the job
you would be called upon to do.
How you proudly stood at attention, saluting and repeating the oath,
vowing to give your all and do your best.
But now, shifts over...
lie down and rest.

You left early in the morn, while we slept snug and warm
Just as often you returned in late even'tide when,
long before, we had retired.
You sacrificed your rest and time that we could live and laugh
work and play, knowing we were safe, vowing to give your all and do your best.
But now, shifts over...
lie down and rest.

When we called you answered, whether friend or foe, neighbor or stranger.
You risked life and limb, comfort and safety, always to ensure that we
enjoyed home and workplace, recreation and employment.
You gave of yourself dutifully to the searching faces and pleading hands
reaching to you for help; responding quickly to the slightest call,
vowing to give your all and do your best.
But now, shifts over...
lie down and rest.

Now we stand, sad and somber, quietly listening to Tap's final song.
You answered the call and gave your all as you responded to the last bell of Destiny's alarm.
One last time you pinned on your badge and honored your oath;
seeing nameless faces and unknown grasping hands
You kept your vow, you gave your all, you did your very best.
But now, shifts over...
lie down and rest.

The New River Valley will never forget you.

Valerie D'Intino - Communications
Christiansburg Police Dept

August 25, 2006

Eric became my Corporal only a few months ago, but the amount I learned from him will last a lifetime. I also had the pleasure of working with Eric when he first came to our office several years ago and was on his shift when he valiantly apprehended a suspect who had also killed a fellow officer, after being wounded himself. As a deputy, he exemplified what professional means and as a family man he should be an example for everyone to follow. He was always happy no matter how tired he was and was never short on one liners or jokes. I thank God that Eric got to spend a great vacation with his wife and daughters in Disneyworld this summer. Those memories will hopefully give them hope as they attempt to move on. I thank God also that he got to talk to his mom one last time shortly before he was killed. Eric loved police work, lived for police work, and would not give up until the bad guy was caught. Ultimately, he laid his life down for us and caught the bad guy. As a shift we will never be the same, as an office we will never be the same, his family will never be the same, but we will work hard to never forget what a hero Eric was, and follow his motto: "It's time to go do some real police work!" God bless you my friend I will miss you forever.

Sgt. Mark Hollandsworth
Montgomery Co. S.O.

August 25, 2006

Having worked in and with law and code enforcement, I appreciate you ultimate sacrifice. I am not sure if we were related, but hearing the news in Fairfax about a slain officer with the same sur name was very hard to comprehend. May you always watch over your friends, family, and community my brother.

Jason Sutphin

August 25, 2006