Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

Deputy Williams,
Please know that our thoughts and prayers are with you, your family and the Polk County Sheriff's Office. May you rest in peace.

Yarmouth, MA Police Department
K-9 Unit

October 20, 2006

im sorry for the lost. i know how it feels to lose someone..i lost a father when he was ambushed by two brothers. all you can do is pull through it..now that his watch is over i will began mine..so just hang in tight and keep the family close

trevor
son of EOW Bill Jones

October 19, 2006

Thank you for your service and my best wishes to your family. To the deputies of Polk County my best wishes also for your loss.

Det. Tom Larsen
Ormond Beach Police Dept. OB, Florida

October 19, 2006

Polk County Sheriff Office,

Not a day has passed where I haven't thought of all of you. My thoughts extend from The Sheriff, every deputy, every dispatcher and every employee, clerical or otherwise. I cried while listening to the audio, both the funeral and the dispatch tapes provided by 'The Ledger'. All involved kept their composure and professionalism throughtout this heart-wrenching ordeal. While I am certain that you are overcome with grief and saddness, take pride in your actions for they kept hundreds, if not thousands of others from getting hurt.
Keep your eyes on one another, take care of each other and take not one moment for granted.

D/S Williams,

I find myself coming to your page almost daily. Although we never met, your death has affected me. Even though we are seperated by miles, we are bound by this thin blue line and this unexplainable grief. I pray for you, Diogi, your wife and your beautiful children that you may somehow find some comfort in these reflections. Happy memories shared will keep you alive forever in hearts of those that love you.

God Bless

Friend of Mark Sawyers EOW 6-5-04
Sterling Hgts PD, Michigan

October 19, 2006

Rest in peace Matt.

Ofc. Andy Arena
Delray Beach (FL) Police Department

October 19, 2006

I didn't personally know Deputy Williams, but i will never forget what
he did to keep the children at Kathleen High School safe from the hands
of a known drug dealer and now murder. My son Bryan Baker was one of
those student's that day, as was my other son Tyler Baker at Sleepy Hill
Middle, and as a mother i have never panicked as badly as i did that
day i wanted to go to the school and pick my children up, although i
knew i wouldn't be allowed to i still wanted them with me. I with my
children attended Deputy William's and Diogi's funeral, i guess as a way
of trying to say thank you for protecting my children from the harms
of this world that we live in. I can't personally thank everyone of you
that put your life on the line everyday for us, but i can say a prayer
and smile and wave as i see you go by.
Please stay safe, and again Thank you for keeping us in Polk County
safe.
Sincerely
Alice Baker

I feel like i need to add this for anyone questioning why the shooter
was shot so many times, he came in to our county and disrupted our quiet
community. I feel he got what he came here seeking. I was raised in
Polk County and all of my life i have been told this is good old boy
country, i believe it now. Thank you for letting me say this.

Alice Baker- mother of a KHS student
Polk County citizan

October 19, 2006

Matt and Diogi, our hearts are broken and we grieve for you and your family. Please know that you are now and forever in our hearts and prayers. We know you will always be with us. We love you.

Sgt. Deborah Osborn
Polk County Sheriff's Office

October 19, 2006

Rest in peace brother. We've got your watch. May God be with your family, frienda, and co-workers.

Rest in peace Diodi. Dogs go to Heaven too.

Police Officer Brian Koehn
Archie Mo Police Dept.

October 19, 2006

D/S Williams and Diogi, I did not have the pleasure to know you but your death has touched me deeply. I cried while watching the video from the Ledger. The video showed how much you were thought of. God bless your family and friends and help them heal during this time. May you and Diogi rest now.

Tina Chavis
Wife of GA Trooper

October 18, 2006

Dear Matt and Diogi,

I know you are in a better place Brother, but I can not stop thinking of what a waste and senseless thing happened. My heart breaks every day since being with you in the woods.
My anger is beyond explanation. You were and still are one of the best partners that a person could hope to work with and to call friend. They say time heals all wounds but, I will not let this feeling of loss ever to leave my soul.

Deputy Sheriff Reny Escheu
Polk County Sheriffs Office

October 18, 2006

To Matt's Wife: Thank you for sharing your husband with the people of Polk County, knowing that every day he put that gun on his side, he was going into a battlezone. Matt was a wonderful man, deputy and friend. I am so sorry for your loss and also the Polk County Sheriff's Office K-9 Unit, he was one of the best! God Bless!

Hope Masterson
Polk County Sheriff's Office

October 18, 2006

My heart felt condolences go out to the family, friends and co-workers. The central Florida area has had to wipe away many tears lately because of the many tragedy's, please know in your heart that you are in our prayers and many others through out the USA. God has a plan for everything, Do Not Doubt HIM. Though this is easier said than done, Believe in Him.

You and Dioge are in Heaven with the best now, your watch will continue forever. My heart breaks for the family, your life will continue in his name!

Lake County, Florida

October 18, 2006

Matt, may God bless your family and friends. I know deep in my heart that God got four of the best officers in the entire world on the 28th of September. We too lost two of our own on the same day. HIS army got 4 stronger.

May God bless your family and friends in this trying time and may they find peace somewhere. I hope that in the days to come, it will get easier for all of us to get through this terrible roller coaster ride we were forced to board.

God speed Heroes, we have the watch from here.

Heather
Ohio State Highway Patrol

October 17, 2006

On behalf of the members of the Sutherlin Police Department, I send to you, our heartfelt condolences and prayers in your time of sadness. May your fallen officer’s legacy live on in the memories of his friends and family. Rest now brother, after a job well done. We’ll take it from here.

Cpl. Justin Marquis
Sutherlin Police Department, Sutherlin, Oregon

October 17, 2006

rest in peace brother

rudy
LAPD #13

October 17, 2006

A Brother Warrior has fell and died today in battle.

This Warrior has made the ultimate sacrifice.

He has given his life for his Fellow Warriors, Family, Friends and Community too.

Brother Warrior, pass your sword to us, so we can keep your spirit alive.

You, my Brother Warrior will not be forgotten.

God Bless you, your family and your friends.

We honor and respect all of the Fallen Warriors who have gone before us in battle.

We ask you, Brother Warrior to guide us, protect us and pray for us.

We will meet again my Brother Warrior.

For this time not to fight another battle, but to live in eternal peace.

God bless all of the Warriors, past, present and future.

Sgt. Chad McDaniel
Seminole County Sheriff's Office (FL)

October 17, 2006

R.I.p brother your family will be in our prayers and you in our thoughts thank you

k9 trooper howard
idaho

October 17, 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 Deputy Williams, 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 the reflections left for Matt, 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 Matt's life and the MAN that he was. Remember that Matt's life was about so much more than the way he died. Matt will continue to live on as long as we continue to remember him.

Deputy Williams, 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 late fiancé Dennis up there give him a big hug for me and the kids. It's been three and a half years but we still miss him terribly.

Wishing you brighter and better days,


Jocelyne :)

"Forever Remembering 26-3"

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

October 16, 2006

Officer Williams was a good man. A year ago he helped me through a trying time and got the help I needed and I would of never imagined this would happen a year ago today septemeber 28. God bless him and his family and your in my prayers.

Shelby

A young lady he helped out

October 16, 2006

My thoughts and prayers go out to Deputy Williams family. Know that his service and sacrifice was not in vain. He will always be remembered. I have never met Matt, but I am sure that he was an exceptional officer. See you at "Roll Call" Bro.

Nikki
UNA Police Dept.

October 16, 2006

Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. Such a sad and tragic event. Your are both heros and will always be remembered as such.

Marion Ohio

October 15, 2006

My heart goes out to you and your family.
My thoughts are with the family that with time the pain will ease..

Recruit- KH
HPPD, NC

October 15, 2006

The unimaginable happened that day. It still seems so unreal. I had just seen Matt not 2 weeks before when he forgot his door card and called in the Comm Cntr to be let in the gate and I teased him about it. It goes to show us , that we never know when the last time you will see someone will be. Let the people in your life know now they are important. Matt was a great guy and will be forever missed by one and all.

Wendy Stodder
POLK County Sheriff's Office

October 15, 2006

MATT K-9 DIOGI,

I HAVE GONE IN THE WOODS NUMEROUS TIMES HOT ON THAT TRACK LOOKING AND TRYING TO CATCH THE BAD GUY. THE SAME AS YOU DID ON THE LAST DAY ON EARTH. THIS IS WHAT WE LOVE DOING. SOME PEOPLE DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY WE DO IT. WE DO NOT KNOW WHEN OUR LAST DAY ON EARTH WILL BE BUT IT HAS ALREADY BEEN PLANNED OUT WHEN OUR DAY WILL BE BY GOD. WE LIVE EVERY DAY TO ITS FULLEST AND DO WHAT WE ENJOY. YOU ARE A TRUE HERO.

K-9 AJAX AND I ATTENDED YOUR FUNERAL. YOU HAVE MADE AN IMPACT ON MORE PEOPLE THAN ANYBODY WILL EVER KNOW. GOTTA GO FOR NOW. C-YA BRO

D/S KEVIN BRUNK K-9 AJAX&THOR
CITRUS COUNTY SO

October 14, 2006

We all know when we enter the woods on a track or go into a building on a search that it could be our last. But when we lose heros like Matt and Diogi it does just hurt his brothers in blue. It is a hudge loss to the public.

Matt and Diogi,
Know that your brothers from Polk County have honored you and we will all pray for you and your family.

Members of the K-9 unit
Wake County Sheriff's Office, NC

October 14, 2006