Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

Who knew our lives would change so quickly 15 years ago….. I thought we would grow old together. Kick the kids out, retire and spoil our grandchildren. I miss you everyday! All of the kids are doing great and you have 5 grandchildren. Although, we all know that Mel was actually your practice granddaughter ❤️ Life goes on and time does help but the wound never heals. I miss our early morning crossword puzzles, Friday night pizza with the neighbors and your request for brownies on Sunday night while watching the Colts! I love you always

Wife- michelle

October 13, 2021

I know your family misses you so much; time helps us move on but the ache in our hearts that needs to be filled by our beloved fallen officer will never be whole again until we are back together with them again. Obviously Sheriff Daniels loved his job and all it stood for. Heroes live on......their story lives forever.

Linda Rittenhouse
Mother of Matthew Rittenhouse HPD 920
EOW 9/16/2004

October 14, 2019

Rest in peace Sheriff Daniels.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

October 12, 2019

Rest in Peace.

N.Y.P.D. Lt. Ray Flores (Ret.)

October 15, 2016

True heros are always remembered for the service they gave their community. Rest in Peace Brother.

N.Y.P.D. Lt. Ray Flores (Ret.)

October 14, 2016

The Sheriffs of Florida and their deputies will never forget the sacrifice you and your family made to uphold our laws and protect society.

Your name has been inscribed on the Florida Sheriffs and the National Law Enforcement Memorial and in our hearts. May you forever rest in peace.

A scripture inscribed on the Florida Sheriffs Law Enforcement Memorial:

"Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they shall be called the children
of God." Matthew 5:9

Executive Director Steve Casey
Florida Sheriffs Association

August 20, 2016

Sheriff, your work continues through many and you know how close we are to completing what you started. The instinct you had on one of our own was spot on. You were right all along. We all miss you everyday.

Investigator
Central Florida IA

October 16, 2015

I miss you everyday!

Always your wife - Michelle
Wife

July 19, 2015

Happy Birthday!! I can't believe it has been 8 years since you were taken from us. I miss you everyday! Taylor is doing amazing, she has an apartment, she has started college and has A's and she just started working part time. I Love You!

Michelle
your loving wife

October 14, 2014

We will never forget. My heart and prayers are with Michelle and all the kids today and always. Continue to rest in peace Sheriff Daniels...

Deb Azure
Mother of Deputy Renee Danell Azure
EOW 08/06/02
Union County SO, Lake Butler, FL

October 14, 2012

Rest in Peace, Sheriff Daniels. Your sacrifice is not forgotten.

Officer 11169

February 14, 2012

Michelle, Taylor and all the Daniels family you are all in our hearts and prayers today, it just doesn't seem like 5 years has passed, but I know that the pain in your hearts is as strong today as it was 5 years ago, and that this pain will never go away, our hearts will never heal. Sheriff Daniels, you sir are a hero we will never forget and I know that you are so very proud of Michell and the kids as you watch over them all from above. Continue to rest in peace sir..

Deb Azure
Mother of Deputy Renee Danell Azure
EOW 08/06/02
Union County SO, Lake Butler, FL

Deb

October 14, 2011

Dear Chris,
Happy Birthday!!! It is hard to believe that it has been 5 years since you left us. I think about you all the time!!! I still come out to the cemetery to visit and make sure that I clean up the plastic flowers that people leave :) I know they mean well, but I can still hear you saying how much you disliked the plastic flowers and the big window decals on the back of cars.
Taylor is doing really well in school and is playing volleyball nonstop. I have stopped working all the time and am enjoying spending time with her. It won’t be long now before she doesn’t want to hang out with me. I remember those days with the older kids!!! You were right, you have to pick your battles and maybe cleaning the room isn’t the top battle, but it still drives me crazy! Taylor misses you, she cried last night and said she wished she wouldn’t have gone to Georgia back then and she would have been home to tell you Happy Birthday and hug your neck! I told her we enjoyed not having any kids on that Friday night and that last night we had together was amazing. We were in our home, “it doesn’t get much better than this” was what you said!
I miss you everyday!!!

I LOVE YOU,
Michelle

Michelle
wife

October 10, 2011

Michelle and the Daniels family, you are all in my thoughts and prayers today as you face another EOW, may you all know that we will never forget your hero... Thinking of you all.

Deb Azure
Mother of Deputy Renee Danell Azure
EOW 08/06/02
Union County SO, Lake Butler FL

Anonymous

October 14, 2010

For Sheriff Christopher Cooper Daniels, Sr.:

The duties of a law officer emcompass a myriad of responsiblities. Each day we do our best to provide the public with the best service and protection, and only ask humbly for their earnest appreciation and continual support. Anyone who is serious about a career in law enforcement should not place Honor and Respect for themselves above Committment and Dedication to the people they serve.

Sheriff Daniels, is familiar to me from when I served as a major crimes investigator, in the LCSO-CIB. I recognized that, as a then ranking official, he was as appreciated in the community as well as in the Sheriff's Office itself. He stood for Law and Justice. He also stood for Fairness to others. He stood as Honesty to himself. This is the way that I recall him. I firmly believe that no error here exists.

The circumstances surrounding Chris' death might appear a shade lighter when placed along side of others who have died in service to the public. To measure, weigh or compare when considering a degree of Human Service rendered to others is as pointless as it is meaningless; Is locating the lost senior citizen in the mid-day heat any less-heroic than the resusitation of a child in the family pool? Is an officer less-heroic finding the stolen bicycle of a little boy or girl then he is when finding the stolen luxury-car of the lady or the gentleman that lives up the street? Service to others has no real discernible measurement when including gratefulness and appreciation. Their is only satisfaction. Both for the public and equally by us who wear the badge.

Our brother Chris is a hero, because of the way he lived, not because of the way he died. He is a hero because of his faithful service to a community that voted him their sheriff. He is a hero to the people of the sheriff's office that sought to make him successful by lending him their full-cooperation and loyal-support. He is a hero because each person, and every person, who served with him is a hero. Each day and every day.

I am proud to render Sheriff Christopher Cooper Daniels, Sr. and hearty and final salute.

Cpl. Ralph D. Fiorenza (Ret.)
Pennylvania State Police

July 5, 2010

Hi Honey,

I just finished making our reservations for the DC Memorial. I am taking Joey, Logan and Tay again this year. You would not believe how much Tay has grown up, you would be so proud of her.

I still miss you everyday!

All my love,
Michelle

Michelle
Wife

April 27, 2010

Sheriff Daniels and Family

I visit cemeteries quite often and on Saturday March 27th I just happened to be visiting the Tavares Cemetery. I was both surprised and saddened to come upon your headstone. It caught me attention because it was marked with the Lake County Sheriff's star and then I looked down at the date, the name and knew it was you. I saw all of the gifts left by your family and it was difficult to see how much they love and miss you. There was a little sheriff's star, a teddy bear, some blue first place ribbons and little snow globes. All left from those that you left behind and their attempt at reaching out to touch you in some way. Then I came home and went to this page and read all of the reflections that were and still are being left for you and especially those left by your wife Michelle. You must have been quite a husband and father by the way she writes about you. Your death was so unexpected and must have been very hard on her and the children. You are truly loved and missed deeply by your family. I am honored that without really knowing you that I have been able to share what I have in visiting your place of rest and this memorial page.

anonymous

March 29, 2010

Dearest Chris, I will love you forever and NEVER forget you! I still can't really believe you're gone. I still feel sometimes that I could get in the car and drive up there and you would be there! I miss you so much! God blessed me the day you were born! I loved going to your house for Xmas with you and the children. Christmas is so sad when I order flowers for your grave. Nothing will ever be quite the same. I still go there is my dreams. I hope someday I will see you again!

Anonymous

December 26, 2009

Chris, wish you were still around it would have been interesting to see where the sheriff's office would have gone..............you are missed deeply

friend

November 27, 2009

Hey Chris, just happened to stumble across your memorial page merely by coincidence and figured I'd say Happy Birthday Man. We all miss you.

Brent Heiligenthal

October 14, 2009

To Sheriff Christopher C. Daniels Sr, his family and his fellow officers with the Lake County Sheriff's Office:

Our heartfelt thoughts are with you on the anniversary of Sheriff Daniels’s tragic death and we honor him for his valor and sacrifice to the community. Rest in Peace, Sheriff Daniels and thank you for your service.

Wives Behind The Badge, Inc
Members and Staff

October 14, 2009

I miss you so very much. It is almost impossible to believe it has been 3 years. We will celebrate your birthday Wed. night with your favorite Key Lime Pie and a bottle of Chianti.

I LOVE YOU ALWAYS!

Michelle
Loving Wife

October 9, 2009

Hi Honey,

Just thinking about you and thought I would read your reflections. I have found that you were loved by so many people that you really never knew and the people you thought were there for you, never really were. So many things have changed and not all for the good. I can say one good thing that I hear so often is how you were the BEST SHERIFF this county has ever had and how much you are missed!!! :)

Taylor is doing great and playing volleyball now, you would be shocked at how she has grown. She is a beautiful teenager now. She misses you so much, we talk about all the fun times you guys had in the pool, how you taught her to open wine and how you loved Snoopy more than any of the kids bc he did not talk back. Snoopy has his pack now too, we rescued a beagle about a month ago - Peanut!

I miss you so much.

All my LOVE,
Michelle

Michelle
Wife

February 25, 2009

Your passing is heavy on my heart today. I cherished our friendship and I miss you dearly.

K. M.

February 13, 2009

Chris: There are just no words to express how much we miss you! We talk about you and reminisce with Michelle, but she will never get over losing you and neither will we. We will always love you and never forget you as long as we live.............Rob and Cheri English

Cheri English

October 19, 2008