Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

Hey there Bro. I just wanted to let you know that every time we go to Bowling Green and see a police car Shana reminds me of the time we seen you in the mall and you played with her. She was just about 2 when that happened and everytime she sees your picture or a Police Officer she reminds me of that time. I just want you to know how proud of you I am. You are my hero. You were before that fateful day in October and you certailly are now. It never fails when we are together that your name comes up alot. I always like to tell stories of some of the stupid stuff we have done. Well I love you man. Holly when you read this just know that we love you and the kids very much.

Shane Forbis
Nephew of MPO David Whitson

May 23, 2008

SLIM, I NEVER WORKED WITH YOU BUT I WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER YOUR SMILE AND THE POSITIVE ATTITUDE YOU KEPT. YOU WILL ALWAYS BE A HERO TO ME AND ALL YOU LEFT BEHIND. THIS SMALL CITY OF BOWLING GREEN WILL NEVER BE THE SAME WITHOUT YOU HERE. IT WAS TRULY AN HONOR TO HAVE KNOWN YOU.WE WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER THE GOOD TIMES WE HAD WHILE YOU WERE HERE.YOU HAVE BEEN AN INSPIRATION TO MANY OF US.

JAMES

May 16, 2008

I always remember you with a smile,I hope your family is doing good, because you'll always be in my prayers. Thank you for all that you did while I was there, you were always really nice to me.... Rest in Peace

Martha L. Alvarez
Former BGPD Dispatch

May 13, 2008

As National Police Week begins and my husband readies his uniform to escort families tommorow, I think of you and the ultimate sacrifice you made. I pray for your wife and your children. I pray that God gives them strength to face each day without you by their side. I know God has a master plan and He called you home for a very special purpose. I know you are watching your loved ones from up above. Heroes are never forgotten.

Tonya Penman
Wife of VA LEO Native of BG

May 11, 2008

Happy Birthday Slim!
We miss you. I hope you are well and smiling down on us.
Keep an eye on us every once in a while if you're not too busy goofin' off with your dad.
We love you buddy.

Tracey
BGPD/KSP

April 25, 2008

Thankyou for your service and sacrifice. You are a true hero for us all to look up too, you will never be forgotten. GOD bless your family

POLICE OFFICER
PHILA PA

April 20, 2008

My hubs likes to tell stories about you. They're usually funny. Holly, Jacob, and Hannah are in my prayers, as is everybody who feels your loss. So, until we all meet again, we'll keep on down here and you do the same up there.

officer's wife

April 7, 2008

Thinking of you today on Easter. I know there must be a huge celebration up there where you are today. We celebrated here, but I'm sure it was nothing like the party you were a part of in heaven. We still think of you often. We are still praying for Holly, Jacob, & Hannah that they will be better able to deal with life without you. We all miss you so very much. We'll see you again soon when our time has come. After all, Life is But a Vapor.....

An Officer's Wife
Bowling Green, Kentucky

March 23, 2008

Hey Slim, It has been 8 months since my retirement but I think about you often. RIP brother.

Sergeant Terry Steff (Retired)
Bowling Green PD

March 21, 2008

Hey Slim, it's Super Dave. Been a while since we talked but I can tell you that each and every day you are thought of. You touched the hearts of so many people. I was so proud of you guys on NRT. We have come a long way since your passing and every chance we get we remember all the good times we had. You sure had a lot of spirit. Take it easy in heaven brother and save a spot for me.

Captain David Page
Bowling Green Police Department

March 20, 2008

Slim, you have not been forgotten. I still think of you every day. I still wonder if things could have been different if i would have went to that call instead of you. Maybe you could still be here, cheering us all up, if i could have gotten there first. We miss you brother

fellow BGPD officer

March 8, 2008

I never had the privlage of working side by side with slim but i remember him bringing people into the jail when i first started. He would always come in with a smile and he was sure to brighten your day with one of those jokes he always told. David was a great guy he is really missed by everyone.

Sergeant
Warren County Regional Jail

March 6, 2008

Hello My Love. I know you watch us from above but I feel very lost and alone without you here. I don't think that many people realize how much that I do miss you. I have tried to be strong for the kids and everyone else, but I am tired of making everyone else feel better.
The kids are getting big. Jacob is doing very well in school. I wish you were here to show him how to be a boy and a man. I don't know how to teach him to be a man. Hannah is easy for me because she is a girl. She is like you in many ways and I fear she won't remember you. I will continue doing the best that I can with them. Please continue to watch over them for me.
I love you my David. My heart is yours until we meet again.

Holly Whitson
wife

February 14, 2008

"The Badge"

He starts his shift each day
To respond to calls unknown.
He drives a marked patrol car.
A police officer he is known.

He's paid by the citizens' taxes
To make it safe on the streets.
But he usually has a second job
'Cause a waitress has his salary beat.

Now he doesn't know a holiday
'Cause he works all year round.
And when Thanksgiving and Christmas finally arrive
At his home he cannot be found.

He's cursed and assaulted often,
The one whos blood runs blue.
He seldom ever gets a thanks,
To some he's just a fool.

His friends are always other cops
'Cause people just don't understand
That underneath his badge and gun,
He's just another man.

He knows there might not be a tomorrow
In this world of drugs and crime.
And he gets so mad at the court system
'Cause the crooks don't get any time.

And each day when he leaves for work,
He prays to God above.
Please bring me home after my shift
So I can see the ones I love.

But tonight he stops a speeding car,
He's alone down this ole' highway.
It's just a little traffic infraction.
He does it everyday.

Well, he walks up to the driver's window,
And his badge is shining bright.
He asked the guy for a driver's license,
When a shot rang through the night.

Yes, the bullet hit its mark,
Striking the officer in the chest.
But the Department's budget didn't buy
Each officer a bullet-proof vest.

So he lay on the ground bleeding.
His blood wasn't blue - His blood was red.
And briefly he thought of his loved ones
'Cause in a moment the officer was dead.

In the news they told the story
Of how this officer had died.
And some who listened cared less,
But those who loved him cried.

Well, they buried him in uniform
With his badge pinned on his chest.
He even had his revolver,
He died doing his best.

Written By:
David L. Bell
Sergeant
Richland County Sheriff's Department
Columbia, South Carolina
Used with Special Permission of the Author
Copyright © 1999 - All Rights Reserved
and may not be duplicated without permission

Investigator David L Bell
Richland County Sheriff's Dept., Columbia, SC

January 19, 2008

I still think of you quite often. I know a lot of people miss you greatly, including me. RIP my brother.

Frank Thornberry
Kentucky State Police

January 14, 2008

It is hard to believe it has been a year. Your family and your department have been in my prayers every day. I pray that God has brought them solace and peace over the past year and will continue to give them strength to get through each day. You will never be forgotten.

Tonya Penman

Tonya Penman
Wife of VA LEO

November 1, 2007

I miss you brother. May God watch over our friends in blue.

Steve Hicks
Evansville Police Dept Evansville, IN

November 1, 2007

Well, it's been a year. Yesterday we went to your grave. It was cool, but not as cold as it was a year ago. There was a different feeling in the air this time. There were still many tears shed, mine included, but there were also smiles and giggles from people remembering how you made them laugh. Terrill played Buck Owens on the way down there and we sang along as loud as we could. I never knew a single word of any Buck Owens' songs, but I bet I could write them down now as much as Terrill plays them!
We all met up at the PD for the unveiling of the "Whitson Wall". It's a very nice tribute to you. Of course, you wouldn't like all of the fuss being made over you and you would probably draw a mustache and an eye patch over your picture, but it's nice to know that people aren't forgetting the sacrifice you made.
Your mom seems to be doing well. She is a ray of light everywhere she goes. Always willing to sit and listen or hold your hand when your sad even when she is the one who should be comforted.
Keep smiling on us Slim. We can feel your presence down here and it keeps us warm. We love you and miss you so much.

Tracey Sharber
BGPD Wife & Kentucky State Police Employee

November 1, 2007

~Never forgotten~ Rest in peace. God Bless your family on the anniversary of your passing.

911 Dispatcher
Virginia

October 31, 2007

Officer Whitson,

You and your family are still in my thoughts and prayers one year later. Warriors are never forgotten and your children need to know that. May God still comfort them and your police family.

PFC Kyle Penman-WKU 1995
City of Fairfax PD, VA

October 31, 2007

God bless David.
God bless David's family.
God bless BGPD.
We remember, always.

BGPD wife

October 31, 2007

As it approaches the year mark, we find it hard to believe that you have been gone from us for an entire year already. We still miss you, think of you, and talk about you often. We continue to keep your family in our prayers. You can rest peacefully knowing that your fellow officers that loved you so much are continuing on their beat knowing that you have their backs from your balcony seat in heaven. You will never be forgotten, Slim. God Bless

An Officer's Wife
Bowling Green PD

October 30, 2007

You are remembered today and thank you Sir for your service

Pat Van Den Berghe, Manchester, NH
Neighbors for a Better Manchester, NH

October 29, 2007

It's hard to believe that it has almost been a year since you ended your watch. I miss you and pray for your family everyday. I know that you are watching over all of us. The years that I worked with you in Bowling Green were always a lot of fun. You always made everyone laugh and you loved your wife and kids so much. My most memorable time with you, I was so stressed at work and nothing would go right on this particular day. You stopped what you were doing, listened to me vent, and reminded me that the things I had been fretting about were not important. You reminded me that God, family, and friends are priorities. I was taken off guard at the moment, but that helped me put my life in order. I know that you would not want anyone making a fuss over you, but we all miss you a lot. Please keep watch over me!!
Vickie "Mini Me" Kristiansen

Corporal Vickie Kristiansen
Franklin Police Department

October 28, 2007

We remember you. We will never forget you.

Bowling Green Citizen

October 7, 2007