Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

Warden Hurst,

You paid the ultimate sacrifice to your state and your agency. You will NEVER be forgotten. Your legacy will live on and your assailant will be dealt with, not only by the courts, but by our heavenly father. God Bless you and your family. My prayers are with you and your family. RIP Brother.

P. H. Smith, Park Ranger
City of Chesapeake, VA

March 19, 2007

Rest in peace brother. You are a true hero and an inspiration for all of us.

Sgt Matthew Dreyer
Hilltown PD

March 19, 2007

We will take it from here...rest in peace my brother in blue.

Pvt. Laser
Towson University Police

March 19, 2007

I've known Justin from the time we were little kids in Conroe all the way through college at A&M. Those years leave me many fond memories. I'm deeply saddened by this tragedy and I hold his family in my prayers.

God bless you and keep you in His peace-

Carrie (Newman) Turner
school friend

March 19, 2007

Rest in peace brother..your watch is over. We'll get it from here.

A brother

March 19, 2007

THOUGH I DID NOT KNOW GAME WARDEN HURST PERSONALLY, I SEND MY DEEPEST SYMPATHIES TO THOSE WHO DID. REST IN PEACE.

CPL DET OFC B BURNS
BRYAN COUNTY SHERIFFS DEPT, GA

March 19, 2007

For Justin. Thanks, brother for your service. You will always be in our hearts. Your family will always be in our prayers. You are a model for what the Texas Game Warden
is. It's not our place to ask why or how. It's our place to carry on your legacy.

When God Created Police Officers...


When the Lord was creating police officers, he was into his sixth day of overtime when an angel appeared and said, "You're doing a lot of fiddling around on this one."

And the Lord said, "Have you read the specs on this order? A police officer has to be able to run five miles through alleys in the dark, scale walls, enter homes the health inspector wouldn't touch, and not wrinkle his uniform. He must be able to sit in an unmarked car all day on a stakeout, cover a murder scene that night, canvass the neighbourhood for witnesses, and testify in court the next day. He has to be in top physical condition at all times, running on black coffee and half-eaten meals. And he has to have six pairs of hands."

The angel shook her head slowly and said, "Six pairs of hands... no way."

"It's not the hands that are causing me problems," said the Lord. "It's the three pairs of eyes an officer has to have."

"That's on the standard model?" asked the angel.

The Lord nodded. "One pair that sees through a bulge in a pocket before he asks, 'May I see what's in there, sir?' (when he already knows) Another pair here, in the side of his head, for his partner's safety. And another pair here in front that can look reassuringly at a bleeding victim and say, 'You'll be all right ma'am,' when he knows it isn't so."

"Lord," said the angel, touching His sleeve, "rest and work on this tomorrow."

"I can't," said the Lord. "I already have a model that can talk a 250-pound drunk into a patrol car without incident, and feed a family of five on a civil service paycheck."

The angel circled the model of the police officer very slowly. "Can it think?" she asked.

"You bet," said the Lord. "It can tell you the elements of a hundred crimes; detain, investigate, search, and arrest a gang member on the street in less time that it takes five learned judges to debate the legality of the stop... and still, it keeps its sense of humour."

"This officer also has phenomenal personal control. He can deal with crime scenes painted in hell, coax a confession from a child abuser, comfort a murder victim's family, and then read in the daily paper how law enforcement isn't sensitive to the rights of criminal suspects."

Finally, the angel bent over and ran her finger across the cheek of the police officer. "There's a leak," she pronounced. "I told You that You were trying to put too much into this model."

"That's not a leak," said the Lord. "It's a tear."

"What's the tear for?" asked the angel.

"It's for bottled-up emotions, for fallen comrades, for commitment to the job, for justice."

"You're a genius, Lord," said the angel.

The Lord looked sombre. "I didn't put it there," He said.

Much of what we do may not fit the specs above, but they describe a man dedicated to his job and his family. We will never forget Justin, not for what he did professionaly, but for what he did personaly. He was dedicated to his family, and gave his life for his job...it don't get much better than that! Rest in Peace. God Bless!

Robbie Smith
Game Warden Beaumont, TX

March 19, 2007

Rest In Peace Brother.

senior deputy gavin price (retired)
escambia co fl. s/o

March 19, 2007

Justin,
You will always be in our hearts. Your loyalty and guidance will never be forgotten. May God bless your family and bring peace to their hearts.

God Bless,
Carlos Ramirez
Aggie roomate class 98'

Carlos Ramirez
College roomate and friend

March 19, 2007

Rest in peace Officer

Jayson Mills

March 19, 2007

Thoughts and prayers to your family and friends. Thank for being the voice of wildlife who can't speak for themselves.

Deputy Warden McKnight
VT Fish & Wildlife

March 19, 2007

Rest In Peace. Your family and friends are in my prayers.

Officer Dwight Rackley
Louisville Metro PD, KY

March 19, 2007

I am very sorry to hear of the death of this fine officer at the hands of such a vile coward. It is brafve men like this good man who keep the streets, lands and communities safe for the innicent citizens who would otherwise be preyed upon by the lawless. I offer my deepest condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Warden Hurst. He now combs the wooded lands of Heaven with St. Michael, as his final shift and roll call are concluded here in this world. While we mounr the loss, we celebrate the life. Greater love hath no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. John 13:15. Rest easy brother, we have the watch from here.

GUARDING THE FLOCK:

Like the sheepdog, I stand guard over the flock, being ever vigliant for the predator.

You of the flock live your lives in the beauty of the quiet fields, rarely ever needing me in your ordinary existence. Your lambs run and find joy in the daily routines of life.

Because I work in the weather, in the dark and in far off parts of our land, you often forget that I'm there.

Because I am firm and unyielding in the rules to keep the flock safe, you at times resent me.

Because I confront the dangers lurking in the dark, things that you fear and don't understand, you at times feel uncomfortable around me.

Because I am quiet and often in the background, you at times forget that I am even on duty.

Because I am always there, you often times take me for granted.

Because I do not seek glory, wealth or fame you often forget to feed me adequately.

Because you don't see my family, you forget my personal side and how I am with my own loved ones.

Still, you are ever so grateful to have me around when the predator threatens the flock and I am there to stop him.

When I shed my life's blood for the flock and when I die doing so, only then do most of you stop and think about why you need me and my brothers and sisters.

The life of the sheepdog is not an easy one but we are all so fortunate that he stands in the fields, guarding the helpless lambs of the flock from the predators.

Author unknown

Chief JA Millan
NC Public Schools, Avery Dist LEO

March 19, 2007

Rest in peace brother.

1773P
CSPD

March 19, 2007

REST IN PEACE BROTHER. YOU WILL BE MISSED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR DEDICATION, SERVICE AND SACRIFICE. YOU ARE A TRUE HERO. MY SYMPATHY TO YOUR FAMILY, FRIENDS AND DEPARTMENT.

Deputy Davis
Pittsylvania County Sheriffs Office

March 19, 2007

God bless your husband and family, from your extended law enforcement family.

Deputy David Hoschar
Johnson County Sheriff's Office

March 19, 2007

My heart breaks for Justin's family. I knew Justin when he was an undergraduate student at the Wildlife & Exotic Animal Center at Texas A&M University. I knew then that his dream was to become a Game Warden and I'm glad he was able to live his dream.

I am saddened by the loss of Justin who was such an honest, thoughtful and dedicated young man.

Alice Blue-McLendon,DVM

Alice Blue-McLendon
Wildlife & Exotic Animal Center, TAMU

March 19, 2007

Rest in peace, God bless your family.

Trooper III
TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY

March 19, 2007

Our prayers are with you and your family Justin. We all loved you for the great example you set, and the wonderful person had become. We will think of you often and always miss you.

Warren Villar
friend

March 19, 2007

Warden Hurst, I salute and thank you with my entire heart for your service to me and the citizens of Texas. My prayers are with you, your family, friends and colleagues as we humbly ask that you to “Rest in Peace”.

Your life was not taken; you gave it in service of others.
To Game Warden Justin Hurst’s wife Amanda, his infant son Kyle and his parents, I offer my most heartfelt and sincere condolences.

May this Warden’s infant son always know that his father is our hero and may the Lord watch over this child as he grows up without this Dad, who loved him so much, by his side.

I charge everyone who knew Justin to keep him forever in your hearts and pass his story along to ensure that his son Kyle may grow in the knowledge of all those wonderful things that make us so proud to have known his father.

May God Bless Mrs. Hurst and Justin’s parents as they try to cope with this tragedy.

To those close to this hero, please take comfort in knowing that I along with countless others across this land, Grieve with you.

May God bless you always.

Douglas Zappe
Father of Texas Game Warden, Bill Zappe

Douglas W. Zappe
Father of Texas Game Warden Bill Zappe

March 19, 2007

Rest in peace Brother. I will keep your family in my prayers.

Trooper II M. Moore#9992
Texas Department Of Public Safety

March 19, 2007

Amanda and precious baby boy, Kyle. Our hearts are heavy knowing that you are suffering such an unmeasurable loss.

We love you, and want you to know that we're here if we can do ANYTHING for you.

May the memories of happy times see you thru the difficult days ahead. Love, Don and Joy

Don & Joy Pruner
Friend

March 19, 2007

THANK YOU WARDEN HURST FOR SERVICE AND DEDICATION TO OUR GREAT STATE. OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS GO OUT TO YOUR FAMILY AND ALL THE TEXAS GAME WARDENS DURING THIS DIFFICULT TIME. GOD BLESS YOU, BROTHER IN BLUE.

DETECTIVE RUTILO QUEZADA
SMITH COUNTY SHERIFF TYLER, TX

March 19, 2007

We are never prepared for the loss of a loved one, but God is always prepared to help us through that loss. May His presence begin the healing in your heart and soul, and may His love surround you with the comfort only He can give.

Thank you for your unselfish service to others. You will never be forgotten. May you rest in peace.

Wyoming Citizen

March 19, 2007

May God be with your family, friends, and co-workers. You are a true hero who will not be forgotten for all you have done.

Trooper S Whitman
Michigan State Police

March 19, 2007