Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

My thoughts and prayers to those who knew and now miss Corporal Polizzotto.

May God lay His healing hands upon the family.

Retired Captain Joe L. Gilliland
Danville, KY PD

May 1, 2007

To the Polizzotto Family,
I was one of the many people standing in honor of Nick yesterday, at Johnson and 31. All of the sudden, dozens of school children from Hay School came walking down the road to stand in honor also. They kept coming and coming...I am guessing the entire school was there. All of them holding signs and flags....it made me cry. As the cars slowly passed, some officers turned their sirens on for a brief second. Some officers had cameras and stopped to take their picture....it was truly amazing. Then slowly they turned to return to school, as it was time for their bus to arrive. You had not yet passed these children, and had not been able to see this wonderful sight in honor of your son. I hope that those officers who took pictures share them with you. It was a tribute to your son that words cannot express. God Bless all of our men and women in uniform....God Bless Nick.

Kelly Rizzo

May 1, 2007

Nick, Words cannot describe the emotions that we are all feeling with the loss of you. Rest in Peace Brother, Rest in Peace...

PN 2014
SBPD

May 1, 2007

Our prayers and love are with the Polizzotto Family.

Patrolman
New Albany Police Department

May 1, 2007

Since I was little I wanted to be a Cop and still do many days go by and I still want to pursue college and become a cop some day.


It takes a true hero to go to every call good or bad and never knowing whether you will go home to your family or not and you took the call and that makes you a true hero!!!!!!!


May God give your family the peace to make it through the times ahead. God bless you.

Again thanks for protected your community and always will be a hero!!!!

Matthew Gordin

May 1, 2007

Nick,

It seems like yesterday that I can remember you graduating from the Police Academy with my brother! When I found out what happened that horrible morning my heart broke. I remember thinking Not Again...Not Nick! I thought it was some sort of a mistake! I guess the only good reason...if you can call it that... is that God must have needed you to guard the gates of heaven.

Rest in Peace Nick.....God Speed PN 2024 Please watch over your fellow brothers and sisters!

Civ. Dawn Wolfenbarger
SBPD Dispatcher and sister of two officers

May 1, 2007

I just wanna say to all of nick's family and friends that i am very sorry for the loss of such a great guy. nick you paid the highest price on that early morning. but that is my dream to become a police officer and so i hope and pray that comes true. and if it does believe me that i will carry on your name along with scotts. so i just wanna let everyone of his friends and family know that i am once again very very sorry. i hope i can become a police officer some day soon

Justin Bauer
Mishawaka Citzen

April 30, 2007

It is so awful to have to be in the position agian. We met for a very short couple of minutes in December.

Thank you Blue Angel and good bye. Patrol the streets of Heaven with Officer Severns. Please protect our officers. Goodspeed to you.

Heartbroken Elkhart Resident

April 30, 2007

As I stood and watched the fireman unfurl the huge American flag that was suspended between the 2 fire trucks I thoulght how lucky the people of South Bend were to have men and women like Cpl Polozzotto protect us.
God bless you Cpl Polozzotto and thank you

South Bend
citizen

April 30, 2007

Dear Polizzotto Family,
My two daughters knew Nick. He was kind to them, and
they have good memories of him. Prayers are with you.
Sincerely, Martha Cress

A Mother of LaSalle students

April 30, 2007

my husband said it best about the funeral procession today......TEARS FROM HEAVEN.

Mrs. Brian Barkley

April 30, 2007

This has been an extremely long and emotional week. With the memorial of Scott's death, and just a few hours later, the announcement of another officers death. I am would like to give my condolences to Nick's family, but always remember that once you are a member of the Law enforcement community, you will always have friends to lean on. Even though I had met Nick in passing, it still is a reality check on life and it makes your heart sick to think that someone could take another persons life so carelessly. Bishop Darcy said it best when he said at Nick's funeral, Not to think that it was god's wishes for Nick to die but it was evil in this world that took him away from us. May god bless your family and may Nick's son find peace

wife of an S.B officer

April 30, 2007

Today is both a day of mourning for the tragic death of Corporal Polizzotto as well as a celebration of his life and the wonderful legacy he leaves behind. Everyone he touched and helped during his lifetime is lucky to have known him. Our community owes a deep debt of gratitude to Corporal Polizzotto and all his comrades that work so hard to make our community a safe place to live. You are in our hearts and prayers.

Duke Jones
1st Source Bank

April 30, 2007

Nick, I had not seen you in a few months and I am glad I did get to see you one last time 2 weeks ago when you brought Joe in to the restaurant to eat dinner. As I talked to you, I never noticed before that your eyes were such a beautiful color blue until that day. I was not about to say that cause it just sounded weird at the time. But I wish I would have had a chance to say that looking back now. That is a memory I will not forget. You were always a good listener! I will remember the times we all went out for fun. Whenever I think of a hero I will always think of you. Thank you for everything you ever did. You will not be forgotten. God Bless your soul.

Stephanie Andrysiak
friend

April 30, 2007

My prayers go out to Nicks family during this tragic time. Nick was a great man and will be missed by all that new him. God Bless You, you are our angel.
R.I.P Corporal Nick Polizzoto

Toni Spagnola
TGI Fridays South Bend

April 30, 2007

I have never been good with words in time of such sadness, so all I can offer are the lyrics to a song by Sarah McLachlan.
"Angel"
"Spend all your time waiting
For that second chance
For a break that would make it okay
There's always some reason
To feel not good enough
And it's hard at the end of the day
I need some distraction
Oh beautiful release
Memory seeps from my veins
And leave me be empty
And weightless and maybe
I'll find some peace tonight

In the arms of an angel
Fly away from here
From this dark cold hotel room
And the endlessness that you fear
You are pulled from the wreckage
Of your silent reverie
You're in the arms of the angel
May you find some comfort here

So tired of the straight line
And everywhere you turn
There's vultures and thieves at your back
And the storm keeps on twisting
You keep on building the lie
That you make up for all that you lack
It don't make no difference
Escaping one last time
It's easier to believe in this sweet madness oh
This glorious sadness that brings me to my knees

In the arms of an angel
Fly away from here
From this dark cold hotel room
And the endlessness that you fear
You are pulled from the wreckage
Of your silent reverie
You're in the arms of the angel
May you find some comfort there
You're in the arms of the angel
May you find some comfort here."

I hope and pray that those who loved Corporal Polizzotto, can find some peace in the wake of this great sadness. The community of South Bend and the surriunding areas was once again shaken to its core, we will never be the same. God Bless Each and Every Person who puts their life on the line on these danngerous streets, so we may rest easily at night.
May you Rest in Peace Corporal Nick Polizzotto. God Bless You. You may be gone but you will never be forgotten.

Amy
Heartbroken Granger Citizen

April 30, 2007

Rest In Peace.

Sgt. Brian Burton
Fort Wayne PD

April 30, 2007

Rest easy brother! Thank you for your service and sacrifice to protect others!

Senior Patrol Agent
US Border Patrol

April 30, 2007

Officer Polizzotto, thank you for dedicating 9 years of your life to the protection and well being of society. As an “X” police officer, I have a very good idea of the circumstances that you have been involved in over the last 9 years. You have had a very tough job that most people cannot fully appreciate. You have paid the ultimate price, a price that comes at a great expense to you family, friends and fellow officers. I am very proud of your service even though I don’t even know who you are. I hope that your death is not in vain. I hope that something can be learned from this incident that could possibly save other police officers lives in the future. My condolences go out to your family, friends and fellow officers. From Dan Burke, Greer, South Carolina

Dan Burke
Friend of brother in law and Holland Police Dept.

April 30, 2007

ONE BECOMES ALL (JESUS WEPT)

Explaining danger to a class of wide eyed innocents....
......the children wept

With a polite request to slow down, easing his shaking hands.....
......a father wept

Handing the purse back, she never thought she'd see again.....
......a mother wept

Bringing the horrible news, while being a source of compassionate strength....
......a family wept

Reassuring those brought forth from their homes, that they are safe....
......a neighborhood wept

The face on the news, just doing his job....
......a city wept

One of her best, cut down in their prime....
......a nation wept

Another link wrenched from the thin, blue line....
......a world wept

Sent to protect us, yet struck down by violence....
......Jesus wept

Author: John Banes

Rest in peace Corporal Nick Polizzotto 4/24/2007

Wish you a speedy recovery Corporal Michael Norby

Dedicated to every officer struck down.
Be it mortally, or wounded.

*I've never written any poetic (if this poetic) prose that wasn't forced upon me in a classroom. The scenarios kept popping in and out of my head as I thought about this. They sounded kind of poetic, so I went with it.
Normally, I despise attempts at poetry, or prose.
I've never understood it, to be perfectly honest. I suppose much of my dislike is that I don't always understand where the author is coming from. They like to let the reader decide what it means to them.
I'm more black and white than that. I like to know exactly what things mean.
So, I'll tell you what this means, and save you the trouble.
Today (4/24/07), this news hit me hard, as I'm sure it did many of you reading.
All day I thought about this, and repeatedly, the faces of officers I've encountered came and went through my mind. I began to merge all their faces into Nicks face. He was them, and they were him.
Personally, I'm not sure if I've ever met Nick. He looks familiar, but it didn't matter.
He was every officer I've ever met. Including my brother in law (Fort Wayne, IN).
What happened could have happened to any one of those I've encountered.
As I thought on this, I realized that what I appreciated most, were the jobs officers probably find the most mundane.
Boring, and seemingly unappreciated and predictable.
To them, perhaps, but to many of those they meet in less than perfect circumstance, they mean a great deal.
As a "civilian" I realized my outlook on this was probably different.
I supposed it was alot like many in the area, who may have never personally "met" Nick, but felt like they knew him, because they knew his brother and sister officers through the everyday occurences discribed above.
Many of them felt a great sadness, as I did, at thinking of this man, who performed many of the acts described, being cut down.
So, they saw the officer leaning towards their car window, knocking at their door, talking to their classroom. Just doing everyday police work meant to protect, and serve them.

As the circle expands from those touched by an officer on the SBPD, the thoughts become more vague, but no less poignant

Like most citizens of this region. I appreciate the job you do.
I appreciate the price paid by every officer killed, or wounded, protecting myself and my family.

John Banes
Citizen of South Bend/Bremen IN

April 30, 2007

Today we have to say goodbye to your body, but we know that your spirit will live on forever. Rest well Blue Angel!

Jessica
friend

April 30, 2007

May God be with you all during this most difficult of times.

Sgt. Jim Gilpin
Kenton County Police Dept., KY

April 30, 2007

To all the family, friends and fellow officers - Your loss is overwhelming. Our department had a loss this week as well and the grief is devastating. He was a hero who gave his life for others. You will be in our prayers in the days and weeks to come.

Corporal Polizzotto - Your brothers and sisters in blue miss you. They will take it from here.

Wife of a MCPD, Maryland Officer

April 29, 2007

May you rest in peace. I offer my thoughts and prayers to you, your family and the members of the South Bend Police Department. You made the ultimate sacrifice and you will not be forgotten.

Senior Deputy Eric R. Fennell
Kern County Sheriff's Office

April 29, 2007

Peace be with you always...

Natalie Jensen
surviving spouse, Detective Jared Jensen, EOW 2/22/06

April 29, 2007