Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

I cannot explain why I am so compelled to log on to your website. I have felt immense sadness since watching A&E's show, The Rookies. I guess because I have a son who will be 19 on Saturday and an Explorer with our local Police Department. He, like Joshua comes from a Law Enforcement background with his father and sister's boyfriend being Police Officers. It is the only career he has ever wanted and is working to fufill his dream. In just seeing the photo that was on TV, you could see how Officer Norris matured from the first time we saw his until his untimely death. May God Bless him and your entire department.

cheryl cartwright
just a spouse of a Police Officer and mom of an up and coming Officer

November 5, 2008

Deputy Sheriff Joshua Norris,

I watched your story last night on the "Rookies". Although I never knew you, I felt a bond watching you progress through you training with your FTO. It made me reflect back on the training, insight and words of wisdom given to me by my FTO and other senior officers. My heartfelt condolences go out to your family, friends and co-workers. Rest easy brother.

Patrol Officer V. Maxwell
Columbus Police Department, Columbus, GA

November 5, 2008

I just watched an episode of The Rookies on A&E and was in shock when I found out that you were killed in the line of duty. Looking at the names of the fallen officers on here is one thing but watching the officer on TV and then finding out what happened at the end...
Thank you Deputy Norris for your service and bravery.

Wayland
Oregon vol. firefighter

November 5, 2008

Rest in peace Brother, your family, friends and fellow officers are in my thoughts and prayers.

John DiLello, SCO Retired
NJ Dept of Corrections

November 5, 2008

Deputy Sheriff Joshua Norris,
I never got to know you and if not for the A&E Rookies I wouldnt have known anything about you but after watching the show last night ... You stayed with me. I got up today really thinking about what our Law Enforcement does for our Communities. My husband is a United States Army Soldier who has done 2 tours in Iraq and is getting ready to go again and I know I will have to worry about him again but that is what got me thinking .. Officers go out every day .. not just during deployments they go out on a every day thing and the worry I feel when my husband walks out that door for his 12 or 15 months deployments is something families if officers feel everyday. It open my eyes and I am sorry to say it took me this long. You are all heroes and your families are amazing to stand behind you . I am sorry for your loss I know words cant bring him back but please know that this soldiers wive will remind people of how its not just our military who risk there lives for our country and out neighbors .. its People like Deputy Sheriff Joshua Norris who stand up and say I will go & answer the call ..
Thank You and God Bless
Mary
Ft Lewis Washington
2-3 Infantry Wife

Mary Cruise

November 5, 2008

Dear family of Joshua Norris,

I am so very sorry for the loss of your family member. I just watched Josh on "The Rookies." Thank you for allowing his story to be shown. It helps to remind all of us in law enforcement just how dangerous our job is and just how precious life is.

Police Officer
Escondido Police Dept, California

November 5, 2008

I just watched your episode on A&E, and laughed about the same mistakes I made not too long ago when I was in training, and thought about how truly neat it was when your FTO got you a car when nobody else has one. I'm glad that through the sadness they still shared your story with us.
Rest in peace brother, we've got it covered down here.

Officer C Mack
Virginia Beach Police

November 5, 2008

I was working night shift last night and we watched your story on A&E. Needless to say not a dry eye in the entire radio room. Thank you Deputy Norris for your service. My thoughts and prayers are with your family, friends and fellow brothers and sisters in blue. You will not be forgotten. Rest in Peace Sir!!

Dispatcher
Norfolk Virginia

November 5, 2008

Deputy Norris I just watched you on the new show rookies you had a ruff start but you came around quite well. You were living your dream you were going to be a great officer so sad that your life was cut short. I am sure you are really missed thank you for your service and the mark you made on this world the short time you were here. I am sure you would have made it on the deputy of the month wall.

N.Y.S correction officer J Tulloch
new york state corrections

November 5, 2008

To Josh and his family:

Well I don't know how to start this but here it goes.... It's a work day for me and I have to go in at 3, so with the wife at work and my son at school, I thought I could watch a new cop show that seemed cool called the "Rookies" Seen a few and they tell a real good story. I've been an FTO for a while and it's neat to see the new guys everywhere else are the same as they are here. The second Josh came on the screen I said to myself, "Wow, he reminds me of me in SO MANY WAYS!" I was glued to the episode. I smiled thru the whole thing. Until the end. Until seeing the program, I dodn't know what happened to Josh, and it hit mme so hard, I'm embarrassed to say i've been crying out loud in my house for almost an hour, so to regain myself, I came here. Josh and your family - GOD BLESS YOU. I can't even say how profoundly this has affected me! Thank you for the privelidge to write to you here, I hope you can see it, and I hope your family does. I know I'm thousands of miles away, and you don't know me, but please know, that I WILL NOT forget, and will be FOREVER thankful for what you sacrificed for US. I can't find words to express the total flood of emotion I'm feeling. I'm GLAD that A&E was able to get Josh on the program - if he's like me, he'd be so proud and want you to be - and you should be!! God bless, be the best you can be, and be safe.
Rich Fiske, Police Officer, Shrewsbury Massachusetts.

Rich Fiske, Patolman
Shrewsbury Ma Police Department

November 5, 2008

I was watching your show last night and had no idea that was the end I was going to see. I was left if shock as I read the television screen. You had so much glow to you and you were so happy. You remind me of myself when I first got hired. I am sorry that your life was cut short. You died a hero and you gave your life for the safety of others. Thank you. We will take it from here.

Detective
CT

November 5, 2008

I just watched your episode on A&E and as an FTO I could see you had your head on strait. Mom I wanted you to know the family he joined not just in Jefferson Parish but all over the law enforcement world your son will never be forgotten. Josh rest well brother we’ll take it from here.

There are three defining persons that have willingly died for you. Jesus Christ, the US Soldier and the Law Enforcement Officer. Jesus died for your eternal security. The Soldier died for your national security. The LEO died for your personal security. As Jesus now lives, so, too, shall these two other saviors. Rest In Peace .

Written by an FBI agent

Cpl. J. E. Stokes
Montgomery P.D. AL

November 5, 2008

Hey,
I watched the "Rookies" on A&E, it was my first episode! I'm an aspiring Police Officer in Canada, in my final stages of getting on, and watching Joshua’s story made me realize the sacrifice that the police sometimes have to make! It also made me realize, that I really do want to do this job, and honour the Fallen.

Rest in Peace Brother!

Robin

Cpl
Canadian Forces

November 5, 2008

Deputy Norris-
I just watched your episode of Rookies. I rooted for you to pass your FTO throughout the show. I was shocked to tears at the end and saddened at what happened.
It is a sad reminder that anything can happen at any time. As a reserve Deputy (I only work part time) married to a full time Deputy who serves on the SWAT team for our county this is always in the back of my mind. My thoughts, prayers and blessings are with you and your family.

Gone but never forgotton. God speed peace. You died doing a job most can not even apply for. Rest in peace knowing you an an honorable person.

Reserve Deputy Jocelyn King

Reserve Deputy Sheriff Jocelyn King
Thurston County Sheriff's Office, Olympia WA

November 5, 2008

Josh,

I just watched your story on TV along with my wife and am truly touched. In the months of training that was cut down to a half hour, it was apparent you became a great officer. Your fellow officers, family and friends should be proud. Your FTO's did an excellent job and hopefully have no regrets or second thoughts because there was probably nothing different that could have been done. Your desire to do the job and dedication is a trait I wish more OIT's (Officers in Training) had. God bless your family, friends and brother Officers at Jefferson Parish.

FTO G. Tanner #12768
Mesa Police Dept, AZ

November 5, 2008

Deputy Norris , and your families of blood and blue last night i watched Rookies and was given a rare glimpse into your brief career . while others were watching the presidential returns , i was watching you as you worked the streets and felt as i did when i read of that fateful day over a year ago when you were taken away from us . i remember leaving a reflection for a fellow officer who had been killed two years prior on the same day and saw your name come up . i left a reflection that day for you as well and though we never met i felt a bond that only those of the thin blue feel.........you are my brother and your family is my family . as i watched you last night , it was bittersweet because even though i was watching a brother just starting his career with so much eagerness, ready to embark on an oft times thankless job , i remembered that you had proposed to your fiance' just the day before and how she must have felt watching you on the streets at that very moment and how the days following were and still are heart wrenching ........

Norris family thank you for sharing Josh with us , Jefferson Parish family and Joshs' FTOs' stand strong and thank you for pressing the fight ....... and Josh , Deputy Norris , thank you for answering the call of the thin blue and sharing it with me , rest on dear brother we continue to have the watch from here........

officer val pickens
b'ham p.d./b'ham , al

November 5, 2008

To the Norris family and my entire extended family of law enforcement brothers and sisters of the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office, I offer you nothing but my most heartfelt condolences for your loss. I just watched THE ROOKIES episode that JOSH was on. We all lost a great friend,son, family member and police officer on July 5,2007. Josh seemed like he had alot of potential, and I couldn't help to lean over to my wife at numerous times during the episode and say this kid is going to be a great cop. Although Josh was only able to be a great police officer for 1 short year, his legacy and impact will live on ALWAYS. Remember, people pass away but HEROES ARE NEVER FORGOTTEN. WE WILL NEVER FORGET YOU JOSH. YOU ARE ON GOD'S WATCH NOW.

TROOPER PETRITZ
NEW YORK STATE POLICE

TROOPER MICHAEL PETRITZ
NEW YORK STATE POLICE

November 5, 2008

You are a wonderful example of the courage, honor and valor that exemplifies the spirit of Law Enforcement. Through A&E's show, the country was reminded of not only your story, but of the thousands of stories of sacrifice that we make everyday. I know St. Michael was waiting to greet your arrival into heaven. Your sacrifice is not forgotten. God bless you.

M.O. R.J.Pike
Raleigh NC Police Department

November 5, 2008

I just saw the "Rookie" with Sheriff Norris. The ending hit home. I lost a partner a few years ago. The pain of the loss will never go away, but the good memories along with the pride and honor of knowing the officer lives forever. Rest in Peace Deputy Norris..........I'll take next watch.


Deputy Munroe
Hawaii Sheriff's Dept

Deputy M. Munroe
Hawaii Sheriff's Dept

November 5, 2008

josh,

i have thought of you so many times in the last year, how much my loved one talks of you. the times in the academy they joked with you. he speaks of you often and we visit your grave often also. as rookies airs and he is so excited we both cannot help but think of you and wonder where you would be now. please watch over him and all of your "rookie" classmates. we think of you always and ask how things could be different....
always....

Anonymous

November 5, 2008

As a Police Officer I was looking forward to seing this "Rookies" show that the guys at work told me to watch. The first and only episode I saw was when Josh was featured. Having no idea about Josh's fatal night only weeks later I watched and remember sayin to the TV "thatta way kid." I was very happy for him when he got cut loose from FTO. And then I learned what happened at the end of the show and I felt sick. Its hard to imagine that a brother officer learns of this tragedy more than a year later. I still felt I had to pay my respects to Josh, his family and the department. You guys are not alone and your law enforcement family accross the country wil always pray for you. The impact you made in your short career was more than many officers are capable of in 25 years! Rest easy Josh, keep us safe out there- you are now a guardian on our shoulders. God bless Officer Norris

Chicago area Police Officer

November 5, 2008

We just watched you on "Rookie". Rest In Peace.

Officer

November 5, 2008

I have seen you on that show "Rookies" you will defeintly be in my head when I am in the academy for the Honolulu Police Dept. in the near future, you kinda remind me of myself.

God Bless you and your family

Anonymous

November 5, 2008

I just finished watching your episode on Rookies. Thanks you for your service. Always missed, never forgotten. Rest easy Josh, We'll take it from here, its what we do.

Nate Faust
Phoenix PD

November 5, 2008

I just saw your story on "Rookies" and was truly saddened by it. You seemed like such a nice guy and had so much more life to live. I am very sorry that this happened to you; and you will forever be known as a hero! My heart goes out to your fiance. I can't imagine going through this tragedy the day after getting engaged and one of the happiest days of your life. I will keep Josh, his fiance, and the rest of his family in my thoughts and prayers.

Meredith
Police officer's wife

November 5, 2008