Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

Chief Deputy Martin,
I would like to say thank you for your service and sacrifice for the citizens of Douglas County. And to your family and loved ones, I wish to extend my deepest sympathy.

R.I.P.
Anonymous

Anonymous

July 27, 2007

Rest in peace TK. While I never knew you very well, I can remember your assistance and guidance to me in helping to solve a fatal hit and run traffic accident in 1984.

You will be missed by all.

Tpr T. N. Little #1102 (Retired)

Trooper Tom Little (Retired)
Illinois State Police - Dist 9 and 13

July 27, 2007

YOU WILL ALWAYS BE A TRUE AMERICAN HERO, GOD BLESS YOU TOMMY AND YOUR BEAUTIFUL FAMILY. REST IN PEACE MY FRIEND.

LT.CAROLLO
NYPD

July 27, 2007

Job well done. Go with God. you are not forgotten.

Corporal Timothy J. Zuniga
UC Berkeley Police Department

July 27, 2007

May the Lord comfort your family and friends and give you eternal peace in that special place reserved for those who have made the ultimate sacrifice.
Rest in peace Brother.

Ptlmn. James Murray
Chicago Police Department -Retired

July 27, 2007

God bless you and your family. R.I.P my brother

Motor officer Terry Pauley
Plano PD

July 27, 2007

God bless you sir. Thank you for your long service and for your sacrifice. People can sleep easy, at night, knowing that the likes of you are watching over them.

Rest in peace.

Detective III
LAPD

July 26, 2007

Thank you Sir for your years of Loyal Service and Dedication. May you rest in Peace as you serve as a Guardian Angel to us all. To the Douglas County Sheriff's Office, God Bless all of yall. I know the anger and frustration that yall feel. Yall are in my prayers. Be safe up there in Illinois.

Sgt. Mike Szempruch
Bossier City Police Dept. Louisiana

July 26, 2007

Thank You Chief Deputy Tommy Martin for your service! RIP Brother!

Officer B.Loveless
Wake Forest Police

July 26, 2007

My sweet Tommy. I see here that you are honored by many who've never met you, but understood your role in this world. To all of you who have signed this but never met Tommy...the picture above shows his only face. He always had that smile on his face. Truly! Even after his departure, I can't picture him any other way...because I never saw him any other way. Thank you all for your kind words and coming to this sight to pay tribute. All my love Tommy! We'll have coffee again soon.

Pamela
friend

July 26, 2007

Rest in peace. Our thoughts and prayers are with your family and friends.

Trooper
Massachusetts State Police

July 26, 2007

To my dearest family, some things I'd like to say...

but first of all, to let you know, that I arrived okay.

I'm writing this from heaven. Here I dwell with God above.

Here, there's no more tears of sadness; here is just eternal love.



Please do not be unhappy just because I'm out of sight.

Remember that I'm with you every morning, noon and night.

That day I had to leave you when my life on earth was through,

God picked me up and hugged me and He said, "I welcome you."



It's good to have you back again; you were missed while you were gone.

As for your dearest family, they'll be here later on.

I need you here badly; you're part of my plan.

There's so much that we have to do, to help our mortal man."



God gave me a list of things, that he wished for me to do.

And foremost on the list, was to watch and care for you.

And when you lie in bed at night, the day's chores put to flight.

God and I are closest to you....in the middle of the night.



When you think of my life on earth, and all those loving years

because you are only human, they are bound to bring you tears.

But do not be afraid to cry; it does relieve the pain.

Remember there would be no flowers, unless there was some rain.



I wish that I could tell you all that God has planned.

But if I were to tell you, you wouldn't understand.

But one thing is for certain, though my life on earth is o'er.

I'm closer to you now, than I ever was before.



There are many rocky roads ahead of you and many hills to climb;

but together we can do it by taking one day at a time.

It was always my philosophy and I'd like it for you too...

that as you give unto the world, the world will give to you.



If you can help somebody who's in sorrow and pain,

then you can say to God at night......"My day was not in vain."

And now I am contented....that my life has been worthwhile,

knowing as I passed along the way, I made somebody smile.



So if you meet somebody who is sad and feeling low,

just lend a hand to pick him up, as on your way you go.

When you're walking down the street, and you've got me on your mind;

I'm walking in your footsteps only half a step behind.



And when it's time for you to go.... from that body to be free,

remember you're not going.....you're coming here to me.

The Truter's
Citizens of Springfield Illinois

July 25, 2007

amazing he was otj for so long-god bless him and his family may he rip

ponypd

July 25, 2007

God bless Chife Martin. He gave his life to protect the people of Douglas County. My heart and prayers are with His family, friends, co-workers, and he Douglas County Sheriff's Department. We will never forget the scrifice he made. Rest in peace Chief Deputy Tommy Martin. Thank you for every thing you did for us. We will never forget you!

Garrett Heller
Texas Citizen

July 25, 2007

Hero's never die; They just take on new assignments.

GOD Bless you and your family.

Officer Paladino
Colorado Springs PD

July 25, 2007

My deepest thoughts and prayers are with Chief Deputy Martin's family, friends and co-workers. I was married to Alabama State Trooper Brian Nichols EOW 2/17/2002 and I am now married to Washington County Deputy Sheriff Aaron Carpenter. All of your COPS family is here for you and hurting for you. We all became a family when our loved ones became police officers and now we have even a stronger bond when one of our family members go down. We are here for you to help you along this journey you now have joined with us. God bless you all.

Denise Nichols Carpenter
Alabama State Trooper Brian Nichols EOW 2/17/2002

July 25, 2007

Tommy Martin

Fade back with me into time.
A past misty with memory,
A sleepy town, a quiet street
A neighbor boy name Tommy.

Our block was mostly spinster ladies
We taunted and teased.
Pearl and Grace, Stella, Clara Bruhn.
They lived in their past.

Little boys were not part of it and not welcome.
That only tempted us more.
Flying baseballs, cap guns.
Frisbees had not yet been invented.

Tommy lived three houses east.
As neighbors, we knew of them, they of us.
Nothing more in common.
Except two young boys.

Tommy and I played cowboys and Indians,
Audie Murphey and the japs. Or did he fight the Germans?
Across our street were the railroad tracks.
A big warehouse we crawled under.

Tommy was a year younger.
That didnt matter early on
But by high school, it made all the difference.
We still hung out, but different class mattered.

A large white ash stood between my house and Don Purcell.
Tommy and I would jump up and catch a low branch.
Then swing up to a higher one arching over the street.
It was our hangout.

No tree house, not even a board.
We only needed that branch.
High school philosophers then.
We solved the worlds problems.

Up there still, hidden by a half century growth of wood
And protected by brown furrowed bark
Hides the words scratched in the tree by my own hand:
Joe plus Carol.

Tommy encouraged my infatuation with Carol,
Unreachable by me, the shy one.
I called her Venus. Not seriously.
But we enjoyed our fantasies.

Don sawed off the lower branch,
Forever ending our tree climbing days.
Just as well. We were getting too old.
Climbing trees is for kids.

I heard today Tommy died.
Shot by criminals. In the line of duty.
I hadnt seen Tommy in decades.
A policeman, quiet and loved.

Far away memories of trees and cap guns.
I will never again laugh with him, perched in the tree.
Giggling, adolescent dreams of a life soon to come.
Now forever gone.

There is nothing now for me to go back to.
The folks are gone, the house sold.
Tuscola is in my past, not my present, not my future.
Pearl and Grace are gone as is Stella and Clara.

Gone as far back as the fog of time.
The tree is there. If I looked, I could find it.
The carving--Joe plus Carol.
Tommy urging me one, dropping leaves on passing cars.

What is left now?
Tommy is gone. And a childhood friendship.
But the tree remains.
As does the memory, the time. It is there. Waiting.

Joseph Colwell, July 2007
Friend

July 25, 2007

Chief Deputy Martin,
Thank you for your 29yrs of service. Now you may rest in piece and let others patrol your beat. You my friend, paid the ultimate price so others could keep safe. Once again, thank you for your hard work and dedication. And Rest In Piece, Brother.

Jim Horman Jr.
Calhoun County Sheriffs Dept., IL

July 25, 2007

You had a lengthy career. Thank you for your many
years of service! So sad you didn't get to enjoy your
well deserved retirement.

"Blessed are the poor in spirit
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
"Blessed are those who mourn
for they will be comforted."
"Blessed are the meek
for they will inherit the earth."
"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness
for they will be filled."
"Blessed are the merciful
for they will be shown mercy."
"Blessed are the pure in heart
for they will see God."
"Blessed are the peacemakers
for they will be called Sons of God."
"Blessed are those who are
presecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kindgdom of Heaven.

Lynn Kole
Washington State

July 25, 2007

God bless to the family, friends and co-workers of Chief Deputy Martin. Thank you for your service.

mjw643

July 24, 2007

God Bless. You put in a good fight, and now you tour with your brothers in blue in a better place (although that seems hard to imagine right now for your loved ones left behind). Please watch over those of us left behind, and say hello to the rest of the brave officers that have been taken all too soon. RIP.

Katie
Flint

July 24, 2007

Dear family and friends of Chief Deputy Martin:

My prayers and thoughts continue to be with you for your tragic loss. I'm sure everyday is difficult, especially since the criminals were unharmed and didn't get their true justice.

Turn to God each and every moment that is unbearable and he will help you....he truly helped ease my burden of pain when I lost my brother and now my everyday is spent trying to help our LEO and save their lives.

Just know that he, Chief Deputy Martin, lost his life here on earth doing a job that he loved.

God bless and take each minute, each hour, and each day at your own pace.

Jaclyn Pocceschi Mosley
Fallen Officers Remembered

Fallen Officers Remembered

July 24, 2007

Rest in peace Chief Martin. God bless your family and friends that you left behind. Your a true Hero.

Cpl Jean Paul Rochat
Swiss Army, MP Service, Traffic Unit

July 24, 2007

The Slidell Police Department wishes to extend its special thoughts and heartfelt prayers in your time of sorrow.

Alayna Wilcox, Secretary
Slidell Police Department

July 24, 2007

What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us. What we have done for others and the world remains and is immortal. -Albert Pine

Deputy Martin -- The sacrifice you made for your community will never be forgotten.

To all those touched by the loss of Deputy Martin -- Our thoughts and prayers are with you.

Colorado Springs (CO) Police Protective Association

July 24, 2007