Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

I am turly sorry for the lose of Officer Cortez. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family. I attended the Phoenix Police Academy, a.k.a. ALEA, and although I never had the oppurinity to meet Officer Cortez, I am deeply sad that he is gone. George, we'll take ot from here, REST IN PEACE

Christopher Moore
attended alea academy class 425

August 1, 2007

Thank you george, I will pray for you and your loved ones

P/O
PHILA PD

August 1, 2007

The policemen stood and faced God,
Which must always come to pass.
He hoped his shoes were shining,
Just as brightly as his brass.

"Step forward, now, policemen.
How shall I deal with you?
Have you always turned the other cheek?
To my church have you been true?"

The policemen squared his shoulders and said,
"No lord, I guess I ain't,
Because those of us who carry a badge
can't always be a saint."

I've had to work most Sundays,
And at times my talk was rough,
And sometime I've been violent,
Because the streets are awfully tough.

But I never took a penny,
That wasn't mine to keep
Though I worked a lot of overtime
When the bills got just too steep.

And I never passed a cry for help,
Though at times I shook with fear.
And sometimes, God forgive me,
I've wept unmanly tears.

I know I don't deserve a place
Among the people here.
They never wanted me around
Except to calm their fear.

If you've a place for me here, Lord,
It needn't be so grand.
I never expected or had too much,
But if you don't I'll understand.

There was silence all around the throne
Where the saints had often trod
As the policemen waited quietly,
For the judgement of his God.

"Step forward now, policeman,
You've born your burdens well.
Come walk a beat on Heaven's streets,
You've done you time in hell."

Officer Cortez, you will never be forgotten. God bless you and your family.

Sgt. Julie Egea
Phoenix Police Department

August 1, 2007

Such a young man. You will be remebered with respect. Your family and loved ones wil be kept in our prayers. Job well done. Go with God.

Corporal Timothy J. Zuniga
UC Berkeley Police Department

August 1, 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

Officer Cortez -- The sacrifice you made for your community will never be forgotten.

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

Colorado Springs (CO) Police Protective Association

August 1, 2007

May god be with you, your family and your co workers. Rest in peace, we have it from here.

Motor officer Terry Pauley
Plano PD

August 1, 2007

Rest in peace brother

Officer R. Bellamy
San Bernardino Police Department

August 1, 2007

Rest in peace brother...

Badge 195
Winston-Salem Police, NC

August 1, 2007

The police officer stood and faced his Maker,
which must always come to pass.
He hoped his shoes were shining,
just as brightly as his brass.
"Step forward now, police officer
how shall I deal with you?
Have you always turned the other cheek?
To your Maker, have you been true?"
The police officer, with squared shoulders, said "No sir, I guess I ain't.
Because those of us who carry badges can't always be a saint.
I've had to work most Sundays and at times my talk was rough,
and sometimes I've been violent, because the streets are tough.
But I never took a penny, that wasn't mine to keep.
Though I worked a lot of overtime when the bills just got too steep.
And I never passed by a cry for help though at times I shook with fear,
and sometimes, please forgive me, I've wept unmanly tears.
I know I don't deserve a place among the people here.
They never wanted me around except to calm their fears.
But if you have a place for me here, well...it need not be too grand.
I never expected or had too much so if you don't...I'll understand."
There was silence all around the room where the saints respectfully stood.
As the police officer waited quietly, for the judgment...bad or good.
"Step forward now, police officer, you've borne your burdens well.
Come walk a beat on heaven's streets, You've done your time in hell."
~author unknown~

"Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God".
Matthew 5:9.

May God bless you, your wife and children, and your entire family. And may he watch over your extended family in blue.

Ofcr. M. Horn
Paradise Valley PD

August 1, 2007

RIP, I knew of you, but never meet you when you worked at MCSO. Wish I would have!!!!

My family's thoughts and prayers are out for you and your family.

Officer John Hansen A7307
Maricopa County Sheriff's Office

August 1, 2007

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Officer Cortez family. We can not know their pain, but we can feel their loss. Please know you are all in our thoughts and prayers. Officer Cortez will be missed, tremendously. He will now watch over his fellow officers and family, until they meet again.

William & Lorie McKellar
community family

August 1, 2007

To the family, friends & co-workers of Officer Cortez, I am so sorry for your loss. May God bless you and keep you during your time of sorrow and in the months and years to come.
Officer Cortez, thank you for your service. RIP

LEO Wife, Oro Valley

August 1, 2007

This past week has been extremely tragic for a lot of us, Mourning the loss of the helicopter pilots from the crash and now here we are mourning the loss of you, Our Brother, Our Friend, Our Family. When I learned about your death and learned that you were once one of us and upon learning who your father-in-law was, I started to lose it and started crying and as I started working on my Class A to wear on friday I looked back and realized we just laid an officer to rest back in February and that was hard enough and having to endure it again at the 34th Annual Peace Officers Memorial Service now here we go again just months later getting ready to say our final farewell and goodbye to you and I began to think and realized that this has happened just too fast and too soon. I offer my sincere condolences to your family and your father-in-law as well. We all know the kind of person, police officer, family man, trusted and honored friend that you were and will still continue to be as you do your tour of duty in heaven. "You may rest now our beloved brother, We will take it from here"

Detention Officer
Maricopa County Sheriffs Office

August 1, 2007

May The Angels Lead You In, officer Cortez. On behalf of our entire family our thoughts and prayers are with yours.
Rest in Peace.

R. Palmer
FIL of NYS Trooper Craig Todeschini, EOW 4/23/06

August 1, 2007

Another brother is gone. Rest in peace now and enjoy you walk with God. Our prayers are with you, your family, and frllow officers. You have walked thru hell, now enjoy walking on gold.

Tim Jones Patrol
Chandler, Texas Police

August 1, 2007

As a wife of a cop, I always stop and say a prayer when I hear the sirens or see a scene on the television. I was deeply saddened to see that Officer Cortez had been shot and killed. My deepest condolences go to you and the rest of your family. You and your family are constantly in our thoughts and prayers. Know that if you need anything from me I am here for you. Rest in peace Officer Cortez.

Pamela Gaston
Wife of a Cop/Paralegal at MCAO

August 1, 2007

officer cortez , thank you for sharing the thin blue with me . thank you for answering the call , few know what it is to do this job , but we your brothers/sisters share that call . to your family , i pray that you find comfort somewhere in this senseless act and please know that we are keeping you in our thoughts and prayers . rest , dear brother , we have the watch from here...........

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

August 1, 2007

To Officer Cortez,
Thank you for protecting us in Arizona. It was horrible hearing of what happened to you. It just brought back too many painful memories of what happened to our family 36 years ago. When my father was shot in the line of dutie. And passed away 32 years ago. Our prayers go out to you and you family.

To Your Wife
I won't lie to you it does not get any easier. My father was shot in the line of dutie 36 years ago in New Mexico. He past away 32 years ago. The pain now is still as vivid as it was back then. I was only 4 years old at the time of the shooting. But it hurts horrible no matter what age you are. One of the things that has kept myself, my siblings and my mother going is keeping the memories of my father alive. We have shared the memories with our children and our grandchildren. Please keep safe and hang in there.

To the Children of Officer Cortez,
Babies, i know it is going to be hard for you as the years pass. It is still hard for me. Always know that your Daddy will be in Heaven looking down at you. Make him proud of all that you do. Your Daddy was not just your Hero, but he was a Hero to all of us in Arizona. Always respect the Badge and the brave people who wear it. Be brave. And be there for your Mommy and eachother. Keep the memories of you, your brother, your Mommy and your Daddy alive. Hold on to them always. My prayers go out to you and your family.
Always in my prayers,
Cammy Moreno-Flores, Daughter of Fallen New Mexico officer

Cammy Moreno-Flores
Daughter of Fallen New Mexico Officer

August 1, 2007

May the Lord watch over your family and assist them during these tough times. Fine men like yourself are the reason others are able to sleep soundly at night. Thank You Officer Cortez Jr. for your sacrifice, you will not be forgotten!


Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God - Matthew 5:9

August 1, 2007

My thoughts and prayers to the family, friends and co-workers of Officer Cortez Jr. He paid the ulimate sacrifice trying to make this world a better place for us all. May God comfort you all. Heros are never forgotten.

911 Dispatcher
Virginia

August 1, 2007

What a tragedy. Rest in peace Sir.

Cpl. K. McGee
Murphy Police Department, Tx

August 1, 2007

Rest in Peace Brother. My good friend works with you all. My thoughts and prayers are with your family and brothers and sisters in blue.

Ofc. M.A. Olson
Atlanta Police Department, GA. Zone1

August 1, 2007

Officer Cortez, we are saddened to hear of your passing. Your service to your community as well as your country will never be forgotten. Rest In Peace.

I AM A WARRIOR
by Jon F. Hooper

I fight not for glory or fame,
For they are momentary.
I fight for those who can't.
I fight for Justice.
I fight for the oppressed and the down trodden.
And if I should lose my life for these just causes,
then I have no regrets,
For I serve to protect the innocent.
It matters not where or when,
For evil knows no boundaries.
Be it fire, flood, or the threat of tyranny,
I will not flee.
Justice is my weapon.
Faith is my shield.
Hope is my armor.
Cry not at my passing,
For it was my Honor to fight for you.
Shed not tears of sorrow,
But tears of joy,
For now,
I stand with God.

CBP Officer - Port of Honolulu
U.S. Customs and Border Protection

August 1, 2007

After hearing the news about another fallen officer, I couldn't stop thinking about you and your family. I started to cry and remember when my husband past away in a similar situation, I know theres no words that can take your families pain away but know that there's still good people out there praying for you and your family. May God Bless You, Your Family and All Law Enforcement. Our thought's and prayer's are with you . You will never be forgotten.

Corina N. Lopez
Wife of Fallen Officer Jason P. Lopez

August 1, 2007

Another beautiful life taken way too soon. My heart aches for your family and for your friends, who are also family, at Phoenix PD. We here in Glendale know their pain all too well. It is comforting to know that Tony was there to greet you in Heaven.
My brother-in-law Jim is on PPD and we almost lost him to a gunman in 1997, but by the Grace of God he will retire next year after 30 years. Some of my closest friends carry a badge and I pray for them everyday.
Rest in peace Officer Cortez, your work here is done.

Nancy Kilfoyle
Glendale PD

August 1, 2007