Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

I come to the ODMP often to remember my late fiancé Dennis. Everytime I come here it breaks my heart to know that yet another officer has fallen and that yet another family has to live their lives without the man they loved. My heart goes out to everyone who knew and loved Patrolman Wilcher. Know that you are not alone in the "journey" that you walk. Should you ever need anything please don't hesitate to contact me. The Davis Co. Sheriff's Office in Iowa will always know how to reach me. You will be in my thoughts.

From reading the reflections left for BJ, he sounds like he was a great man with a beautiful spirit. Those of you who knew him in life were so blessed to have been able to share in it. I hope that you will all continue to find a way to celebrate and remember BJ's life and the MAN that he was. Remember that BJ's life was about so much more than the way he died. BJ will continue to live on as long as we continue to remember him.

Patrolman Wilcher, thank you for helping to make this world a little safer for us all. YOU will not be forgotten. Please continue to watch over all of us as only you can. If you happen to bump into my late fiancé Dennis up there give him a big hug for me and the kids. It's been almost five years but we still miss him terribly.

Wishing you brighter and better days,


Jocelyne :)

"Forever Remembering 26-3"

Jocelyne Brar (Winnipeg, MB Canada)
Surviving Fiancee of Deputy Dennis R. McElderry (EOW: 01/03/03)

December 30, 2007

Death itself is hard to deal with, but losing someone close to you is even harder. My thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of Officer Wilcher, you will be missed but not forgotten.

Ofc. Irving Givens
Gary Police Department

December 18, 2007

"The Badge"
He starts his shift each day
To respond to calls unknown.
He drives a marked patrol car.
A police officer he is known.
He's paid by the citizens' taxes
To make it safe on the streets.
But he usually has a second job
'Cause a waitress has his salary beat.
Now he doesn't know a holiday
'Cause he works all year round.
And when Thanksgiving and Christmas finally arrive
At his home he cannot be found.
He's cursed and assaulted often,
The one whos blood runs blue.
He seldom ever gets a thanks,
To some he's just a fool.
His friends are always other cops
'Cause people just don't understand
That underneath his badge and gun,
He's just another man.
He knows there might not be a tomorrow
In this world of drugs and crime.
And he gets so mad at the court system
'Cause the crooks don't get any time.
And each day when he leaves for work,
He prays to God above.
Please bring me home after my shift
So I can see the ones I love.
But tonight he stops a speeding car,
He's alone down this ole' highway.
It's just a little traffic infraction.
He does it everyday.
Well, he walks up to the driver's window,
And his badge is shining bright.
He asked the guy for a driver's license,
When a shot rang through the night.
Yes, the bullet hit its mark,
Striking the officer in the chest.
But the Department's budget didn't buy
Each officer a bullet-proof vest.
So he lay on the ground bleeding.
His blood wasn't blue - His blood was red.
And briefly he thought of his loved ones
'Cause in a moment the officer was dead.
In the news they told the story
Of how this officer had died.
And some who listened cared less,
But those who loved him cried.
Well, they buried him in uniform
With his badge pinned on his chest.
He even had his revolver,
He died doing his best.
Written By:
David L. Bell
Sergeant
Richland County Sheriff's Department
Columbia, South Carolina
Used with Special Permission of the Author
Copyright © 1999 - All Rights Reserved
and may not be duplicated without permission

Investigator David L Bell
Richland County Sheriff's Dept., Columbia, SC

November 12, 2007

I remember leaving my room at the hotel the morning of the agility test, and seeing you coming the opposite way of the same hall. A giant decked out in the blue sweats...wasn't much doubt where you were heading, too, and I thought "Man, this is gonna be rough on him...I hope he can make it through this part." As for that day...you more than made it. And kept on making it. I label very few people as "inspirational", but you won that label and ingrained it in more minds than any of us will probably ever know. And as Lt. Anderson would say : "Oh by the way...." we won't forget that.

05-164 /189C
Sworn to Duty - Bound by Honor

Corporal Scott Nelson
Petersburg P.D. / ILEA 05-164

October 29, 2007

my brother was a good amn and he was a loving father, son, bother and uncle, and nephew. everybody loved him and i wished he couldnt left us this early but i kjow he is a better place. I LOVE U BENAJMIN WILCHER JR. LOVE, YOUR BROTHER ALLEN WILCHER

Allen Wilcher
I am his brother

October 1, 2007

May Officer Wilcher Jr.rest from his labors in heaven and that God will say to him well done my son

Patrolman
GPD(Reserve Officer)

September 21, 2007

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

Officer Dwight Rackley
Louisville Metro PD, Louisville, KY

September 2, 2007

Offcier Wilcher

You have paid the ultimate sacrifice for you community, state and country. You are a true hero and help make this country truely great. You now patrol the heavens above as you did when you were here on earth; masy you rest in peace.

Douglas W. Bennett
Juvenile Probation Officer Ky Dept of Juvenile Justice

August 27, 2007

To the Wilcher Family,
I am sorry to hear about your loss. I recently lost my dad on August 5, 2007 in a vehicle pursuit. Hold onto the memories and take one day at a time.

Lainey Estis
Port Barre, Louisiana

Lainey Richard Estis
Daughter to Chief David Richard,Port Barre, LA

August 25, 2007

Big Ben-

There will never be another "Gentle Giant" like you. You were the MAN amoung men, and you will not be forgotten. The thoughts of my family and department are with your family, for they have suffered a loss that will be felt not just at home, but in Gary and in all of the Law Enforcement Community. Know that you were loved as the Hero that you are. God Bless!!! D-Squad Class 05-164 was proudly represented by all that you stood for.

Deputy Travis Shively
Kosciusko County Sheriff's Office

August 24, 2007

To the family, friends, and officers that knew Patrolman Wilcher, my thoughts and prayers are with you as you face the trying times ahead of you. Please know your not alone.

Here I am, lost in the light of the moon that comes through my window
Bathed in blue, the walls of my memory divide the thorns from the roses
It's you and the roses

Touch me and I will follow in your afterglow
Heal me from all this sorrow
As I let you go I will find my way when I see your eyes
Now I'm living in your afterglow

Here I am, lost in the ashes of time, but who wants tomorrow?
In between the longing to hold you again
I'm caught in your shadow, I'm losing control
My mind drifts away, we only have today

Touch me and I will follow in your afterglow
Heal me from all this sorrow
As I let you go I will find my way
I will sacrifice 'til the blinding day when I see your eyes
Now I'm living in your afterglow

When the veils are gone as I let you go, as I let you go

Touch me and I will follow in your afterglow
Heal me from all this sorrow
As I let you go I will find my way, I will sacrifice
Now I'm living in your afterglow

Bathed in blue, the walls of my memory divide the thorns from the roses
It's you who is closest

Erin
Wife of a CSPD Officer

August 23, 2007

Big Ben I know your in a better place now. God bless and keep a look out for the rest of us. The memories I have from the good times we had at the academy will always be embedded in my heart, including the weak diving board. My thoughts and prayers go out to all your family and friends. Rest in peace brother.

Patrolman Brent C. Campbell #110A
Brookville Police Department /05-164

August 23, 2007

The members of the Slidell Police Department wish to extend their special thoughts and heartfelt prayers during your time of sorrow.

Alayna Wilcox
Slidell Police Department

August 22, 2007

I cannot believe it. Big Ben was taken from us. God bless you BJ. I will never forget the great times we shared in the academy. Or the diving board you "modified". You are missed!!!

Patrolman J. Perillo THPD #212
Terre Haute Indiana Police Department

August 21, 2007

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Wicher family and friends. Rest in Peace Officer Benjamin Wilcher.

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

August 21, 2007

Rest in peace,Brother. Thank you for your service. To all the officers at the Gary Police Dept.,please accept my condolences.

Sgt.BR Sexton
Okla. Dept.of Corrections

August 21, 2007

May you rest in peace Patrolman Wilcher Jr.

Leo J. Kennerson #2814
RETIRED TROOPER, NYSP

August 20, 2007

My thoughts are with your family, friends, and co-workers. You made the ultimate sacrifice trying to make a difference. RIP Brother.

K9 Off. Eric Bailey
Granite City, IL PD

August 20, 2007

Officer Wilcher,
May you rest in peace brother.

Sgt. Walter Hughes, Retired
MNPD - Nashville, Tennessee

August 20, 2007

My thoughts are with your family, friends, and department. I know that you will be greatly missed. I also know that you loved your job.
As a fellow graduate of ILEA 05-164, I was blessed to get to learn and train with you. Great memories of a great guy who loved his family and career.

Ofc. Melissa Rittenhouse
Columbus PD/ ILEA 05-164

August 20, 2007

Ben,
I only had the opportunity to speak to you once during your short time on the PD. I hope that we all can learn from the sacrifice that you made for all of us.

Rest in Peace Brother and may God continue to bless your family in your absence.

Rob Moore
Gary PD (3/1994 - 7/2007)

August 20, 2007

Ben I am so glad that I got a chance to meet you and Amre when I did because it's not often that you meet good people that make a difference. I went to your memorial and Ben you would have been so amazed to have seen how so many people honored you. I have never seen anything like it my life before. Ben the whole nation is proud of you, you can hold your head high and wait for your father to say, "job well done son".

Nicole from crown point, in
friend of family

August 19, 2007

WELL I NEVER KNEW MR. WILCHER BUT MAY HE REST IN PIEACE. HIS FEW TRIES OF WANTING TO BECOME ONE OF GARY'S FINIEST ONLY MAKES ME WANT TO TRY HARDER OF BECOMING A POLICE OFFICER. YOU WILL NOT BE FORGOTTEN

NEPHEW OF CHARLIE KING CPL.
GARY P.D.

August 19, 2007

Thank you for your bravery, dedication and sacrifice. May your family take comfort in the fact that you will FOREVER be a hero and NEVER be forgotten. I guess God needed another LEO in heaven, so until one day we meet, keep walking your beat on the Golden Street looking over the rest of the thin blue line. May God Bless your family, friends and colleagues.

SGT
AR

August 19, 2007

"B.J.", or "Kool-Aid", as he was known to me, is the first officer killed in the line of duty from my academy class. I'll never forget this guy. I remember seeing him the first day at the physical agility test and thinking he was the guy I wanted backing me up on a violent call. The man was like a brick wall. No sane person would want to “throw-down” with him. As the class progressed I began to see that he was a gentle giant. He was always smiling, and laughing, and not in a bad way

I remember one night, he kicked my butt playing “Madden 2005”. He said, "Just let me have my team (the Minnesota Vikings), and you're going down". I was the Bears—I’m a die-hard Bears fan, and remember thinking that he should be too, living in such close proximity to Chicago—but no way—Minnesota Vikings all the way). I don't even think it was close—but man I had fun playing the game with him. And of course, there is the infamous academy-diving board incident that I won’t go into.

We were told that according to statistics, there was a high likelihood that some of us would be killed—but that wasn’t even two years ago. Most of us are still considered rookies. I never thought, never expected this to happen so soon.

His funeral was amazing. The Mayor of Gary, Rudy Clay, the Chief of Police, Thomas Houston, and Rosie Washington gave some beautiful tributes, and the Reverend Dr. Alfred Johnson gave one of the best, most theologically-sound eulogies I have ever heard. After listening to them speak, I had no worries or fears concerning the salvation of B.J., which has allowed me to truly rejoice that my brother-in-blue is with our Lord today. And all I can say to that is “Amen”.

Rest in peace, bro.

Police Officer
Taylor Univesity Police Department - ILEA Class 05-164

August 19, 2007