Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

Jesus Christ proclaimed, “Greater love has no one than this that someone lay down his life for his friends.” [John 15:13]

Chaplain Steven R. Closs, D.Div, MSBS, NCCA
Ordained/Licensed Independent Christian Clergy
Merrimack, NH 03054

Captain Steven R. Closs (Ret.)
Nashua NH Police Department

February 22, 2021

Rest in peace always knowing that your service and sacrifice will never, ever be forgotten by your law enforcement brethren.

Detective Cpl/3 Steven Rizzo
Delaware State Police (Retired)

September 8, 2020

Rest in peace.

Lt. Jim Russo

September 14, 2017

Stop murdering our Police Officers !

Det Lt Tom Brawley, Ret.
Coconino County Sheriff's Office,Flagstaff, Arizona

September 12, 2017

You and all of your loved ones are in my thoughts today. Continue to keep watch over all of your loved ones and close friends. You have not been forgotten.

Bob Gordon
Father of Chicago Officer: Michael P. Gordon, EOW: 8/8/04

September 12, 2011

Happy Birthday Abel, I Love you and miss you very much. I think about you every single day.

Lt. Pete Marquez
Odessa PD-Big Brother

December 17, 2010

SEPT 2007 SERA SIEMPRE EL RECUERDO DE LA OFRENDA MAS GRANDE QUE TRES HOMBRES HAYAN DADO POR SU CIUDAD;DEL CUAL RESPONDIERON SIN RESERVAS AL LLAMADO DE UNA MUJER ABUSADA. EL CORAZON DE ELLOS MAS VALIOSO QUE EL ORO,Y SUS ALMAS MAS SUBLIMES AL SERVICIO DE DIOS. BENDIGA DIOS SUS GENERACIONES PARA SIEMPRE.AMEN.

REV. RIGOBERTO HERNANDEZ
CHAPLAIN OF OPD

May 18, 2010

I was thinking about your family and hoping they are doing well.
We were sitting around talking about you guys last night.
You will never be forgotten!

I visit your MEM site (Making Everlasting Memories) on occasion but just found this site.

Pete ~ I think of you often and wonder how you are!

Bobbie Josette Poe
Friend

April 22, 2010

even though i dont remember meeting you or your brothers the news of this tragedy deeply saddened me and my family. you probably already met my brother Fred up there. i hope to see you some day and thanks for your service and tremendous bravery.

love,
fabian nunez and familia

Fabian Nunez
distant cousin

January 14, 2010

I miss you so much Abel. You were a good friend that I'll always remember. Guess what? I applied to be a police officer for OPD. I know I'm finally doing it... I appreciated your words of encouragement when I told you I wanted to be an officer. I'm never going to forget your bravery. You were a phenomenal officer who is missed terribly. We'll never forget you.

Vanessa Saunders
Friend

January 1, 2010

Happy Birthday. I asked God to give you a hug for me. Put in a good word for us.

Phillip Marquez
Little Brother

December 17, 2009

Happy Birthday Abel, I Love You, and I miss You very much.

Sgt. Pete Marquez
Odessa Police Department-Brother

December 17, 2009

Your heroism and service is honored today, the second anniversary week of your death. Your memory lives and you continue to inspire. Thank you for your service. My cherished son Larry Lasater was a fellow police officer murdered in the line of duty on April 24, 2005 while serving as a Pittsburg, CA police officer.

Rest In Peace. I hold your family in thought and prayer today.

Phyllis Loya

Anonymous

September 18, 2009

To Cpl. Abel Marquer, his family and his fellow officers with the Odessa Police Department:

Our heartfelt thoughts are with you on the anniversary of Officer Marquez's tragic death and we honor him for his valor and sacrifice to the community. Rest in Peace, Officer Marquez and thank you for your service.

Wives Behind The Badge, Inc
Memebrs and Staff

September 12, 2009

Thinking of you and praying for your family and loved ones on your EOW anniversary. I pray that the short 3 year time has somehow eased the pain for them. Your dedication and sacrifice will NEVER go unforgotten.

Thank you for your service, Corporal... See you on the other side.

Deputy and Firefighter
Southwest Florida

September 11, 2009

My name is Officer Downey, I am so sorry for your loss. I wanted to let the family know that this May I will be riding for Cpl. Marquez in his honor. I ride with the Police Unity Tour out of VA. We ride bicycles for our fallen brothers and sisters in honor of them and to make sure they are never forgotten. I will have a bracelet with Cpl. Marquez name on it, that I will wear for the 250 mile journey. It is my honor to ride for Cpl. Marquez.

Lcpl Ward Downey
North Myrtle Beach Police Dept.

March 9, 2009

I hope when im a police officer in the next 4 years when i turn 21 and i am able to get my gun liscense and also finish the police acadamy i hope to become a good police officer just like you and your 2 fallin brothers of the opd everyone misses yall just cause yall left this earth to be in a better place doesnt mean your forgotten i didnt know you i wished i could of met you.

Explorer

January 5, 2009

Abel,

I cannot stop thinkning about that tragic day. I remember being at home visiting my grandparents from out of town that day when I got the page. all I was told when I called was that three officers were shot and to respond quickly. I dressed out so quick shaking in my boots, I had to know which of my brothers were shot. I called dispatch and they told me that Abel, Arlie, and Scott had been shot. The intire time I was running code 3 to the scene I was praying for all three of my fallen brothers. When I got to the scene the first person I seen was your brother Pete who filled me in on what happened. He seemed dazed but still was able to do his God given job to help save other officers who arrived on scene to assist. You would have been proud of him, I was and still am since he is my immediate supervisor. You and I had some interesting times while serving together on patrol some funny and some hair raising where you always displayed honor, integrity, and the love for job. I will always love and miss you but you will never be forgotten. This is the first time I am able to tell you how I feel my heart is filled with honor to have worked and known such a fine young hereo whose life was cut short by an idiot. I will never forget you brother.
Love, Mike Anaya

P.S. Pete is in good hands he misses and loves you take care of him!

Cpl. Mike Anaya
OPD

January 2, 2009

Happy Birthday little brother, I love you and I miss you.

Sgt. Pete Marquez
Odessa Police Department

December 17, 2008

I wept when I learned of your death. I so hoped that you would pull through and not yet join your fallen brothers, Corporals Jones and Gardner. I think about you all of the time. You will never be forgotten.

Anonymous

December 7, 2008

sept 8 came and went but like always i remberd yow i rember the day i heard about it it killed me 3 years before i lost a friend in lLANO TX SD AND NOW THIS SO CLOSE TO HOME ALL I CAN SAY NOW IS ODESSA LOVES YOW AND WILL ALWAYS REMBER YOW

robert p

September 14, 2008

To the family and loved ones of Corporal Abel Marquez, his fellow officers with the Odessa Police Department, and most especially to Abel:

On this the first anniversary week of your tragic death, please know that you are honored and revered today and everyday.

From all the loving reflections left about you, I can see that you were an amazing man and what a grievous loss your loved ones have endured because of your brutal murder. I share your mother's anquish in losing a beloved son, and know those shots didn't just kill you and your comrades, but a part of everyone who loved you, Arlie, and Scott. My heart also breaks for brothers Pete and Phil and I hope you are finding strength in each other.

Your department suffered an enormous tragedy when they lost three heroic officers. I pray that your family and department get the full measure of justice deserved for this horrific crime.

May your spirit continue to soar and your memory continue to inspire. You are loved and missed by so many.

Rest in Peace, Abel. A body is but for a lifetime, but spirits and souls are for eternity and yours is forever part of those who call you beloved.

This reflection is sent with the utmost respect for the service Abel gave to his community and the citizens of Texas, and for the supreme sacrifice he and his family made on September 12, 2007.

Phyllis Loya, mother of fallen officer Larry Lasater, Pittsburg Police Dept. eow 4/24/05

Anonymous

September 14, 2008

Each shift is dedicated to the memory of an officer from the odmp.org web site, tonight we dedicate our service to you and your fellow officers at OPD. We love you.

Officer
TMPD

September 8, 2008

You have not been forgotten. My thoughts are with all of your loved ones and those who are close to you as they face this day. Continue to keep watch over all of them. You are a true hero and heroes never die.

Bob Gordon
Father of Chicago Officer: Michael P. Gordon, EOW: 8/8/04

September 8, 2008

Abel: September the 8th is almost here. Losing you and Arlie and Scott was hard. I think losing you was the hardest because we had hope that you would pull through. You pulled yourself out, held your corner, and waited until relieved despite your mortal wounds. Your strength was incredible. I remember that day vividly. I was training a new Trooper and we were working a possible fatal crash way out on SH 302 and FM 866. We dropped everything and couldn't get there fast enought. I was so worried about my Troop. We knew he had a rifle with optics and I was so worried about keeping his head down so he would not get shot. We laid in the street for hours waiting for darkness to fall so Arlie and Scott could be extracted. We knew they were done, but we also knew we still had you. It's hard being in a town as close-knit as Odessa. The medical staff that worked on you all knew you. They did everything and more for you but you kept slipping from us. Four days later you followed Arlie and Scott home. James and I went to Lubbock to assist in escorting you to Ft. Worth. The outpouring of support and solidarity was incredible. Throughout the whole trip to and from Fort Worth every single PD and SO and HP agency was there waiting for us at county lines and city limits stopping traffic to get us safely through. The escort into Ft. Worth shut down interstate traffic for you. Police academy recruits, firemen, police officers, and citizens knew you were coming and waited at roadside to salute you. Police aircraft provided overwatch. Every single person between Odessa and Ft. Worth seemed to know you were coming and honored you in their own way. We were proud to be a part of that. Your homecoming was the most impressive of all. I remember your parents and your brothers being there. Thousands of Odessans lined the streets holding thousands of American Flags. I was told over 109 agencies attended your funeral. All of the funerals were massive with hundreds of officers and thousands of people. Highway 80 was turned into a parking lot. Some had to walk over a mile just to get to the cemetary. Your family gifted your organs that went on to save the lives of at least 3 other people. Even in death you still live in others who probably don't even know how special that part in them is. My daughter was only for when it happened, but she knows all three of you by name and speaks of you often. She draws pictures of you with halos and wings. She even asks me if the bad man who hurt you is still in jail. Abel thank you for your service, for your life, and for your death. You and Arlie and Scott inspire pride. I tell your stories to the men in my Sergeant area. Arlie responded to a call and performed his duty. He fought for as long as he could to stay alive. Scott put a fallen man before himself trying to extract him at all cost, and you pulled yourself out, picked yourself up, and held your corner until relieved to give your fellow officer's every chance you could. The qualities you three demonstrated that day are what I try to instill in myself and my men daily. You are a credit to your agency and your fellow officers. You have made us proud. Rest easy brother, we have the watch.

Brandon E. Speed, Sergeant
Texas Highway Patrol

September 6, 2008