Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

I was working Sunday when the initial 998 came out and the pursuit started...after all the ups and downs involved in that fateful day, my heart just sank when I heard of your passing.

May God comfort your family and friends and all those whose lives you touched. Thank you for your dedication and service to the people of Tucson, you will never be forgotten.

Liz Potter
Oro Valley PD, Dispatcher

June 3, 2008

Rest in peace Officer Hite, you and your family are in my thoughts and prayers. Thank you for your service.

Shelly
Citizen

June 3, 2008

Thank you for your service. God bless.

Lt. Greg Minton
Leander PD (TX)

June 3, 2008

Thank you for your bravery. Rest in peace Erik.

Dep. Alquist
Pima County Sheriff Dept.

June 3, 2008

Thank You for all that you have done. Rest in Peace, and you will never be forgotten and may the Lord be with you.

"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

Explorer Jimmy Rizzi
Tucson Police Dept.

June 3, 2008

Rest in Peace my Brother, God Bless you, your family and your Dept.

OFFICER BOB SWOPE#5609
OLMSTED FALLS POLICE DEPT.OHIO

June 3, 2008

Officer Hite,
Thank you for your service & dedication. Our thoughts and prayers are with your family & friends in this time of loss. Please know you are our hero and we appreciate everything you have done for us. God has hired a new officer to his force :)
God Speed Brother
God Bless

Tx Deputy

June 3, 2008

Our deepest sympathy to the family of Officer Hite. God Bless him for his service to the U.S. Air Force and Tucson Police Department. Rest in Peace Brother, you will not be forgotten.

Sgt. Jim May (ret)
CMPD Charlotte, NC

June 3, 2008

On behalf of the Cochise County Sheriff's our heartfelt prayers and thoughts to the family of Ofc. Hite. You served your Country and your community with dignity and honor, now it's time to walk the streets of Heaven. You may be gone, but not forgotten!

Deputy
Cochise County Sheriff's Office

June 3, 2008

Thank you for your service and sacrifice, both with the US Air Force, and TPD. You were a hero and will not be forgotten. I have read many comments by your friends, and you were well loved. You will leave a large empty space in this city. My prayers are with your family.

RIP Brother Hite.

Walt Setzer, Deputy US Marshal (RET)
US Marshals Service

June 3, 2008

Rest in Peace Sir.......

Officer Thomas Wiederhold
Fort Worth Texas Police

June 3, 2008

Officer Hite,
Thank you for all of your years of service both in the Air Force and Law Enforcement. May you rest in peace. Your family is in my prayers.

Shanon Dreyer, Supervisor
Palomar College Police Academy, California

June 3, 2008

R.I.P. Erik

SA
ICE

June 3, 2008

My thoughts and prayers are with the family, friends and co-workers of Officer Hite. Rest in peace, sir, your dedication and sacrifice will not be forgotten.

Linda Lamm - LEO wife and sister of
Jay Balchunas EOW 11.05.04

June 3, 2008

To the family of Officer Hite: I pray that the Lord will give you peace in this tragic time. On behalf of the Phoenix Police Department we salute your service my brother.

DET. DAVID DODD
PHOENIX POLICE DEPARTMENT

June 3, 2008

Our hearts go out to the family of Police Officer Erik Hite. You are a true hero who made the ultimate sacrifice. May the memory of your service, heroism and sacrifice remain forever. God bless you, your family and brother/sister officers and guide you all through this most difficult of times.
AC

Trooper
Pennslvania State Police

June 3, 2008

Thank you for your service and may God bless you and your family.

SDPD

SDPD

June 3, 2008

I am proud to say Erik was my nephew.

June 3, 2008

To officer Erik's wife and children,
I wish to extend my deepest sympathy to you. May you find some comfort in the wonderful memories and time you all shared together. Sadly I do know your pain I lost my husband in September of 06. I am so sorry for your loss your husband is indeed a true hero! They are watching out for all of us every day.
The Cook family.

Pamela Cook
wife of Thomas Cook

June 3, 2008

Thank you and God Bless Officer Hite for all you have given. There is no more noble a cause than to lay down your life so that others may see another day! May God watch over your family and continue to keep them safe.

Don K.

June 3, 2008

May God Bless you and keep you brother...you will be missed. Thank you for your sacrifice.
To the family and Department of Ofc. Hite, my sincerest condolences and heartfelt prayers are with you.

"And when we lay down our night sticks, enroll us in your Heavenly Force, where we will be as proud to guard the throne of God, as we have been to guard the city of men." - A Policeman's Prayer to St. Michael

Crime Scene Spec. K. Martin B1162
Scottsdale PD

June 3, 2008

Rest in peace my brother in blue. Now you can walk Heaven's beat. Your family, friends, and co-workers with the Tucson Police Department, are in my thoughts and prayers. God Bless

Sr. Officer D. Johns
City of Sandy Springs Police, Georgia

June 3, 2008

Today we lost a hero, this day God welcomed one home.

Patrolman Dwayne Delcour
Mansfield Police Mansfield, Mo

June 3, 2008

We just had this same thing happen to a Trooper in our County.

To the family, friends and co workers of Officer Hite, my thoughts and prayers go out to you in this time of sorrow. Let God be your guide through the difficult times ahead.

RIP Officer Hite.

Wife of LEO
Marion County, TX

June 3, 2008

To Officer Erik Hites Family, I was so saddened to watch the news yesterday and to later on find out about this tragedy.My daughter works for the media and was beside herself yesterday when she told me about this. I know words can never begin to express our condolenses, but please know you and your family will be in our thoughts and prayers and we hope and pray you may find the strength and comfort needed to endure these painful, terrible next days that will come. I really feel your husband, father, brother has met Ray up in heaven and they are looking down on you and watching and keeping you in their care still. Please feel free to look me up I would love to meet and talk with you. The Douglas Police Dept will know where and how to find me. God Speed Officer Erik Hite, you must have been a fine man for God only takes the good ones.
Love, Christy Rios and family.

Christy Rios and Family
Wife of Ramon M. Rios D.P.D. 520 E.O.W. 9/04/05

June 3, 2008