Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

To the family of Deputy Gilstrap I'm very sorry for your lost. I never had a chance to meet him but reading his refelection that Deputy Jeremy Wasdin left he sounds like he was a good man and deputy. Rest in Peace we have it from hear.

Deputy Terry J. Surgick, Sr.
Greene County Sheriff's Office

October 15, 2008

My thoughts and prayers to the family, friends and co-workers of Deputy Gilstrap. Another Hero taken too soon. May God comfort you and your Family.
You will never be forgotten. God Speed and God Bless. Rest in Peace Sir.

VIPS Jeff Claybern
Alexandria Kentucky Police Department

October 15, 2008

Rest in peace Deputy Gilstrap...

Lieutenant
Genesee County, Michigan

October 15, 2008

I have started to write this several times over the past few days, and I have struggled with how to describe David. He is absolutely the hardest working man I have known in my 32 years on the job. He absolutely loved his family, and totally loved working traffic. In the 4 years he was with me, he wrote 11,000 traffic citations. He gave 19 over before he took enforcement action, but at 20 over, you were his. He was firm but fair. He had a glovebox full of fake ID's and drivers licenses, and he was always anxious to add another to his collection.
David didn't linger around the office, he didn't want to be promoted and he certainly didn't vie for the attention of his supervisors. He just worked hard....it was his mission in life to eliminate traffic fatalities in Oconee County, even if he had to do it alone. The irony of his losing his life to a car is not lost on me, or any of us at the Sheriff's Office.
I miss David.

Sheriff Scott Berry
Sheriff, Oconee County Georgia

October 14, 2008

My husband was David's best friend. They met in the Army in 1979 and have been best friends ever since. David's ex-wife Melissan and I have been best friends since the day we met. The four of us had some good times! David was the funniest, most down-to-Earth guy. He would tell it like it was. He will be missed by all of us. If only he had been wearing a helmet...We love you, David!

SFC's Jay & Lorri Ihrig
David's Lifelong Best Friend

October 14, 2008

Rest in Peace

Lt. Stephen A. Joy #980
Prince George's County Police Department

October 14, 2008

It was an honor to know David. May god bless your family.

Sgt. Al Whitworth #595
Georgia State Patrol - Post 32 Athens

October 14, 2008

Our thoughts and prayers are with you.

Chrissy Johnson
Citizen

October 13, 2008

God Bless you David, and my thoughts and prayers go out to your family.

You served your country honorably as an Aviation NCO in the US Army in Germany back in the old days. You paved the way for soldiers like me.

I remember the shifts we worked together very fondly. I learned from you and I appreciate the unflinching support that you always provided. It's true that you spoke your mind and stood up for what you felt was right. You never hesitated to back up a Brother/Sister Officer. I will always remember us standing side by side in front of the Chief to answer for my depiction of a Deputy's life working "inside" during certain times of the year. I will frame it, and remember the good times we had. Your favorite drink was Bud light, and you had dozens of hats neatly arranged in your garage to let everyone know.

You had a clear and unflinching perspective of what your responsibiliites as a Peace Officer was. Your standard, if I could qoute you: "What would the citizens of this county expect you to do? We are here to serve them..."

Take care brother.

SFC Sam Craven (LE Badge #6328)
US Army / Iraqi Communications Coordination Element (ICCE)- Iraq

October 13, 2008

Our thoughts and prayers to the family of Deputy Gilstrap. God Bless him for his service to the Oconee County Sheriff's Department. Rest in Peace sir, you will not be forgotten.

Sgt. Jim May (ret)
CMPD Charlotte, NC

October 13, 2008

God's speed Brother. We'll keep your family in our prayers.

Deputy S. Howard
Bibb Ga. S.O.

October 13, 2008

Rest In Peace, Deputy Gilstrap.

Lt T Carr
NYPD

October 13, 2008

Deputy Gilstrap thank you for your willingness to serve your fellowman. God bless you, your loved ones, and the Oconee County Sheriff's Office. May the Lord grant your loved ones the strength to endure during this difficult time. Rest in peace my brother.

State Constable J.L. Green
S.C. State Constables

October 13, 2008

Sincere condolences to the family, friends, and department of Deputy Sheriff David Gilstrap. May he rest in eternal peace, and may God bless and keep you all.

Leo J. Kennerson #2814
RETIRED TROOPER, NYSP

October 13, 2008

Brother Gilstrap,
Your tour has come to an end and may you now rest in paeace. You've done an excellent job here on earth now God has called to home to keep the streets of Gold safe and secure for the rest of us.

Walter

Sgt. Walter Hughes, Retired
MNPD - Nashville, Tennessee

October 13, 2008

I was shocked to hear what happened to David. I haven't seen him in years but we worked together in the mid 90's at Clarke Co. David was one of the funniest officers you could ever hope to work with. Even if you were the victim of his humor (everyone on shift was at one time or another), you couldn't help but laugh. David got the job done and made shift go by alot easier. Your gonna be missed David, Rest in Peace.

Lt Bruce Bley
Barrow COunty S.O., GA

October 13, 2008

Deputy Gilstrap, Upon reading the reflections left by your friends and colleagues it seems to me that you were and still are a great person. I wish I had the chance to meet you, but I do know that we will meet one day on Heavens streets. So for now, go with St. Michael and patrol Heavens golden roads. You deserve it, for you have done your time in hell. You will be missed but never forgotten...

Sergeant Chris DiToro
NYPD

October 13, 2008

Rest in Peace brother, thank you for your service.

Pablo Hernandez Jr.
U.S. Border Patrol

October 13, 2008

On behalf of the 5,229 members of the American Association of State Troopers (AAST), we extend our sincere condolences to Deputy Gilstrap’s family as well as the members of the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office. AAST members throughout the United States know first hand what all of you are going through right now. We will continue to keep you in our thoughts and prayers.

Ken Howes, Executive Director
American Association of State Troopers

October 13, 2008

I’m a new employee at the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office and had only just met deputy Gilstrap. However, before meeting him, I knew his voice well because he was a constant presence on the radio: “3639 300 signal 25” (traffic stop). From the beginning of his shift until the end, not one moment went by that he was not actively enforcing traffic laws. I had heard many stories about him and was excited to meet him. Finally, one day while sitting in the squad room, he came in. All of the other deputies were talking about the Georgia Bull Dawgs playing Alabama and saying how they hoped they’d win and so on. Deputy Gilstrap in his powerful voice said “I hate the Bull Dawgs, and I hope Alabama Kicks their butt!” Naturally this caused an uproar. Just a moment later he turned to me with this little devilish grin laughing and said “I really don’t care either way; I just like seeing them get all upset.” Alabama did win by the way.

Deputy Gilstrap left some big shoes for all of us here at Oconee S.O. to fill, but I know we will all do our best to pickup where he left off and carry on. You are sorely missed brother. Rest in peace!

Deputy Jeremy P. Wasdin
Oconee Co. S.O.

October 13, 2008

My Dearest Lord and Warrior King, if it be Your will, let me leave the surly bonds of earth doing what I love to do... as you did for our Brother, David.

CONNELY/ROBERT
former Deputy, former private contract State Department

October 13, 2008

REST IN PEACE MY FRIEND. YOU WATCHED OVER OUR CHILDREN AND LOST YOUR LIFE. MY GOD BLESS YOU AND WATCH OVER YOUR FAMILY.YOU WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN.

RETIRED DETECTIVE FRANK DEMARCO
NEW YORK CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT

October 12, 2008

Rest in peace brother and thank you for your service.

auxilary police officer stephen krol
manteno police manteno ill

October 12, 2008

Rest In Peace!

Lt. Johnny Overby
Morehead City PD, NC

October 12, 2008

THANK YOU FOR YOUR BRAVE SERVICE BROTHER.YOU ARE IN A MUCH BETTER PLACE NOW, SO WE WILL TAKE IT FROM HERE AND DO OUR BEST TO MAKE YOU PROUD.PLEASE CONTINUE TO WATCH OVER THE REST OF US THAT ARE STILL BRAVE ENOUGH TO PIN ON THIS STAR.I'LL BE LOOKING FORWARD TO MEETING YOU ON THE OTHER SIDE SOMEDAY.TIL THEN I SALUTE YOU AND EVERYTHING YOU STOOD FOR.

DEPUTY ANTHONY H. PITTMAN
MONTGOMERY COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE

October 12, 2008