Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

My thoughts & prayers are with you. Rest Easy.

Cindy, Arkansas
Sister of slain Officer Randy Basnett, EOW 9-24-1976

March 22, 2009

Rest in Peace Brother. You will not be forgotten. May God Bless your family!

Officer Rachel Prieto
AP&P/Utah Department of Corrections

March 22, 2009

Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of Deputy Sheriff Mechels today and always.. Thank you Sir for your service and sacrifice you are a HERO! Rest in Peace Sir...

Joyce
Sister of Ofc. John P Harris EOW 8/19/1994 Henrico PD Virginia

March 22, 2009

Thank you for your service to the people of Turner County. This must have been a tremendous loss for them.

My thought and prayer go out to your family and your family in the Turner County Sheriff's Dept.

Citizen
New Hampshire

March 22, 2009

REST IN PEACE. YOU ARE HOME NOW. MAY THE LORD GIVE PEACE TO YOU AND THOSE LEFT BEHIND.

DET CASTELHANO
MVPD NY

March 21, 2009

To the family of Deputy Chad Mechels, thank you for allowing Chad to serve the fine citizens of South Dakota. Your husband and father served valiantly and paid the ultimate sacrifice. our prayer is that the God of all comfort bring you peace in the coming days and weeks. Rest assured that when we come together for law enforcement memorials every May, Deputy Mechels and his family will be forever remembered in our thoughts and prayers.

Deputy Sheriff Dave Drew
Woodbury Co. Sheriffs Office

March 21, 2009

Chad, Rest in Peace. I was honored to serve as the Family Liaison Officer from the end of your watch until after your funeral. I want you and everyone who has posted a comment here to know that the South Dakota Sheriff's Association will make every effort to see that the family does not walk alone. Troy, Staci, Loren, and I will see to that. Please know that we are all so proud of you, and now we hope we can make you proud of us. I was honored that my poem, End of Watch, was read by Sheriff Wellman at the funeral, and let me leave you with the final verse.

This was more than job; it was my life you see,
And I know you will mourn, but remember me.
Live your lives in an effort to preserve,
My life, my motto, “To Protect and Serve”

God's speed Deputy Mechels EOW:3-15-2009

Sheriff Barry Hillestad
Day County Sheriff's Office, SD

March 21, 2009

Thank you for your service. Rest in Peace.

Trooper
South Dakota Highway Patrol

March 20, 2009

Thank you for your service Deputy Mechels. Your new assignment is to look over the ones left behind and protect us. You will forever be remembered as a hero. Protect on brother, protect on...

Police Officer
Columbus, Ohio Divison of Police

March 20, 2009

Thank you, Deputy Mechels, for your service to the people of South Dakota and the United States. Your dedication and efforts are appreciated and will not be forgotten. Rest in peace, HERO!

Janice Brown
Conway, Arkansas

Janice Brown
civilian

March 19, 2009

Go in peace, dear heart... rest now. Shift is over. Hugs and much love to you and yours... Go in safety... Meems

Paula Rice (Meems) Ret.
BCSO Ohio

March 19, 2009

OUR DEEPEST CONDOLENCES TO THE WIFE AND CHILDREN, AND ALL WHO MOURN THE LOSS OF DEPUTY MECHELS. MAY GOD BLESS EACH OF YOU. DEPUTY MECHELS, YOU HAVE SERVED WELL. A HERO FOR SURE. MAY GOD BLESS YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND SACRIFICE.

CHIEF RONNIE WATFORD-RET.
JEFFERSON POLICE DEPT,S.C.

March 19, 2009

This is such a sad day in law enforcement. Deputy Michels was doing what we all do-our job. This is a sad and brutal way to die. My heart goes out to his wife, kids, family & co-workers. I will say a prayer for you that you may rest in peace. God Bless your soul Chad.

Ofc. Rob Trevino
Clinton Police Dept/ Michigan

March 19, 2009

Thank you for your service and sacrifice. May God use you to gaurd the streets of Heaven. To your family and friends, You will NEVER be forgotten. Rest in peace brother, we will take the watch from here.

Deputy Robert T Hicks II
York-Poquoson Sheriff's Office, VA

March 19, 2009

Rest in Peace Deputy Mechels. Thank you for your years of service. God bless your family and fellow Officers and especially your small children that will grow up one day and know their Father is a true hero.

Officer Cassie Johnson
Farmington Police Dept-MN

March 19, 2009

My sincere condolences to the family and friends of Deputy Sheriff Chad Mechels and to the entire Turner County Sheriffs Office. RIP

Ofc. Eric Chiang
San Francisco Police Department

March 19, 2009

I read somewhere that March 20th, is Chad's Birthday which is also my birthday I will be celebrating this year by remembering Chad even though I did not know him personally the loss of his life had touched my family. My thoughts and prays will always be with the family of Chad. My husband who is a Law Enforcement Officer in South Dakota had especially been touched by this. And I know that he will always remember hearing of this loss. Thank you for your service!

Ex Dispatcher

March 19, 2009

The Butte County Sheriff,a Butte County Deputy, a Harding County Deputy and myself traveled to Madison for Chad's funeral. My heart broke for Chad's beautiful wife and children, his family and his friends. Please know that his family and friends will be in our thoughts and in our prayers. He was a wonderful man, and although we were not blessed to know him personally, we were proud to honor him yesterday. We will always remember his service to South Dakota. God Bless~

Head Dispatcher Dallas Ford
Butte County Dispatch Center

March 19, 2009

Deputy Mechels
Rest in Peace Brother and tell my Son-in law Josh Norris EOW 07/05/2007 hello and have him show you around. My prayers are with your family during this dark time. You got the call, you gave your all, and it was more than enough. So prop your feet up and take a load off up there and keep an ear to the radio so that when another of our brother's or sister's number is called you can meet them at the gate with a cup of coffee and a smile. Oh and put in a good word for me up there, I like the day watch and make sure my boy Josh is not sleeping the time way.

To the Family of Deputy Mechels
Your complete family are in my families prayers during this dark time. My family knows the pain with the lost of our own with the death of my future son in-law Josh Norris. Chad was taken to early and should of have had more time with you guys. I know words at this time will never stop the hurt, but know your Husband and Dad is not far from you, he is the whisper in the wind, that feeling of being hugged when no one is there, he will always be at your side watching over ever accomplishment and catching ever tear that you guys shed. What has helped my family and may help yours, remember your love ones laugh, his smile and all those things that are unique to him, since they are truly what made him. He is a true hero in every sense of the word and your police family extends it arms to you, if this one from Louisiana can do anything do not hesitate to ask. God bless you and he will give you strength to face each day.

Deputy John Latour (retired)
Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office

March 19, 2009

Thankyou for your service sir, you are ahero for us all to look up too. You will never be forgotten. God bless your family during these tragic times

POLICE OFFICER
PHILA PA

March 19, 2009

MY MANY PRAYERS AND SYMPATHY'S FOR YOUR WIFE AND CHILDREN. PRAYERS FOR YOUR BROTHERS & SISTERS IN LAW ENFORCEMENT, REST IN PEACE

DISPATCH, BRITTANY
RAMSEY CO, MN

March 19, 2009

Sir,thank you for your service. My thoughts are with you and your family.

Trooper
Minnesota State Patrol

March 19, 2009

Rest easy Brother.

Sgt. R. Gregson
BART Police Department, CA

March 18, 2009

To the family of Officer Mechels....I wish we never had to post these memorials....but that would be in a perfect world...just know that many, many people are praying for you and your entire family, including Chad's fellow officers. I pray to God we never have to face this tragedy again. If there is anything we can do to help, please be sure we would sincerely love to help. Just say the word. Peace be with you. Thank you, Officer Mechels.

Sherri Pattison
Mother of a SF Police Officer

March 18, 2009

This is a terrible tragedy. My prayers are with the Mechels family.

Special Agent
FBI - WFO

March 18, 2009