Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

RIP brother Greg.

May God bless and be with your family, co-workers and friends at this very difficult time. May the following words of President Lincoln offer some comfort at this time of pain and sorrow.

Executive Mansion,
Washington, Nov. 21, 1864.

Dear Madam,

... I feel how weak and fruitless must be any word of mine which should attempt to beguile you from the grief of a loss so overwhelming. But I cannot refrain from tendering you the consolation that may be found in the thanks of the Republic they died to save. I pray that our Heavenly Father may assuage the anguish of your bereavement, and leave you only the cherished memory of the loved and lost, and the solemn pride that must be yours to have laid so costly a sacrifice upon the altar of freedom.

Yours, very sincerely and respectfully,

A. Lincoln

Ptlm D. Bevenour
Gettysburg PD

November 30, 2009

“When God made Police Officers”

When the Lord was creating Police Officers, he was into his sixth day of overtime when an angel appeared and said, “You’re doing a lot of fiddling around on this one.”

And the lord said, “Have you read the spec on this order? A Police Officer has to be able to run five miles through alleys in the dark, scale walls, enter homes the health inspector wouldn’t touch, and not wrinkle their uniform.”

They have to be able to sit in an undercover car all day on a stakeout, cover a homicide scene at night and canvass the neighborhood for witnesses, and testify in court the next day.

They have to be in top physical condition at all times, running on black coffee and half-eaten meals. And they have to have six pairs of hands.

The angel shook her head and said, “six pairs of hands…….NO WAY.”

“It’s not the hands that are causing me the problems,” said the Lord, “It’s the three pairs of eyes an officer has to have.”

“That’s on the standard model?” Asked the angel.

The Lord nodded. One pair that sees through the bulge in a pocket before he asks, “May I see what’s in there sir?” (When they already know and wishes they had taken that accounting job.) Another pair of eyes in the side of there head for there partners’ safety. And another pair of eyes in front so they can look into the eyes of a bleeding victim and say, you’ll be alright, when they know it isn’t so.”

“Lord,” said the angel, touching his sleeve, “rest and work tomorrow.”

“I can’t,” said the Lord,“ I already have a model that can talk a 250 pound drunk into a patrol car without incident and feed a family of five on a civil service paycheck to build,”

The angel circled the model of the Police Officer very slowly, “Can it think?” she asked.

“You bet,” said the Lord, “It can tell you a hundred elements of a crime, recite Miranda warnings in it’s sleep; detain, investigate, search and arrest a gang member on the street in less time than it takes fives judges to debate the legality of the stop…..and it still keeps a sense of humor.

This officer also has unbelievable self control. They deal with crime scenes painted in HELL, cop a confession from a child abuser, comfort a murder victim’s family and then they read in the morning paper how insensitive Police are to the rights of criminal suspects.

Finally the angel bent over and ran her finger across the cheek of the Police Officer. “There’s a leak,” she pronounced. “I told you that you were putting to much into this model.”

“That’s not a leak,” said the Lord. “It’s a tear.”

“What’s the tear for,” asked the angel.

“It’s for bottled up emotions, for fallen comrades, for commitment to that funny piece of cloth called the American Flag, and for justice.”

“You’re a genius,” said the angel.

The Lord looked sober, “I didn’t put it there,” he said.

Patrolman
POLICE OFFICER (RI)

November 30, 2009

"Love For The Job"

Every once in a while,
I have to sit and think.
Is this the call that's gonna do it,
push me to the brink?

I know I truly love my job,
and you put me to the test.
But even every now and then,
I deserve a little rest.

We put our lives on the line,
to make life safer for you.
Do we ever hear a thanks,
maybe on an occasion or two.

You do not know what we see,
you haven't got a clue.
You see it in the papers,
or some times on the news.

We live our lives day to day,
and have to watch our backs.
You don't even try to help us,
you let us slip into the cracks.

If we didn't do our jobs,
and keep you out of harms way.
This country would be a mess,
and you'd really have to pray.

We are not the bad guys,
we should be dressed in white.
We are the ones you call,
when you get into a fight.

This is the job I chose,
and I took an oath for you.
So every time I leave my home,
please say a prayer or two.

So when you see a police officer,
they're the one that's dressed in blue.
They may be trying to save your life,
or be there to comfort you.

Unfortunately there may come a day,
when my life could end.
Will you even miss me,
or know I was someone's friend.

Will you help raise my children,
teach them right from wrong.
Will you tell them all about me,
please tell them to be strong.

Tell them that I love them,
and I'll always be right here.
They may not be able to see me,
but they'll know that I do care.

Tell them I was doing my job,
that they put me to the test.
That what I did was to save a life,
and now I'm laid to rest.

My job will never be done,
even from heaven I will see.
this is the job that I love,
it is the only one for me.

So the next time you see a Police Officer,
tell them they are great,
Because the next time you may see them,
they could be standing at heavens gates.

Writer Unknown,

Rest in peace brother we will take it from here...

Anonymous
Syracuse police dept. (NY)

November 29, 2009

Our family lifts prayers. So senseless.
Thinking of the entire Lakewood Police Department....
Martin Family
Woodlawn, Tennessee

wife and mom

November 29, 2009

RIP BROTHER

PO LEONE
WILLOW SPRINGS,IL

November 29, 2009

May God bless you, your family, and the Lakewood Police Department.

AB Smith
Wake Co Sheriff's Office (North Carolina)

November 29, 2009

Officer Richards, God Bless you and your family. The death of you and your fellow officers is a horrible tragedy. We will be proud to ride in your memory on the Police Unity Tour.

SSA Ellen Pierson
US ICE/PUT

November 29, 2009

My thoughts and prayers are with you, your family and the members of the Lakewood Police Department. It is often hard to accept tragic incidents such as this, but even harder to try and understand why. You and your fellow officers paid the ultimate sacrifice and will never be forgotten. My young son was saddened by the news of this event but said, "Dad, there are four new Cop Angels in Heaven watching over us". May You Rest In Peace my brother, and watch over us from above as we continue the fight. May God Bless You and your loved ones.

Detective Eric R. Fennell
Kern County Sheriff's Office

November 29, 2009

Thank you for your service. May God be with you and your fallen brothers and sister on your journey to heaven. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. Rest in Peace.

Anonymous

November 29, 2009

Officer Richards your work on this Earth as we know it is done. You are in God's Hands now brother. May God be with your family and friends in their time of need. May you now rest in peace.

SGT. Daryl Brewer
Clarksville Police Dept. Clarksville, Tennessee

November 29, 2009

To the family of Officer Greg Richards

Romans 8:38,39
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,neither height nor depth, nor anything else in call creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Patrol Officer - Pamela Garland
Evergreen Police - Olympia, WA

November 29, 2009

Rest in peace. Thank you for your service and bless your family for their sacrifice.

Brother of Ft. Worth Police Officer
Cousin of Ferris Police Office Marty Steinfeldt, EOW 10/06/2002

FF. David Chambers
Philadelphia Fire Department, Philadelphia, PA

November 29, 2009

May God Bless you, your family, friends, and your department. You and your families sacrifice will always be remembered.

Ptn. D. Marshall
Covington, Louisiana Police Dept

November 29, 2009

Your brothers in blue will not rest until the monster who ended your life is caught and brought to justice. There are no words to express the extreme grief felt all over the world today.
Rest easy brother...your sacrifice will never be forgotten. YOU will never be forgotten.

Detective Dena LeGros
CCSO

November 29, 2009

I am so sorry for you family, friends and Brothers in Arms. What a coward who took your lives. I pray God gives your family strength to make it through this horrific time. God Bless you Officer Greg.

Vicki Felty

November 29, 2009

My heart aches for your personal and professional families. I empathize with your sacrifice and I pray for your swift entry into heaven. May St. Michael bless your loved ones. NYPD

APO
NYPD

November 29, 2009

Greg, you and your partners are true hereos. Rest assured your bothers and sisters will get those responsible for this cowardly act. RIP

Sgt. Mark Davie
Oregon State Police

November 29, 2009

Officer Richards thank you for your service. May God Bless you and your family. Rest in peace. You will not be forgotten!

Lieutenant
Del Rio Police Department (Texas)

November 29, 2009

Words cannot express the amount of anger and sadness I am feeling as a result of this. Rest in peace brother, we will bring those responsible to justice.

Deputy Brett Grieve
Snohomish County Sheriff's Office

November 29, 2009

FINAL ROLL CALL

"OFFICER RICHARDS...REST IN PEACE, FOR YOU HAVE DONE YOUR PART TO MAKE THIS A BETTER PLACE FOR ALL...GOD HAS A SPECIAL PLACE FOR YOU...FOR THERE IS NO GREATER LOVE THAN THAT OF A MAN LAYING DOWN HIS LIFE FOR ANOTHER...BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS, FOR THEY WILL BE CALLED SONS OF GOD...WATCH OVER US AND RIDE WITH US ALWAYS...OUR PRAYERS GO OUT TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS...GODS SPEED TO YOU BROTHER...

YOUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT

Patrol #223
Sachse PD

November 29, 2009

My thoughts and prayers are with the families, friends and fellow officers. Rest in peace, you will not be forgotten.

Sherry Howard
wife of FPD officer

November 29, 2009

I met Officer Richards and Officer Griswold in connection with my cousin's passing earlier this year.

My cousin, a retired US Army Major, died after an extended illness. Over the next few days unknown parties had broken in to his home and ransacked it. And then they came back and took more things the next night.

By the time I had arrived to try to secure the house three days had passed and the two entry door frames had been broken, all furniture and valuables were gone and there was glass all over the floor from broken panes and pictures.

The neighbors, having heard of the first two burglaries, had noted my presence and dialed 911. I heard the two patrol cars arrive and went out to meet the officers... Officer Richards was the first one out of the car and had his service weapon trained on me as he tried to figure out who I was and what I was doing in the house.

A few minutes later I had established my identity and Officer Richards took the time to fill me in on what had been going on at the house and what the police knew. He was professional and caring and spent more time than I expected to let me know what was going on (1) until a will was found no one "owned" the house, (2) if someone would stay in the house it would probably keep more things from going missing, (3) LPD was going to patrol the area to try to limit the looting.

I explained to him that most everything of value was already gone, and that I didn't feel comfortable sitting there armed waiting to defend the property... nothing that was left was worth harming someone else to protect. He stayed and talked with me for probably a half hour.

At a time of loss he took the time to be there for me and for my family... he went above and beyond and I got the impression that that was the kind of officer he was... one who went above and beyond on a regular basis.

Meeting before shift at Forza should have been a safe place to get organized and ready for a day on patrol. It is tragic that it was not.

Thank you for your service, you will not be forgotten.

Eric Emery

Eric Emery
citizen, Tacoma WA

November 29, 2009

God bless you sir.

Trooper
Virginia State Police

November 29, 2009

Senseless, purely senseless. It grieves me to learn of this loss, and I pray, wholeheartedly pray, for the families who now have to pick up the pieces with their loved one stolen from them. May God bless them and comfort them beyond measure.

From a fellow, female officer, I ache for the children who have lost their mother or their father...I truly ache..

Hopefully the community gathers around those families and protects them, and gives those officers the honor they deserve..

Det Fisher
North Texas Police Agency

November 29, 2009

I met Officer Richards and Officer Griswold in connection with my cousin's passing earlier this year.

My cousin, a retired US Army Major, died after an extended illness. Over the next few days unknown parties had broken in to his home and ransacked it. And then they came back and took more things the next night.

By the time I had arrived to try to secure the house three days had passed and the two entry door frames had been broken, all furniture and valuables were gone and there was glass all over the floor from broken panes and pictures.

The neighbors, having heard of the first two burglaries, had noted my presence and dialed 911. I heard the two patrol cars arrive and went out to meet the officers... Officer Richards was the first one out of the car and had his service weapon trained on me as he tried to figure out who I was and what I was doing in the house.

A few minutes later I had established my identity and Officer Richards took the time to fill me in on what had been going on at the house and what the police knew. He was professional and caring and spent more time than I expected to let me know what was going on (1) until a will was found no one "owned" the house, (2) if someone would stay in the house it would probably keep more things from going missing, (3) LPD was going to patrol the area to try to limit the looting.

I explained to him that most everything of value was already gone, and that I didn't feel comfortable sitting there armed waiting to defend the property... nothing that was left was worth harming someone else to protect. He stayed and talked with me for probably a half hour.

At a time of loss he took the time to be there for me and for my family... he went above and beyond and I got the impression that that was the kind of officer he was... one who went above and beyond on a regular basis.

Meeting before shift at Forza should have been a safe place to get organized and ready for a day on patrol. It is tragic that it was not.

Thank you for your service, you will not be forgotten.

Eric Emery

Eric Emery
citizen, Tacoma WA

November 29, 2009