Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

I am sure you already know how beautiful the service was to honor your life yesterday. You and your wife have done a great job raising your daughters. They spoke so well and were so brave to give a remembrance in your honor I am sure you are very proud of them. It was obvious that you were there with them as they spoke and your strength shined through them as we all paid tribute to your life and sacrifice.

God bless you, your family, the members of the Elyria Police Department, and the citizens of Elyria. Rest in peace brother.

Anonymous

March 21, 2010

There are no words to ease the pain of your family and friends. You are a well respected officer, friend, husband and father. Why does it always seem like the good ones are taken from us? Thank you for protecting us from the criminal element. You did your best that day. Help us remember you are in a better place than us. I wish I had the privilege of meeting you. I pray your family and friends will lean on each other as they cope with the loss of such a great person and may they find peace in time.

trooper
Ohio State Highway Patrol

March 21, 2010

Thankyou for your service OFFICER KERSTETTER, you are a hero who will never be forgotten. God bless your family and co-workers during these tragic times.

POLICE OFFICER
PHILA PA

March 21, 2010

Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of Patrolman Kerstetter as well as the brotherhood at Elyria Police Department. May you rest in God's eternal peace our brother!

Detective Mark Techmanski
City of Syracuse (NY) Police Department

March 21, 2010

GOD BLESS YOU PATROLMAN KERSTETTER AND YOUR FAMILY.

DETECTIVE CHARLES FREITAG NYPD 23 PCT.

March 21, 2010

I could not help but cry when I listened to the 911 tape of this incedent. Another one of our outstanding HEROS has been taken from us way to soon. Patrolman Kerstetter, we will never forget your sacrifice, service and your courage. Thank you. God Bless and Godspeed.

Lisa
GEORGIA CIVILIAN

March 21, 2010

Awhile ago, James used to come in to the Elyria Circuit City and always asked me to fix his Family PC or look at his Daughter's computer. I also recall times he pulled up in his cruiser while I was out smoking on my break and I would get in the passenger seat and get the cruiser laptop working or cleaned up to work faster. I never charged him because I always felt every cop, firefighter, etc... I owe them. He would always offer to buy me lunch though, and even gave me a F.O.P. card. When I heard the news I was devastated. I am truly sorry for the family's loss and will continue to keep Officer Kerstetter in my thoughts.

Eric Kinder

Eric Kinder
Personal Computer Tech

March 21, 2010

Rest in peace Patrolman Kerstetter, you and your family are in my thoughts and prayers. Thank you very much for your service!

Shelly
Citizen

March 20, 2010

My your memory be eternal and be remembered for the lives you touched. God rest for you are not forgotten.

inspector 436
US Customs Detroit

March 20, 2010

Having attended your funeral today, I want you to know that the fantastic tribute to you put on by your family, the Elyria Police Department, and the citizen's of Elyria, will stay with me forever. Your beautiful and brave daughters spoke beautifully, and there was not a dry eye anywhere. Each and every speaker reinforced the fact that God has taken one of the great ones home. Elyria and Lorain County was lucky to have had you. All of law enforcement will miss you. Rest in Peace.

Anonymous

March 20, 2010

To the family,friends and fellow officers of Officer Kerstetter i'm so truly sorry for you loss. May god comfort you thru this terrible time! Alway's know that you are not alone thru this struggle so many people are thinking and praying for you!

Officers Wife
Toledo

March 20, 2010

My sincere condolences to the family and friends of Patrolman James Kerstetter and to the entire Elyria Police Dept. Thank you for your years of honorable service, dedication, and ultimate sacrifice to your community.

Ofc. Eric Chiang
San Francisco Police Department

March 20, 2010

Thank you for your service and dedication. You will never be forgotten.

Rest in peace Brother.

Ofc. Scott Lundegren
Yarmouth Police Department, MA

March 20, 2010

REST IN PEACE, BROTHER
PROVINCIAL CONSTABLE MARTY LALONDE
ONTARIO PROVINCIAL POLICE

PROVINCIAL CONSTABLE MARTY LALONDE
ONTARIO PROVINCIAL POLICE

March 20, 2010

Officer Kerstetter, thank you for your selfless service. You have given us your all... how can we ever repay you?

My prayers and tears are with your family, friends, neighbors, and mostly all your Police brothers and sisters. May God be with you all.

Timothy Reise
Nashville, TN (neighborhood watch director; cousin of Chicago Officer)

March 20, 2010

My heart is broken.........that's all I can say. I am so sad.........

AZ Narc

March 20, 2010

Rest in peace brother, you are a hero and will not beforgotten by the thin blue line. You have served your community and country well.

ofc. charles robson (ret)
ORMOND BEACH POLICE DEPT.

March 19, 2010

Jimmy - what I wouldn't give to see you right now and tell you thank you for all you have done. We hadn't seen each other in years but today, it feels like only yesterday. What a brave person you were. Rest in peace my friend and may god watch over your family forever.

Rhonda
High School Friend

March 19, 2010

So sorry to hear of yet another Officer Down, another Father, another Husband. Though most Americans go unaware of such losses, each one is such a great loss to America.
My thoughts and Prayers are with your family, friends and agency.

Ken Hamilton
STMUPD/ CCSO reserve

March 19, 2010

I am very sorry for the loss you have experienced. Please know that even down here in FL, our thoughts and prayers are with you. Stay strong.

Senior Deputy Greg Suchy
St. Johns County Sheriff's Office, FL

March 19, 2010

When we hired James Kerstetter 15 years ago he came highly recommended from his previous agencies Grafton P.D. and Lorain County S.O. We knew he was going to be an excellent officer and he was. A great disposition, even tempered, with a great zest for police work - he was a truly a dedicated police officer. He will be greatly missed by the department, his family and the Elyria community.

Capt. Thomas C. Bowen(Ret.)
Elyria Police Department

March 19, 2010

I pray for you family, dear children may you visit God as Job did during this terrible time.

Srt Brother
N.C Sheriff Office

March 19, 2010

Being on duty and hearing the news that James Kerstetter had been killed in the line of duty marked a day in my life that I shall never forget. Having him as an instructor in the police academy and later at OPOTA was truly a privilege. His professionalism, confidence, knowledge, patience, kindness and humor left a mark on me that I am grateful to say shall never fade. Seeing the huge outpouring of grief and sadness from the community is truly a fitting testament to the kind of life this man led and the caliber of job he did. Just spending any amount of time with Patrolman Kerstetter made you want to be the best police officer you could be. I shall never be able shuffle-steer a patrol car to a hot call again without hearing his voice chiding me to "GET your pinky fingers OFF that steering wheel!" I shall forever be grateful for having known you.
Rest peacefully Patrolman. We have the watch.

Patrolman
Cleveland Area City PD

March 19, 2010

We put on our uniform every day knowing that we might be required to make the ultimate sacrifice. Yet we do this without reservation. May God watch over your wife and girls as I know you will. Rest in peace brother.

Patrolman

March 19, 2010

You are an inspiration and a hero. The outpouring of support for you and yours is a testament to the incredible officer, father, husband, and human being you were. Rest in piece brother, we will take the watch from here.

A. Jones
Hiram, OH

March 18, 2010