Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

Rest in peace brother. We've got the watch from here. May God bless your family, friends and fellow officers who all mourn the loss of yet another hero.

Motor Officer Dominick Marraccini
Easton Police Department, Easton, PA

March 25, 2010

Thank You for your dedication to the city of Elyria and for putting your life on the line every day. God Bless your entire Family. Thank You for protecting my life, my family, and our city. REST IN PEACE JIMMY THE WATCH HAS ENDED for an excellant Law Enforcement Officer and good friend..

Mike Lubert
Elyria Police Aux. Officer / Friend

March 24, 2010

His Judgment Day:
The officer stood and faced his God, Which must always come to pass. He hoped his shoes were shinning, Just as brightly as his brass.
"Step forward now, Officer, How shall I deal with you? Have you always turned the other cheek To my church have you been true?"
The officer squared his shoulder and said, "No, Lord, I guess I aint, Because those of us who carry badges can't always be a saint.
I've had to work most Sundays, And at times my talk was rough, And sometimes I've been violent Because the streets are tough.
But I never took a penny That wasn't mine to keep.. Though I worked a lot of overtime, when the bills got too steep.
And I never passed a cry for help Though at times I shook with fear. And sometimes, God forgive me, I've wept an unmanly tear.
I know I don't deserve a place among the people here. They never wanted me around except to calm their fear.
If you've a place for me here, Lord, it needn't be so grand. I never expected or had too much, But if you don't...I'll understand.
There was silence all around the throne, where the saints often trod. As the officer waited quietly for the judgment of his God.
"Step forward now, Officer. You've borne your burdens well. Come walk a beat on heaven's streets, You've done your time in hell"

Author unknown

May God be with everyone

Motor officer Terry Pauley
Plano PD Plano, Tx

March 24, 2010

Rest in Pecae. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

Special Agent
U.S. Postal Service

March 24, 2010

My thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of this fallen hero.

Andrew / Detective
Baltimore City Police Department

March 24, 2010

In Honor of your Sacrifice and for your family and friends, I salute you as a HERO!

"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

Richland County Sheriff's Department
Columbia, South Carolina
Used with Special Permission of the Author
Copyright © 1993 - All Rights Reserved
and may not be duplicated without permission
Investigator David L Bell
Richland County Sheriff's Dept., Columbia, SC

Investigator David L Bell
Richland County Sheriff's Dept., Columbia, SC

March 24, 2010

I thank God for your faithfulness. I am sorry for your family's loss and your department's loss as well. May their grief assuaged by their memories and love shared.

Chaplain Mann, retired
Fremont, OH PD

March 23, 2010

Thank you for your courage, service, and ultimate sacrifice. You will FOREVER be a hero and will NEVER be forgotten! May God Bless and comfort your family and friends.

Sergeant, Retired
Fayetteville, AR PD

March 23, 2010

Thank you for your service. May God Bless you and your family. May he grant your family, friends, and co-workers the strength they need to get through the rough times ahead.

PO James McPartland Jr
Mount Vernon PD NY

March 23, 2010

The following is a song by the Christian group MercyMe:

"Homesick"

Your in a better place, I've heard a thousand times
And at least a thousand times I've rejoiced for you
But the reason why I'm broken, the reason why I cry
Is how long must I wait to be with you

I close my eyes and I see your face
If home's where my heart is then I'm out of place
Lord, won't you give me strength to make it through somehow
I've never been more homesick than now

Help me Lord cause I don't understand your ways
The reason why I wonder if I'll ever know
But, even if you showed me, the hurt would still be the same
Cause I'm still here so far away from home

In Christ, there are no goodbye's
And in Christ, there is no end
So I'll hold onto Jesus with all that I have
To see you again

I close my eyes and I see your face
If home is where my heart is then I'm out of place
Lord, won't you give me strength to make it through somehow
I've never been more homesick than now.

We all must make sure that we are "right" with God, and that we are Saved by His Grace.

Rest in Peace Brother

Officer Bradley Adams
Huntsville Alabama Police Dept

March 23, 2010

Thank you for your service and my prayers are with your family

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

March 23, 2010

I miss "Sponge" already. We talked weekly on the phone. Me and Sponge hit it off from the start in Ohio in a driving school (OPOTA). He refered to me as "Bama". We work a very dangerous job, with very little appreciation. This has really hit me hard as I know it has his family.

Corporal Keith Hamner
Tuscaloosa County Sheriffs Ofc (Alabama)

March 23, 2010

Rest in Peace, Brother.

OFC B. Grajek

March 23, 2010

Rest in peace brother. My thoughts are with your family, friends and the members of the EPD during this most tragic and difficult time

Lt. Joseph Ward, Ret.
Jackson, NJ PD

March 23, 2010

There's a reason I cried, when I heard an officer had died. The reality hit hard in the life that we live, to a job where people are asking you to constantly give. One of the finest has paid the ultimate price, and with pride and honor made the greatest sacrifice. The public has no idea on this day today, what you went through and how many lives that are now touched, the killer never knew. How you sometimes went to work, with very little sleep, Duty & Honor, a vow you must keep, and like most cops you were most likely underpaid, but its a job you loved, the one for which you were made. To protect and serve, is how you lived your life, my heart goes out to your now widowed wife. Its a knock on the door every officer's spouse fears, and that's why today my eye's are filled with tears. Our thoughts and prayers are for the family that will be without a father, a husband, a brother who will
be missed beyond doubt. Heaven called one of our finest home today. You will be missed Jim K!

Citizen Elyria Ohio

March 23, 2010

"Blessed are the peacemakers; for they shall be called the children of God" Matthew 5:9

Patrolman
Paw Paw, Michigan

March 22, 2010

My sympathies to Officer Kerstetter's family, friends and colleagues. May he rest in peace.

SFC William L. Farrell
US Army Military Police, Ret.

March 22, 2010

Jimmy, When my son asked if I knew James Kerstetter and that he was killed in line of duty. I said no. Then it hit me. Jimmy Kerstetter as I always knew you. I thought back to times we went to church at the Church of the Open Door. I thought back to the times of hanging out the Year Book room. I thought how fun of a person you were to be around. I also thought what a tragic end. I can see by what the Elyria Paper has wrote about you you were still that fun person to be around. Even though it's been almost 20 years since we have talked your death defintely hit home with me. God Bless you and your family.

Deputy Todd Holloway
Citrus County Sheriff's Office.

March 22, 2010

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

Officer
Georgia

March 22, 2010

Brother James,

Please keep the gates of heaven open for the rest of us.

R.I.P. Brother

Cpl. Robert L. Padgett 67 ( ret)
Charles County Sheriff's Office, Md.

March 22, 2010

Rest in Peace Brother!

Patrolman Anthony Parkinson
Fort Smith Police Department

March 22, 2010

On behalf of the members of the BPD Security Branch, our sympathy and prayers go out to the family, friends, and co-workers of Ptl. James Kerstetter.

#510
U.S. Treasury/Bureau of the Public Debt Parkersburg WV

March 22, 2010

My deepest sympathy to his family, co-workers, and friends. There is nothing one can say at a time like this except that God will ease your pain if you turn to Him, and only time can heal your hearts. God bless you all.

Rusty Cox,Information Clerk
Asheville Police Dept., Asheville, NC

March 22, 2010

On behalf of all Missouri officers, dispatchers and the like, I extend our sincere sympathy to the family, friends and co-workers of Officer Kerstetter. Rest in peace our fallen hero.

Scott Barthelmass, Founder/Team Manager
Missouri Law Enforcement Funeral Assistance Team

March 21, 2010

Thank you Mr. Kerstetter for all that you've done for us. You're sacrifice will be remembered in the hearts of not only those of Elyria but the nation.

Anonymous

March 21, 2010