Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

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 whose 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 (Retired)
Richland County Sheriff's Dept., Columbia, SC

September 23, 2010

Thoughts and prayers for the family and the DPS.

Fallen but never forgotten.

Bryan laurie- Son of Fallen Officer
Nathan Laurie EOW 7-29-04

September 23, 2010

To the Friends and Family of Corporal Slaton:

We are deeply saddened to hear of your loss. He will be in our thoughts and prayers. May you find peace in this time of tragedy.

Session 49
Zone 5 Law Enforcement Academy, NY

Session 49
Zone 5 Law Enforcement Academy, NY

September 23, 2010

Rest In Peace, Corporal Slaton.

Lt T Carr
NYPD

September 23, 2010

ANOTHER HERO HAS BEEN LOST. MAY GOD BLESS THE HIGHWAY PATROL OF TEXAS AND THE FAMILY OF CORPORAL SLATON. OUR PRAYERS ARE WITH YOU AT THIS TIME OF SORROW,. GOD BLESS.

R/CAPT. WAYNE BLANKINCHIP
JACKSONVILLE SHERIFF'S DET'JAX.FL.

September 23, 2010

Rest in Peace Corporal
The citizens of Texas thank you for your service
May God comfort and strengthen your family,friends
and co-workers during these tragic times.

R Eberhart Partner to Royce Anderson
EOW 10/26/81 HCSO Houston Tx

September 23, 2010

Rest in peace brother and thank you for your service. Matthew 5:9

Gordon Hobbs
NC Game Warden

September 23, 2010

Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of Corporal Slaton as well as the brotherhood at Texas Highway Patrol. May you rest in God's eternal peace our brother!

Detective Mark Techmanski
City of Syracuse (NY) Police Department

September 23, 2010

My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

K-9 Officer Tom Summerville Jr
Eutaw Police Department

September 23, 2010

Our prayers go to you and your family. For your dedication to your duty to the Great State of Texas I salute you. Rest if Peace and watch over the rest of us while we continue the work you started.

Agent
TxDPS CID Region 2

September 22, 2010

Thank you for your service and may you rest in peace. Godspeed sir.

JP
Plano PD

September 22, 2010

Rest in Peace. Thank you for your many years of service. You will never be forgotten.

RETIRED DETECTIVE FRANK DEMARCO
NEW YORK CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT

September 22, 2010

Rest in peace troop, we will continue the watch for you. As a former Texas Trooper myself, this really hits home for me. Thank you for your dedicated service. May the good Lord bless your soul and may he also give your family the strentgh to carry on during this most sad and tragic event. You may be gone but never forgotten.

Trooper Bobby D. White
Alabama State Troopers- Troop G

September 22, 2010

With deepest sympathy, may God be with the family during this time.

Sergeant G. R. Harper
Georgia State Patrol

September 22, 2010

To you Corp. David, thank you for the service you provided to the everyday citizens of this state, gods speed, RIP. To the family of Corp David, I like to say all the right words to help heel your broken heart, but it's difficult to come up with those right words but rest asure that your loved one after 36 years of service is a "True American Hero" and is now watching over all of you from the heavens above!

Detective Robyne Koch
Mont Belvieu Police, Texas

September 22, 2010

Our Greatest Fear

Yet once again the Thin Blue Line is diminished,
an officer’s final tour of duty is finished.
"Officer down", it’s our greatest fear,
and once again, I hold back a tear.
They patrol in the state, city, county and town,
in uniforms colored white, green, blue and brown.
The shape of their badges may vary,
but it’s a symbol that they all, proudly carry.
They leave for work with a kiss goodbye,
but some don’t come home, no matter how hard they try.
To uphold the law is the job that they pick,
with such high aspirations, why must some die so quick?
They leave behind loved ones, family and friends,
after their lives have met tragic ends.
Some die in crashes, others hearts not too stout,
to many have been lost when gunshots ring out.
Our Heavenly Father has called them home,
no more these dark streets do they roam.
Through trial and error they have given their best,
please Lord, now grant them eternal rest.
Yet once again the Thin Blue Line is diminished,
an officer’s final tour of duty is finished.
"Officer down", it’s our greatest fear,
and once again I hold back a tear.
(By Master Trooper Dave “Stumpy” Miller )

Master Trooper David "StumpY" Miller
Indiana State Police Dist 13

September 22, 2010

may you rest in peace Corporal Slaton, and God Bless. My prayers are with everyone that was close to you.

Dispatcher Wood
Nocona Police Department

September 22, 2010

may you rest in peace Corporal Slaton, and God Bless. My prayers are with everyone that was close to you.

Dispatcher Wood
Nocona Police Department

September 22, 2010

Corpral Slaton - 36 years is a very long time to ride that road. Thank you for your service to the people of the state of Texas. May God grant you eternal rest and may His perpetual light shine upon you.

Chief K. Moreland (Ret. Sgt.)
Palmer Lake, CO PD (Ret. LAPD)

September 22, 2010

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE, REST IN PEACE.

N.J. TROOPER
NEW JERSEY STATE POLICE

September 22, 2010

On behalf of the 6,190 members of the American Association of State Troopers (AAST), we extend our sincere condolences to Corporal Slaton’s family as well as the members of the Texas DPS/ Texas Highway Patrol. 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

September 22, 2010

R.I.P Corporal Slaton, and may God comfort your family and D.P.S. Thank you for your service to the Great State Of Texas.

Pecos Police Department
Pecos, Texas

Anonymous

September 22, 2010

On behalf of the men and women of the Camillus Police Department, our deepest sympathies to the family, friends and co-workers of Corporal David Ralph Slaton. Rest in Peace Brother, We now have the Watch.

PBA
Town of Camillus Police Department, Central New York

September 22, 2010

My thoughts and prayers are with the family of Corporal Slaton and his extended family,the Texas Highway Patrol.May God be with you and give the strength and comfort needed during this difficult time.

L/Cpl J.E.Kimbrell
South Carolina Highway Patrol

September 22, 2010

Rest In Peace, Brother. I will keep your family in my prayers.

Agent M. Moore#9992
Texas Department of Public Safety

September 22, 2010