Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

Dear Family, Co-Workers, and Friends of Officer Thornton,
May God give you the peace that passes all understanding during this sad time. My deepest sympathy to each of you.Officer Thornton Thank you for the sacrifice you gave for your State and for Charlotte.
Family, please know that my prayer's will be with you in the day's to come. Officer Thornton will remain alive in our heart's and memories forever. Your Family of the thin Blue Line will never let your loved one be forgotten.
Officer Thornton, watch over your loved ones you left behind and those you worked with. May God's Grace be with your loved ones.

Carolyn Moore
Mother-in-Law of Sgt. Jeffrey Hewitt EOW 04-04-04 Buncombe County

March 2, 2011

Fred,

You will be missed sorely as was demonstrated today at your funeral. Your SWAT team did you proud. Rest in peace and let God's protection bring you comfort.

Lieutenant Anne Marie Garmon
Mint Hill Police, NC

March 1, 2011

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE, REST IN PEACE,

N.J. TROOPER
NEW JERSEY STATE POLICE

March 1, 2011

Rest in peace my brave brother.

Lt. Ohio S.O

March 1, 2011

On behalf of the 6,156 members of the American Association of State Troopers (AAST), we extend our sincere condolences to Officer Thornton’s family as well as the members of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department. 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

March 1, 2011

You, your family, and your police family are in my thoughts and prayers. I was blessed to have been able to call you a friend. May you rest in peace.

Patrolman Julie Quesenbery
Columbus Police Department

March 1, 2011

My deepest condolences to family and friends. These are very special warriors who choose to jon SWAT and we are forever grateful for all of the sacrifices. Rest in Peace my brother we will carry on. To the family of officer Thornton, rest assured he is and will always be a Hero in every sense of the word. God Speed my friend, until we meet above.

MPO TG VINCENT
Asheboro PD SWAT OPERATOR

March 1, 2011

We are so sorry to the family and friends of Fred. He came to Columbus Indiana when our city flooded a few years ago. Though we didn't know him long, he felt like family quickly as so many that wear blue do. We will be praying for you all!

Patrolwoman Courtney Plummer
Columbus Police Department

March 1, 2011

Rest in Peace Brave Warrior

Technician Ron Avila Retired
Denver police Metro/Swat

March 1, 2011

Our sympathy's and prayers go out to teh Thorton family as well as those who knew him and his family at CMPD.

Amy & Phil Levett

Amy Levett
Cabarrus County Sheriff's Dept

March 1, 2011

Fred...you gave all you had to give..you did this for 28 years. I know you will be well and long remembered..but I am so sorry that you have been lost to all of us...

Steve Carter Detective (Retired)
Bartlett Police

March 1, 2011

I would like to express how saddened I am to hear of Fred's death. I feel fortunate to have worked with Fred for a short time while Med-1 was deployed in Columbus. My prayers go out to Fred's family and all the Officers of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department. R.I.P. Fred

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

Chris

Lieutenant Chris Lane
Columbus Indiana Police Department

February 28, 2011

Ofc. Thornton sat in my office some months ago, following a separate injury; the one complaint (if you can even call it a complaint really) is that the injury was keeping him from being out on the street. Desk duty and using sick leave were not his style.

He did not consider himself to be a hero or anything beyond 'a cop'. He was a true leader - and will continue to be lifted up as a model officer.

Ofc. Thornton was a man that if you met once, even briefly, you would never forget that encounter. Praying that the family, both at home and CMPD, find comfort during this time.

C. Faulk
CMPD

February 28, 2011

"I am the Officer"

I have been where you fear to be,
I have seen what you fear to see,
I have done what you fear to do -
All these things I have done for you.

I am the person you lean upon,
The one you cast your scorn upon,
The one you bring your troubles to -
All these people I've been for you.

The one you ask to stand apart,
The one you feel should have no heart,
The one you call "The Officer in Blue,"
But I'm just a person, just like you.

And through the years I've come to see,
That I am not always what you ask of me;
So, take this badge ... take this gun ...
Will you take it ... will anyone?

And when you watch a person die
And hear a battered baby cry,
Then do you think that you can be
All these things you ask of me?

(Author unknown)

Godspeed Fred, you were the ultimate officer

Anonymous

February 28, 2011

Our condolences are sent to Fred Thornton's Family during this tragic & difficult time. As Mallory Anderson's step-father (Mallory attended Peace College with Glenna) & a former Police Officer & SRT Member for the City of New Bern Police Department, my family & I extend our deepest regards to your family, friends & fellow officers. Please know you are all in our thoughts and prayers. We are saddened to hear of this tragic event and pray for you and your loved ones.

Officer 2nd Class
Cherry Point MCAS PMO

February 28, 2011

RIP Officer Fred Thorton,You have my total sympathy.

Christina Brookhart
mother of a fallen Officer 2/8/2010

February 28, 2011

To the family, friends and colleagues of Officer Thornton, I can't imagine what you're going through, but my prayers are with you.

I am always grateful for the brave CMPD men and women who protect us and keep us safe- even when we don't realize it. Thank you.

Jennifer Duru
Neighborhood and Business Services

February 28, 2011

My thoughts and prayers are with your family. Thank you for your service - you were one of the longest-serving members of SWAT in Charlotte, and your time on the force has undoubtedly helped many. Godspeed to you - I know your brothers and sisters in blue that went before you are up there in Heaven to greet you. May your family and friends be helped by those still here.

Amanda Warfield
Charlotte Resident

February 28, 2011

Rest in Peace and my prayers are with your family and love ones.

Deputy Latour ( retired)
Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office

February 28, 2011

Officer Thornton,
It's obvious by all the reflections left by people who knew you personally what a great man you were....both as an officer and person. My heart breaks for your family as the road they have begun travelling is a difficult & often lonely one. There are many of us survivors who have lost loved ones who are lifting them up in prayer. Thanks for your dedication to the people of Mecklenburg County & N.C.

Denise
Survivor of Trooper Calvin Taylor - NCSHP

February 28, 2011

Officer Thornton,
Rest in peace brother.

Detective Dave Howell
Plano,Texas Police Dept-Auto Theft

February 28, 2011

For Police Officer Fred Thornton:

The responsibility thrust upon the special operations law officer is greater than normal. Technically dangerous equipment is added to their suit-of-armor, and as such presents a hazard beyond that of regular patrol. We regret that our brother Fred would lose his life during a mishap. It surely will be the subject of much review and criticism, yet will remain a risk as long we call ourselves human - and forever capable of simple error.

We pray for Fred's family, friends, co-workers and all who care about him. May they be ready to reach-out to one another in the difficult days that lie ahead.

We are proud to render Officer Fred Thornton a final salute.

Cpl. Ralph D. Fiorenza (Ret.)
Pennsylvania State Police

February 28, 2011

May God Bless Fred's family, my brothers and sisters at CMPD and our community.

Retired Officer Jo Ann Thomas
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department

February 28, 2011

Officer Thornton, you will not be forgotten! R.I.P.

Deputy Sheriff
Livingston County (Il) Sheriff's Ofc.

February 28, 2011

Wars come and go but memebers of the department he served never forget.

Adrian Murphy
n/a

February 28, 2011