Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

On behalf of Kewaunee County Sheriff's Department, may I express our agency's deep regret on the loss of Officer Birkholz. Far too young to leave this way. God bless him and all LE from Fond du Lac that are affected by this tragedy.

Lt Chris Gulbrand
Kewaunee County, WI Sheriff's Dept.

March 20, 2011

Thank you Officer Birkholz for your fine service and for paying the ultimate sacrifice for the fine folks in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. My condolences to your family, friends and co-workers. You are a true AMERICAN HERO. May you forever, rest in peace.

Mitch Cheselka
Sergeant, CA/OR Retired

March 20, 2011

May God Bless You.  Thank you for your sacrifice and protecting our freedoms and may God Bless and Protect all our police officers.

James H. Hill
Citizen

March 20, 2011

Rest in peace Officer Birkholz!
You will not be forgotten!
FACEBOOK salutes you!

Willie Bell Hopewell VA
Friend Of All Law Enforcement Officers!

March 20, 2011

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

March 20, 2011

My deepest sympathies to the family of Officer Birkholz and also to his police family at the Fond du Lac PD. I am so very sorry.

Officer ret. Paula Forest
Charlotte Mecklenburg PD, NC

March 20, 2011

Rest in peace, brother.

Officer R. Law
Rocklin PD

March 20, 2011

RIP May god bless you and your family. Thank you for the sacrifices you have made.

Roger E. Burton, PPAII
Missouri Probation Parole

March 20, 2011

God Bless You and Rest In Peace Officer Birkholz. Thank You, Terry Granato

Terry Granato
Border Agents Mom

March 20, 2011

While I sit here another young officer has made the ultimate sacrifice. God bless you and rest peacefully. God be with this young WARRIOR, he protected us on earth and now deserves the best of assignments in Heaven.

If today is to be THE DAY, so be it.
If you seek to do battle with me this day,
you will receive the best that I am capable of giving.
It may not be enough, but it will be everything that
I have to give and it will be impressive, for I
have constantly prepared myself for this day.
I have trained, drilled, and rehearsed my actions
so that I might have the best chance of defeating you.
I have kept myself in peak physical condition,
schooled myself in the martial skills and have
become proficient in the application of combat tactics.
You may defeat me, but you will pay a severe price
and will be lucky to escape with your life.
You may kill me, but I am willing to die if necessary.
I do not fear Death, for I have been close enough to it
on enough occasions that it no longer concerns me.
But I do fear the loss of my Honor and would rather die
fighting than to have said that I was without courage.
So, I WILL FIGHT YOU,
no matter how insurmountable it may seem
and to the death if need be,
in order that it may never be said of me that I was not a WARRIOR!
author not known

Lt TDW
ADOC SRP

March 20, 2011

You will be missed, thoughts and prayers for your family.

Sgt. Mark Richter
Sheboygan Sheriff's Dept.

March 20, 2011