Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

I always hate to hear this news. God be with his family during this time.

Special Agent Mike Sheron
NCSBI

July 6, 2011

Our family's thoughts and prayers are with his family, his department, his fellow LEOs and his community. Know that we will remember to Never Forget your LE service.

Pamela West Klemp
former Police Communications Dispatcher, Chalreston, WV

July 6, 2011

I am at a loss for words at the passing of Eli. Just two weeks ago we had our military reunion in Myrtle Beach. I am grateful for the time spent catching up. My thoughts and prayers go out to the family.

Rest in peace my brother and may the airborne jumpmaster in the sky receive you with open arms.

First Sergeant R.W. Elkins
North Carolina State Highway Patrol

July 6, 2011

May God give his family and friends strength to get through their grief. Rest in Peace......

Barbara Edwards
Grateful Citizen

July 6, 2011

Rest In Peace Brother. Thank you for your service to this GREAT Country in the US Army. You are a true HERO!!! My condolences to your Family and the Sanford Police Department.

PO Fred Nordt
Lake Success PD, Long Island, NY

July 6, 2011

Thank you for your service! God's Speed brother!

Deputy M. Chavez Jr.
Fresno County Sheriff's Office, California

July 6, 2011

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

Terry Granato
Border Agents Mom

July 6, 2011

Rest in peace brother.

Deputy T. Luttrell
WCSD-TN

July 6, 2011

My heart and prayers are for the family and fellow officers of brother Eli. Continue to pray and ask God for healing and understanding.

Ofc. Keith Lewis
New Carrollton Police Dept.

July 6, 2011

I worked on the same department with Eli for a short time. I left only a few months after he was hired. He was always a Great Guy and will be missed. Rest in peace brother.

Captain Kurt Henderson
WakeMed Campus Police

July 6, 2011

My pegs are down for you brother. May you rest in peace. Condolences to the family.

CT
TX Peace Officer

July 6, 2011

My thoughts and prayers go out to Officer Colonroche, his family, friends, and the entire Sanford Police Department. Thank you for your service Officer Colonroche. We've got the watch from here.

Sergeant
Fredericksburg Police Department(VA)

July 6, 2011

Eli was an awesome man. Always had time to talk to you. My daughter met him only once and when she heard the news, she said heavens got a new angel now. Eli, you are very well respected and will be missed more than words can say.

Patroling the streets of gold.

Eli Colonroche
EOW 07/05/2011

Daryl Kirby, Dispatcher SPD
Sanford Police Dispatcher

July 6, 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 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 (Retired)
Richland County Sheriff's Dept., Columbia, SC

July 6, 2011

On behalf of the Angier Police Department I would like to express our condolences to the friends, family, and fellow officers that worked with Officer Eli Colonroche. We will keep you all in our prayers. Thank you for all your services to the United States of America as a soldier and police officer. Rest in Peace Officer Colonroche.

Officer Dustin J. Frickman
Angier Police Department

July 6, 2011

To Patrol Officer Colonroche's wife, sons, friends, brothers and sisters in blue, my deepest condolences. You are all in my thoughts and prayers and hope that all these messages will help you deal with this tragedy. RIP Patrol Officer Colonroche. God Bless!

Helene Pawlikowski
citizen

July 6, 2011

Thank you Officer Colonroche for your fine service and dedication for the fine folks in Sanford, NC. You are a true AMERICAN HERO !!! My condolences to your family, friends and co-workers. may you forever, rest in peace, my brother...

Mitch Cheselka
Sergeant / CA-OR Retired

July 6, 2011

Thank you for your 31 years of dedicated service and may god bless your soul and that of your family. May you rest in peace--your brothers will carry on as you would expect of them.

Sgt.Ret. Dennis Norling
Phoenix Police Department

July 6, 2011

as so many officer have gone down this mouth its hard to bear
my codolences thoughts and prayers go out to the Sanford Police Department , Officer Colonroches Family and Friends
and to all who knew him as well as all officers who are sadden by this loss .

Thank you for your dedicated service

rest in peace

Isabella

July 6, 2011

Rest in peace. Never forgotten. My thoughts and prayers are with your family.

Officer Mike Rooney
Allentown PA PD (Retired)

July 6, 2011

My only child takes refuge in your beautiful town of Sanford. She is there with my 2 grandchildren and my son in law serving in the Army at Bragg. They moved there to be safe and loved the townspeople there. Thank you Officer Colonroche for their security and my peace of mind that such brave men as yourself and the others watch over them. May God give your family strength and love. My prayers from the other side of the state of North Carolina are with you all.
Lee A. Hardin- Canton, NC

Lee A. Hardin
Canton, NC

July 6, 2011

Off Colonroche, may you rest in peace. You'll never be forgotten.

Sgt Richard Eckert
Town of Chester Police Dept

July 6, 2011

God Bless the family of Officer Colonroche and his fellow officers of the Sanford Police Department

Military Police Officer Hickman, Chris
US Army

July 6, 2011

On behalf of the Officers I work with here in Greensboro, I send my regards and hope for your family and friends.

Godspeed...

Ofc. K. Jarrell
UPD

July 6, 2011

Thank you for your service to community and country. You will be sorely missed and never forgotten. May God watch over your family and protect them. Brother, we now have the watch. Godspeed.

Deputy R. L. Matthews NC
Father of Deputy C. Brian Matthews E.O.W. 9/30/2005

July 6, 2011