Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

MY PRAYERS AND DEEPEST SYMPTHY TO OFFICERS WILLINGHAMS FAMILY AND THE BROTHERS AND SISTERS OF THE WINSTON-SALEM POLICE DEPT THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICES R-I-P OFFICER WILLINGHAM JOB WELL DONE GOD SPEED SIR

BECCA
HUSBAND IS A RET LEO

July 30, 2011

You were a good officer and a good friend to many. I was fortunate enough to know you personally and run calls with you. You are certainly missed and will never be forgotten. God bless you and may you rest in peace Russ, we'll meet again on the other side. God speed...

Police Officer
WSPD

July 30, 2011

I fill for his familey and friends. I ha ve a son on the force also. We don"t know why these things happen. Anything we can do let us know.

charles meadows

July 30, 2011

Rest in peace brother.

Deputy T. Luttrell
WCSD-TN

July 30, 2011

HE LEAVES FOR WORK READY TO SERVE AND PROTECT NEVER KNOWING HE WAS GOING TO MAKE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE ENROUTE TO HELP A BROTHER OFFICER ONE WILL NEVER KNOW THE PAIN HE ENDURED MAY HIS SOUL REST IN PEACE AND GOD BLESS

police officer michael brady
nypd

July 30, 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 30, 2011

Rest in peace Brother Russell.

Ofc. Timothy M. Furlong
Nahant, MA PD

July 30, 2011

I cannot express in words how I feel....rest in peace brother..

CT D'Amato
sc state constable

July 30, 2011

Rest in Peace, Brother. Thank you for your service.

Sgt. Kevin Kratz
Buena Vista Twp Police Department (Michigan)

July 30, 2011

For Police Officer Russell Willingham:

The circumstance of this incident is horrific beyond all thought. We can only envision this happening with deep regret and with the fervent wish that any suffering was minimal. None among us can help but thinking of the many times that we responded to emergencies and well could have suffered the same fate. We regret that Russ has made this sacrifice and we question the reason of such a tragic occurrence.

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

We are proud to render a final salute to Officer Russ Willingham, a fearlesss and noble soldier-of-the-law, who has died in the very act of coming to the aid of others.

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

July 30, 2011

God bless Officer Willingham and his family. Thank you for your service to this great nation. Rest in peace brother, we'll take it from here.......

MASTER TROOPER J.R. FLEMING
NC STATE HIGHWAY PATROL

July 30, 2011

Thank you for your dedication and service to your community. You will be sorely missed and never forgotten. May God watch over your family and protect them. Brother, we now have the watch. Godspeed. "There is a hole in the world tonight..."

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

July 30, 2011

My heart goes out to the friends and family of Officer Willingham. He was a true hero and will never be forgotten. We feel your pain all the way across the country and your law enforcement family is here for you.

Lauren, California
Cathedral City PD offier family member

July 30, 2011

RIP Brother !

Patrol Officer B.L
GCSPD

July 30, 2011

To The Willingham Family:
Rest in peace Officer Willingham, your bravery will not be forgotten.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

July 30, 2011

To Officer Willingham's Family:
My heart goes out to you in this terible tragedy, mere words cant even express how you are feeling. May you please stick together as a family and Russell will be watching over you always...

To Officer Willingham:
I am so sorry you had to leave this life the way you did. You were not ready! The community has lost a good Officer and you protected them well. Please be there for your family let them know you are watching out for them, I know you can do this, my husband reached out for me and let me know that he was safe and at peace.
I salute you Sir, GodSpeed
.

Lisa from Western MA
Supportive Citizen of all Officers and their Families

July 30, 2011

The thoughts and prayers of my family are with yours my friend. May you rest in peace and may God be with your family in the coming months. The nation has lost another selfless individual serving us.

Fmr. Trooper W.M.Goss
NCSHP 55TH Basic School

July 30, 2011

R.I.P. brother Russell Willingham!!!

Husker Street Officer

July 30, 2011

Rest in peace Officer Willingham. My sincere condolences to your family and to your department. Godspeed as you now patrol the streets of gold. Thanks for your service. Terry F. Zech

OFC TERRY F. ZECH (RET) USN (RET)
VETERAN AFFAIRS POLICE DEPT, DETROIT MICHIGAN

July 30, 2011

What a tragic and sad event. My deepest condolences to Officer Willingham's family, friends and fellow Officers. You are all in my thoughts and prayers. RIP Officer Willingham. Thanks for your dedication and service.

Helene Pawlikowski
citizen

July 30, 2011

Rest in Peace Sir.............

Officer Thomas Wiederhold,Retired
Fort Worth Police Dept. Tx.

July 30, 2011

Russ, I thank you for the opportunity to be your supervisor and friend. I am a better man because of it. You touched so many lives during your watch, more than you will ever know. I will always remember you and your dedication. You will always be a member of "THE SQUAD," because you are still here with us. You will never be forgotten! "Greater love hath no man, than to lay down his life for another."

Go rest high "Wil", I appreciate all of your service and dedication. We will take it from here...with Gods help, somehow, someway.

331-K.A.B.A.M!!!

Sgt. T. A. Boyles
WSPD

July 30, 2011

"Blessed Are The Peacemakers'.

Rest in peace Officer Willingham.
Our payers are with your family & friends.

Sgt. Randy Keenan (Ret)
Alameda, CA Police Dept.

July 30, 2011

God Bless Officer Willingham, his family and friends. "I pray that our Heavenly Father may assuage the anguish of your bereavement, and leave you only the cherished memory of the loved and lost, and the solemn pride that must be yours to have laid so costly a sacrifice upon the altar of freedom." Abraham Lincoln

Officer Jeffrey Blose
Lake Alfred Police Department

July 30, 2011

Rest In Peace Brother. Watch over as your fellow officers continue on with the watch in your memory. My condolences to your Family and the Winston-Salem Police Department.

PO Fred Nordt
Lake Success PD, Long Island, NY

July 30, 2011