Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

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

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

December 13, 2011

God bless you and we honor your service to your country and Commonwealth. Rest in Peace, brother. We will carry forth the mission in your honor.

Officer David Lyons
Peninsula Airport Commission Police Department (NNWIA)

December 13, 2011

Thank you for your service, Officer Crouse. You and your family are in my prayers.

Sherry Clouser
Virginia Tech Alum

December 12, 2011

Your Family is in our prayers. Thank you for your service

Deputy J.A. Williams
Campbell County Sheriffs Office. Va

December 12, 2011

So sad that your life was cut short, but we have to believe in the Lords plans for us all even though at this moment it may make no sence to us...to your family and friends and those you protected while we slept safely in our beds and went about our daily lives, you were all blessed to have had him in your lives...i pray that the Lord will grant you peace and understanding...God Bless you all

Wendy Nichols, Callaway Va
greatful american

December 12, 2011

"When God Made Peace Officers"
Unknown Author

When the Lord was creating peace officers, he was into his sixth day of overtime when an angel appeared and said, "You're doing a lot of fiddling around on this one"
And the Lord said, "Have you read the spec on this order?" A peace officer has to be able to run five miles through alleys in the dark, scale walls, enter homes the health inspector wouldn't touch, and not wrinkle his uniform."
He has to be able to sit in an undercover car all day on a stakeout, cover a homicide scene that night, canvass the neighborhood for witnesses and testify in court the next day."
He has to be in top physical condition at all times, running on black coffee and half-eaten meals. And he has to have six pairs of hands."
The angel shook her head slowly and said, "Six pairs of hands...no way."
"It's not the hands that are causing me problems." said the Lord, "It's the three pairs of eyes an officer has to have."
"That's on the standard model?" asked the angel.
The Lord nodded. "One pair that sees through the bulge in a pocket before he asks, 'May I see what's in there sir?' (When he already knows and wishes he'd taken that accounting job.) Another pair here in the side of the head for his partner's safety. And another pair of eyes here in the front that can look reassuringly at a bleeding victim and say. 'You'll be all right ma'am.' When he knows it isn't so."
"Lord," said the angel, touching his sleeve, "rest and work on this tomorrow."
"I can't" said the Lord, "I already have a model that can talk a 250 pound drunk into a patrol car without incident, and feed a family of five on a civil service pay check."
The angel circled the model of the peace officer very slowly. "Can it think?" she asked.
"You bet." said the Lord. "It can tell you the elements of a hundred crime scenes; recite Miranda warnings in his sleep; detain, investigate, search, and arrest a gang member on the street in less time than it takes five learned judges to debate the legality of the stop...and still keeps its sense of humor."
"This officer also has phenomenal personal control. He can deal with crime scenes painted in hell; coax a confession from a child abuser; comfort a murder victim's family; and then read in the daily paper how law enforcement isn't sensitive to the rights of criminal suspects."
Finally, the angel bent over and ran her fingers across the cheek of the peace officer. "There's a leak." She pronounced. "I told you that you are trying to put to much in this model."
"That's not a leak," said the Lord, "it's a tear."
"What's the tear for?" asked the angel.
"It's for bottled-up emotions; for fallen comrades; for commitment to that funny piece of metal called his badge; for justice."
"You're a genius." said the angel.
The Lord looked somber. "I didn't put it there." he said.

Sheffie Weatherford
friend of another fallen officer

December 12, 2011

"Tragedies do happen. We can discover the reason, blame others, imagine how different our lives would be had they not occurred. But none of that is important: they did occur, and so be it. From there onward we must put aside the fear that they awoke in us and begin to rebuild." The Hokie Nation has proven it can and will go on, sustaining each other in the worst of times. They will be there for the family, not for a few days, or a month, but for a lifetime. I pray for all his loved ones and will miss taking jabs at his Steelers during football season....Rest in peace Deriek.

Willow Rosenblatt
Cburg Demon/Hokie/VT Football Employee

December 12, 2011

God bless your wife and each of your five sons. Protect them so they may grow up remembering your faith and dedication and continue to be proud of the example you set. Rest in peace Officer Crouse.

Bill Parsons
UVa '59

December 12, 2011

I offer my sincerest condolences to Officer Crouse's family and friends.

Seeing how much Officer Crouse's service meant to the Hokie community has inspired me to reflect on ways I can serve. Thank you, Officer Crouse, for embodying ut prosim for the tech community.

Fellow hokie
Grad student

December 12, 2011

Officer Crouse,
You made the ultimate sacrifice protecting the students and many others at the university. Words cannot even express how truly sorry I am. My thoughts and prayers are with your wife and 5 kids. Being a survivor myself, I can truly only say one thing. Your family will be in great arms and care with Concerns of Police Survivors. Continue to watch down and protect all the men and women in blue. Thank you.

"It is not how these officers died that made them heroes, it is how they lived."

Caroline
daughter of fallen officer Det. Sgt. Mark F. Parry EOW 1/21/02

December 12, 2011

I can simply offer up my prayers for your family as you mourn this tragic and senseless loss. You are not alone. The prayers and support of many are behind you.

A Fellow Virgininian

December 12, 2011

From the pen of President Abraham Lincoln written November 21, 1864,
“…….I feel how weak and fruitless must be any word of mine which should attempt to beguile you from the grief of a loss so overwhelming. But I cannot refrain from tendering you the consolation that may be found in the thanks of the Republic they died to save. 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.
Yours, very sincerely and respectfully,
A. Lincoln”

M. Reuss Police Officer
Eagan MN Police Department

December 12, 2011

Rest In Peace. May your family be comforted by those who surround them now and eventually by their happy memories of you.

Probation Officer (ret)
Westchester Count Probation

December 12, 2011

The Hokie Nation and everyone in Law Enforcement feels your loss. God speed and Rest in Peace in "Hokie Heaven"

P. Suttle, Magistrate
27th Dist. VA & VT '96

December 12, 2011

RIP Brother.

Det. Andreoli
NYPD

December 12, 2011

God bless you.

Corey S.
VT '13

December 12, 2011

Officer Crouse thank you for your dedication to our country, our community, and to V.T. You lost your life in such a tragic and senseless way. R.I.P officer. I pray for your wife and 5 boys daily. May God watch over them and comfort them in these very difficult times. Peace to you and your family.

Erika H.
member of the Blacksburg community

December 12, 2011

Rest in peace thy good and faithful servant.

Sergeant Sherri Luke
Florida A&M University Department of Public Safety

December 12, 2011

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

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

December 12, 2011

Edmund Burke said "All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing. Do not allow evil to triumph. Do not do sit by and do nothing." Officer Crouse was was a good man doing something important in the fight against evil. His life mattered to us all, as does his untimely and unfortunate passing. We sent our own daughter to Tech trusting that her four years there would be happy and productive. Because of him and others like him, they were! With aching hearts, we are praying for his wife and family. May they know how sorry we are for their loss.

Sharon Cooper
Prince William County Public Schools

December 12, 2011

Fallen Officer, Deriek W. Crouse , You Sir and your Family and all of your Police Family will be in my thoughts and Prayers today . It is a sad and difficult thing to see one of your Police Brothers die so young , trying to protect and serve his community . Many will assemble today to pay their respects and honor the Son , Husband , Father , and Brother that you are , that will never change . You ...are the example of what all Police Officers should be , dedicated , loyal , a servant that was willing to pay the ultimate price for his fellow man . There is a special place for you in Heaven , May you patrol the streets of Heaven , looking down and protecting your Family and your Bothers and Sisters of the Law Enforcement Community , and the citizens that you loved enough to give your life for , you are a true American Hero , Rest in Peace Brother, You will never be Forgotten ...Hokie Hero Forever.

Titus E. Burgess , Master Trooper ( Reti
Virginia State Police

December 12, 2011

Someone special
Died today,
Leaving this world
Lonely, bleak, and gray.
He was a man in blue
With a badge and a gun,
Who left behind
A wife, a mother, a son.
His warm sad tears
Wet the earth as he died,
While his brothers in blue
Wept and cried.
His badge now rests
Upon his still breast,
A shining bright star
Among a dark blue chest.
Though the sun will warm
Another summer day,
The world is so cold
Cause someone special died today.

by Lydia Warner Miller


RIP DERIEK, YOU WILL BE GREATLY MISSED. MY THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS ARE WITH THE CROUSE FAMILY DURING THIS TRAGIC TIME.

Deputy Lisa Shark
Montgomery County Sheriff's Office

December 12, 2011

My son and his wife met and worked on the Tech Rescue Squad and are still very active. Ryan is on his way this morning, wearing his uniform, probably. He is a Paramedic/Firefighter for Fairfax Co.
My heart is with Officer Crouse's family this day and the holiday season...Thank you for keeping our children safe!

Parent of Ryan
Fairfax County Fire/Rescue and Alex. City Public Schools

December 12, 2011

Thank you for your service and God Bless your family.
You are in our prayers, The Postons'

The Postons'

December 12, 2011

What a life of service Officer Crouse provided to America throughout his entire adult life. And it carried over in his provision of a home for a blended family. May each member of the family be touched by our Lord in a special way, as they deal with the pain and absence of their father and husband.

Douglas Johnson, Class of '77
Carriere, Mississippi

December 12, 2011