Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

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

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

December 13, 2011

Rest in peace brother you will never be for gotten thank you for your service and dedication.

Officer Carlos Moran Jr.
State of Nevada

December 13, 2011

Tony.. I was with you that tragic evening and yes you are a true hero... You fought a great fight the past 26 years and are now in a better place.... Rest in peace brother....

Steven Owens, Retired
Signal Hill PD

December 13, 2011

Rest in Peace. Your tour and pain is finally over. You are a hero.You will never be forgotten..

Retired Detective Frank DeMarco
NEW YORK CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT

December 12, 2011

Your suffering is over and you now dwell in Gods police department alongside all of our heroic and honorable brothers and sisters from law enforcement. Your family will be cared for by those left behind and the will keep your name alive in memory for years to come. Rest in peace brother. In Christ.

Tom Bradley, Retired
Phoenix PD, AZ State Chap. FOP

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

Tony left an impression on all those he loved, who loved him and whom he met. I was married to Tony and even though we went our separate ways, we had and will have a special place in our hearts for each other. I will miss him deeply, but I know we will see each other again. Rest in Peace and I'll keep the memories alive. Until we meet again.

Love Barbara

Barbara Swager
Former wife

December 12, 2011

Rest in peace my brother in blue. You came to the aid of a brother officer and that will never be forgotten.

Enjoy patrol on the streets of heaven. May we all have your courage under fire.

Police Officer II Vaquero
San Diego Police Department

December 12, 2011

Officer Giniewicz you can finally rest in peace and your soul can soar. Thank you for your service. God bless your family. Although your injury was years ago I know the family of blue has been there and you will never be forgotten.

Judy
Widow of NYSP Investigator

December 12, 2011

God Speed Professor! I'll never forget the day the D.I. called you that. The Professor, and it fit. You really did have the answer to everything. LASD Class #220 had 4 SHPD recruits. We were lucky to be in that class with Tony, it was like having your big brother there. I will never forget the night of 02-19-1985 as long as I live, Tony's actions stopped what surely would have devolved into a much greater tragedy. We tend to toss words like Hero and Warrior around these days, But I have blessed to have the privilege of serving with some true Warriors and Heroes. Tony Giniewicz, was a TRUE Warrior and a TRUE Hero. God Bless you my Brother, see you on the other side, standing tall.

Sergeant Patrick M. Fitzgerald
Centralia Police Department, Centralia Washington Classmate

December 12, 2011

From the pen of President Abraham Lincoln written on 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 brother...we will take the watch from here...the ultimate sacrifice you have made will not be forgotten. I am proud to render Police Officer Anthony "Tony" Alan Giniewicz a final salute.

PO KJ JONES
Troy, NY PD

December 12, 2011

Rest peacefully, sir. Our prayers are with your family.

A. Harrison, SrPO, County of San Diego
and mother of SDPD officer

December 12, 2011

I'm glad to hear that you fought so hard brother. I only hope that if the same were to happen to me, that I would refuse to be taken up for 17 years. See you at the Gates!

Officer Schneider
Calgary Transit

December 12, 2011

Tony, rest in peace and thank you and your family for your sacrifice.

For all those that have responded, thank you for your thoughts and prayers. The men and women of the Signal Hill Police Department are proud to call all of you brothers and sisters.

Captain
Signal Hill Police Department

December 12, 2011

Ptl. Leahy is so right. We must never forget anyone who dies a LOD death.

May God rest his soul and may the Almighty continue to be the stregnth and courage of those who survive him, as He must have been to Officer Giniewicz.

Chaplain Paul Worley
Chaplain Coordinator, San Antonio (Texas) PD

December 12, 2011

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

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

December 12, 2011

Seasons drift so quickly
Beneath the single sky
A lesson in the making
All things must come to die.

Therein lies the silence
The journey beyond the breath
To flowers in the forest
We've now become in death.

But speak of the glint of the eye
Reflected in Damascus Blade
For those who saw freedom & honor
And in battle their lives they gave.

So take heart men of Valor
Know your deeds will endure the night
Live on as flowers in the forest
Live on, within God's light.

Sgt. John A. Kilpatrick (Retired)
Pima County Sheriff's Dept, Tucson, AZ

December 12, 2011

Often the ones who die YEARS later are overlooked by the public. That's truly a shame. On the one hand they had time to spend with family and friends after the tragic event; that can never be taken away. On the other hand, they still lost their lives LOD and too many can't see that.

To Officer Giniewicz, you earned your rest, day in and day out. You may have lost your battle in the long run, but you beat the son of a bitch that caused it to happen. You survived over 26 years. You are a hero! God bless and may you forever Rest in Peace, Brother.

Ptl. Jim Leahy, Jr.
Harvard University Police Dept.

December 12, 2011

Rest in peace, Officer Giniewicz.

Linda Lamm - LEO wife and sister of
Jay Balchunas EOW 11.05.04

December 12, 2011

His Judgment Day:
The officer stood and faced his God, Which must always come to pass. He hoped his shoes were shinning, Just as brightly as his brass.
"Step forward now, Officer, How shall I deal with you? Have you always turned the other cheek To my church have you been true?"
The officer squared his shoulder and said, "No, Lord, I guess I aint, Because those of us who carry badges can't always be a saint.
I've had to work most Sundays, And at times my talk was rough, And sometimes I've been violent Because the streets are tough.
But I never took a penny That wasn't mine to keep.. Though I worked a lot of overtime, when the bills got too steep.
And I never passed a cry for help Though at times I shook with fear. And sometimes, God forgive me, I've wept an unmanly tear.
I know I don't deserve a place among the people here. They never wanted me around except to calm their fear.
If you've a place for me here, Lord, it needn't be so grand. I never expected or had too much, But if you don't...I'll understand.
There was silence all around the throne, where the saints often trod. As the officer waited quietly for the judgment of his God.
"Step forward now, Officer. You've borne your burdens well. Come walk a beat on heaven's streets, You've done your time in hell"

Author unknown

May God be with everyone

Motor Officer Terry Pauley
Plano PD Plano, TX

December 12, 2011

On behalf of the 6,048 members of the American Association of State Troopers (AAST), we extend our sincere condolences to Officer Giniewicz’s family as well as the members of the Signal Hill 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

December 12, 2011

The Fannin County Sheriff's Office would like to express our condolences to the family, friends, and Brothers in Blue. Our prayers are with you and your family.

Chief Deputy James Woods
Fannin County Sheriff's Office

December 12, 2011

The Florida Police Chiefs Association would like to express our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Officer Anthony Giniewicz, and the Signal Hill Police Department. Our thoughts and prayers are with you during this time of great sadness. Please take comfort in knowing that your extended law enforcement family grieves with you. Officer Giniewicz, we thank you for your service. You will not be forgotten.

Members and Staff
Florida Police Chiefs Association

December 12, 2011

Rest in Peace brother.

Det. Andreoli
NYPD-Detective

December 12, 2011