Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

Our thoughts and prayers are with the family, friends and co-workers of this brave officer. Rest in Peace.

Sheriff Ray Foster
Buchanan County Sheriff's Office

March 8, 2012

Though I never knew her, she was part of my Law Enforcement family and I will mourn this deep loss the rest of my life. My heart aches with all the losses we have suffered, and continue to suffer, through the years. God is our only peace through such incidents. May family & friends feel the presence of the "God of all comfort" as they endure the distressing days ahead. I join you in your agonizing grief & remember you in my prayers.

Another senseless tragedy
Another day of grief,
Another day of praying
To help us find relief.

Relief from bitter anguish
Relief from rage so great,
Relief from lenient justice
Which continues to seal our fate.

Relief from heartache’s torment
As we continue on,
Oh, the awesome loss of brotherhood
Now that you are gone.

Though our hearts are deeply broken
And our tears forever flow,
There’s a comforting assurance
That now with God you go.

We know that you are welcome
Now at Heaven’s gate,
While meeting brothers & sisters
Who also met such fate.

The family of Law Enforcement
Knows no distance here or there,
And we recall in comfort
You await us there.

Vicki Hare, Telecommunicator
Salisbury NC PD

March 2, 2012

My heart goes out to the family, friends and co-workers of this brave Officer. May God bring you peace and a speedy closure to this tragic event. Please remember, our sister will ALWAYS be a HERO and will NEVER be forgotten!

SGT Mark B. Hanna, Retired
Fayetteville, AR P.D.

March 1, 2012

Thomas, it was a pleasure to know you. Each and every time our Honor Guard units got together you were always the one that was cutting up and having fun like myself. Thanks for sharing the smiles and your service. Rest Well, we shall all meet again.

Ret. Senior Officer M. Thurmond

February 26, 2012

I met SPO Gail Thomas at a police memorial ceremony in in 2009 in Forsyth, GA at GPSTC; her smile was infectious. My prayers go to the family and her department.

Det Angela Smith
Brrunswick Police

February 22, 2012

I am working on a memorial piece for Officer Thomas. The more I learn, the more I feel that everyone here in Atlanta who didn't know her have missed out on a meeting a very special person. The kind of person when you see coming, your heart skips a beat, and that warm feeling of trust and comfort spreads from your stomach. The kind of person you would want to like you, and you crave to be around. In a world full of murder, violence, and hate, it's beyond refreshing to hear about someone who truly was an angel amongst humans. Just knowing that there was someone like that in my community makes me want to believe in the goodness of people, and it makes me sad that I never got to meet her, even for an instant.

When my uncle died serving the NYFD, I found comfort in the words written by Abraham Lincoln to Mrs. Bixsby in Boston during the Civil War, and here they are for Gail Thomas:

I feel how weak and fruitless must be any word of mine which should attempt to beguile your family 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 community she died to protect.

I pray that our Heavenly Father may assuage the anguish of your family and friend's bereavement, and leave them 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.

Thank you for being a light and guide for all of us who are lost.

Stephen
Atlanta Citizen Paying Due Respects

February 20, 2012

Rest in peace sister.

Sgt. Matt Allen
Granville PD Granville, WV

February 19, 2012

Rest in Peace, Senior Police Officer Thomas. Your sacrifice is not forgotten.

Officer 11169

February 17, 2012

Rest in peace my sister in blue. Thank you for the service you provided my home town.

Sergeant A. Mazzuca
Gainesville (Florida) Police Department

February 16, 2012

"Never forget what they did here. It is rather for us, the living, to be dedicated here to the great task remaining before us - that, from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they here, gave the last full measure of devotion - that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain."
President Lincoln
Your sacrifice and last full measure of devotion will not be forgotten. RIP

Detective Chris Welby
Bridgeton, Missouri PD

February 9, 2012

Thank you for your service and may you rest in peace.

Deputy Commonwealth's Attorney
Virginia

February 9, 2012

A Policewomen's Prayer

Oh lord, I am a woman, not a man,
I am a Mother not a Dad,
I am a wife with responsibilities that men have never had,
I need understanding from all my peers,
that I am not here to take away a man's job,
I am doing it because I care.

I took the job to enforce the law,
to do my part in the fight to have justice FOR ALL.
To be professional, to make a career, Great Lord,
help me when they say I should not be here.

I work the long hours, face all the dangers and do the same
things that they do in law enforcement matters,
Grant me the respect like the others, for I am one.

Set aside for every other one, Lord,
being a policewoman is the most challenging job I have ever done,
be with me on my daily run, as you are with us all,
I thank you for the ability to enforce the law.

Amen

OFFICER JACKSON

February 9, 2012

I only met you briefly on Independance Day 2005 & we swapped patches.

I am sure you were a credit to the APD and a great example to all law enforcement officers around the world.

RIP

Snr Sgt Brian Locke
New Zealand Police

February 9, 2012

It was an honor to serve with you for two years before I was transferred....I never will forget the night I was working a vehicle that was broken down and you came along and backed me up....your wisdom and instinct kicked in and you told me to run the driver on ACIC in which the driver had a warrant for his arrest from out of state for aggrivated assault....I will be forever grateful for the knowledge and wisdom you shared with me and other Officers....The Honor Gaurd which you served in did a tremendous presentation to your family in which you would have been proud of.....although unit #1525 is code-8 for the remainder, you will always be with every rookie Officer looking over his or her shoulder showing them how to police the correct way. You treated everyone with respect and you had an amazing way of dealing with people. Thank you for your service and rest in peace, because you have served your time....

-OFC A. Colton

Officer
Atlanta Police

February 6, 2012

May God Bless your soul Officer Gayle, My Deepest Condolences.

Tyla Robinson

February 6, 2012

Officer Thomas-I never met you but thank you for your commitment to serve and protect. May your loved ones find peace and comfort during this difficult time of loss. From your picture you have a beautiful smile and I believe you are in a better place with even a brighter smile.

Laura

February 2, 2012

God be with the APD, family and friends of SPO Thomas as they grieve the loss of a sister. My prayers go out for all who must carry on without her. Rest in peace, Officer Thomas, we will take it from here.

Agent
Brevard County Sheriff, Florida

February 2, 2012

My condolences and respect to Atlanta PD, SPO Thomas family and law enforcement across the board. May she Rest In Peace, and blessings to all. Thanks to officers across the board whom put their lives on the line, military troups as well.

Agent
Federal Gov't IRS

February 1, 2012

It always saddens me to hear of another tragic death of a fellow law enforcement officer. Thank you for your service may you rest in peace.

PROVINCIAL CONSTABLE MARTY LALONDE
ONTARIO PROVINCIAL POLICE

January 31, 2012

Our deepest sympathy to the dear family and friends of Officer Gail Thomas. God Bless her for her service and the sacrifce she made to keep others safe. Rest in Peace sister, you will not be forgotten.

Sgt. Jim May (ret)
CMPD Charlotte, North Carolina

January 31, 2012

Thankyou for your service, you are a hero for us all to look up too. Rest in peace sister

POLICE OFFICER
PHILA PA

January 31, 2012

My incredible Sister, Mother, Mentor in blue. I (Officer Busby) FTO Affirm and Swear that I will live and work by your example because you were my mentor. I worked with you on morning watch for 5 years and relied on you for encouragement, back up and advise. You were very special to me. I only hope and pray that God saw it fit that you didn't suffer for one second and as soon as that light on the vehicle approached you, your soul was taken away to be with the angels in heaven. You will be forever in our memory. Your daughter Jazmine is a fine example of you(Good Job). Now that you have been laid to rest up on that hill where the City Of Atlanta is in plain view, watch over us Law Enforcement servants and like I promised to live by your example we will definately see again.
GOD BLESS YOU AND PEACE BE WITH YOU

FTO Amanda M. Busby
City Of Atlanta Zone 5

January 31, 2012

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE, REST IN PEACE.

N.J. TROOPER
NEW JERSEY STATE POLICE

January 31, 2012

I am a police officer in DC with Georgia roots and I was so sorry to hear about this tragedy. I know God is good, and I feel so blessed after watching the video from your collegues and pictures from your funeral via the web. It always pains me when bad things happen to such good people. Like you I've backed up other officers on traffic stops and you just never know if that run will be your last. The entire Atlanta Police Department and Jazmine have my family's deepest condolences. I will continue to keep you in my thoughts and my prayers as you mourn the loss of this courageous sister in blue. I salute you Gail Thomas.

Officer Bunkley #4813
Metropolitan Police Department Washington DC

January 31, 2012

"What moves through us is a silence, a quiet sadness, a longing for one more day, one more word, one more touch, we may not understand why you left this earth so soon, but little by little, we begin to remember not just that you died, but that you touched many lives . And gave us memories too beautiful to forget"
...Deepest Sympathy To Family And Friends Of Senior Police Officer Gail Thomas....God Bless You All .....

THERESA MELODY
Someone who cares

January 30, 2012