Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

I knew Chris when he had first started in Law Enforcement, He was assigned to the jail divison under my command. Early on in his career I could see that this young man was not afraid to get his hands dirty. One evening we had a contamination problem with an aids patient, in which we had to remove his mattress. Several other Deputies were reluctant to assit in this job, but not Chris. He assisted me in grabbing the offending items and taking these items out of the jail to be destroyed. No one else stepped up to help, due to the fear of Aids. This Officer was not afraid to do what had to be done. He carried this sprirt of "can do" through out his career.
I was proud of him that day and was proud to watch him continue his career on our department.
Chris be at Peace!

LT David K Breedlove Retired
Sedgwick County Sheriff

January 15, 2005

Rest in peace Deputy Willems, we'll take it from here.

PFC. R. Sipes
Federal Reserve Police

January 4, 2005

I still remember the night when I heard the bad news. I was a reserve officer with the Wichita PD. I didn't know Chris very well but I liked him and most of all I respected him. Rest in Peace brother.

November 16, 2004

THANK YOU CHRIS,I UNDERSTAND NOW.REST IN PEACE BUD.

CHRIS

February 12, 2004

To Chris' family,
In the late 80's I was stationed at McConnell AFB and had the privelidge of going to work as a reserve deputy for SCSO.
Although many of the street guys wasn't very happy about having a rider during shift, Chris allowed me to ride with him on numerous occasions. He gave invaluable training I have used over and over again during my 20 years of law enforcement. I will always remember Chris' friendship and the enthusiasm he brought to his work. May God bless you all and I am thankful for having been friends with a great Sheriff's Officer.

Sgt Ramsey Mannon
Office of the Sheriff Effingham County, GA

December 11, 2003

07-17-03, A HERO IS NEVER FORGOTTEN. IT IS MY HOPE THAT THE BRUTES THAT TOOK YOUR LIFE WILL SOMEDAY HAVE TO BEG FOR THIER LIVES AND THEN EXECUTED. MAY GOD BLESS YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS. REST IN PEACE MY DEAR BROTHER.

CHIEF RONNIE WATFORD-RETIRED
JEFFERSON POLICE DEPT,S.C.

Rest in peace. You will not be forgotten.

Inv. Michael Walker
Tallahassee Police Department

Rest in peace brother, and to your family-be strong! My heart goes out to you.

WPD

dear chris its been a while but i still remember like it was yesterday you are not forgotten i remember meeting you when i was part of the sheriff's cadet program i will miss you, you were always a good officer and someone who was kind to a beginner thank you rest in peace


Troy

old friend

Chris, You were a mentor and an inspiration to me. While others taught me the laws, the rules and how to wear the uniform, you taught me how to be a cop. You showed me how it was done and weren't afraid to give me a little piece of your mind when I was out of line.

It's been 11 years now and your picture still hangs proudly on my wall. I have told my boys about you. I would probably not be who I am today without the lessons I learned from you. Thanks for being my teacher.

Captain Justin Smith
Larimer County Sheriff's Office, Colorado

I am sorry to have to put this page is here, but at the same time I'm glad that my fellow brothers and sisters are there for each other. We may not know each other, but we have that common bond and we all bleed blue, brown, tan, black etc... it all comes down to one thing we are one. I am sadden that our fellow brother has passed on, I only can hope that this is the way he would like to be remembered. I hope that his family understands that he gave his life for a job that he loved, just as much as I am sure that he loved them.

May you rest in peace, thank you for your ultimate sacrifice my brother. You will be missed.

Officer Robert A. Speer
VA Police Department

BLOOD UPON THE SHIELD

Confrontation in an alley. The Centurion does not yield.
But this time the good guy loses; there is blood upon the shield.
And the mournful sounds of bagpipes play out across the land,
drowned out by the sobs of a lonely young wife and a child too young to understand.
While the killer pleads his case in court,
the thin blue line is one man short.
And we're one step closer to society's fall;
another cops's name is engraved on the wall.
Another state funeral, with an army in blue,
and we know it could've been me and it could've been you.

We all look ahead to what the future has in store,
front line troopers in a country that's at war.
At war with itself and at war with its cops and we're out
there every day 'cause the battle never stops.
It's not the way it is on TV shows or like we learned in school;
no cool music in the background,
no playing by the "rules".

We're disillusioned warriors,
but for right we'll always strive.
We just pray that at the end of our stress-filled day
we'll get back home alive.
You stand out on the corner
ignoring the insults and the stares,
close to the point of believing that no one really cares,
when a six year-old boy walks over after watching
you for awhile, reaching out to shake your hand,
on his face a friendly smile. To him you are a hero,
a protector of our land,
and he wants
to learn about you,
as a cop and a man.
And when he asks you why your badge is covered
by a black elastic band,
tell him about our Brother--
A cop who made a stand.

By: Randolph Liebec


Godspeed, Brother
My heart goes out to your family and friends...

PTLM Andrew Hill
Center Twp Police Dept

Thank you for your sacrifice Deputy Willems. I hope that your family has found comfort through their faith in God in the years following your death. I can't imagine what it was like for you to lose him, but like it is said, our nation is stronger because of people like him. That is something that can never be taken from you. God bless you.

Explorer Sgt. Patrick Siemon
Baltimore County Police Explorers

God Bless you, your Department, and your family. Thank you for your ultimate sacrifice.

Kenny Rose
Lehi Police Department (Utah)

Hearing stories about heroes like Deputy Willems losing their lives in such a manner motivates me to work harder, search deeper and put criminals like those where they belong. He won't be forgotten.

Anonymous

I have been coming daily to this website for the past several months and have written reflections to every death since the first day i arrived. I have also looked back at previous years and read alot of the stories back as far as 1995. Although everyone of these stories is devestatingly sad, i have been able to keep my cool and hold back most of my tears, until today. This story is the first to make me openly cry. To think about myself in that same situation and how afraid i would be, i can only imagine what Deputy Willems must have been feeling when that horrible act was being committed. This is heart-breaking and makes me even more anxious to get out on those streets and try my best to get some of those guns off the street. God Bless you Deputy Willems. I will never forget you and your devastating story. I'll do my best to keep myself and the public safe in your memory. May you rest in peace and may god be with your family.

Explorer Justin Betts
Alameda County Sheriff's Office, CA

I'm terribly saddened by the loss of another Law Enforcement Officer, I pray for the family and friends of officer Willems. Rest in Peace Brother Officer, we will miss you.

Deputy Sheriff
Tennessee