Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

Your Service will always be remembered. Rest in Peace Brother.

Transport Officer M. Kouris
North Charleston Police Dept.

December 21, 2013

God speed Sgt. Sowders. Sincerest sympathies and prayers for the family, friends and coworkers of Sgt. Sowders.

Officer Greg Lucas
Idalou Police Dept.

December 20, 2013

Our prayers are with your family. Thank you for your dedication and service. God bless you!

Deputies Kathleen& Tommy Torres
Harris County Sheriff's Deparrment

December 20, 2013

Our deepest sympathy to the dear family and friends of Sergeant Adam Sowders. God Bless you sir for your service and sacrifice you made to keep others safe. Rest in Peace, you will not be forgotten.

Sgt. Jim May (ret)
CMPD Charlotte, NC

December 20, 2013

RIP Sergeant Sowders

Katie
Game Warden Wife

December 20, 2013

My prayers are with your family and your fellow Officers. Thank you for your service Sergeant Sowders. Rest In Peace

Sheriff Tom Allman
Mendocino County, California

December 20, 2013

This poem was written after getting my wife’s 19 years perspective of being a police officer’s wife.


“He Does it For You!”

He doesn’t do it for the money,
Cause surely there’s something better to do,
He says, “Someone has to do it!”
So really, he does it for you.

His eight to twelve hours is from call to call,
From a murder to a cat in a tree,
You say he’s never around when you really need him,
But without him, where would you be?

You curse him when you get a speeding ticket,
And scream there’s something better he could do,
But have you looked at how many deaths there are on the highways,
So really, he’s doing it for you.

He’s always seeing so much bad in the world,
He really doesn’t know what to do,
He wonders sometimes if it’s even worth it,
But he knows he has to do it for you.

Each day when he leaves for work,
And I always kiss him good-bye,
I don’t know if I’ll see him again,
Cause the day might be the day he dies.

So many times he comes home from work,
And I see a small tear in his eyes,
I ask him what is the problem dear?
And he says another innocent person has died.

You always say a cop isn’t human,
Cause at a tragedy he’s cool from the start,
But you don’t have to live with him,
And watch his mind and heart break apart.

I remember one hot June night at work,
His supervisor came, “Your husband’s been hurt!”, he said,
It was such a long ride to the hospital,
They wouldn’t say if he was alive or dead.

Crime is always on the increase,
The streets a battle ground,
And when one in “Blue” is slain,
At the funeral-taps will sound.

He’ll lay in a flagged draped coffin,
An honor for those who die for this land,
Just like the Army, Navy and Marines,
He died by the enemies hands.

Most ordinary citizens won’t be at the funeral,
But you’ll see plenty of people wearing blue,
You’ll see dozens of marked patrol cars,
Honoring the one who died for you.

Written by David L Bell Copyright © 1991
Retired Deputy Sheriff after over 38 years
Richland County Sheriff’s Dept
Columbia, SC

Investigator David L Bell (Retired)
Richland County Sheriff's Dept., Columbia, SC

December 20, 2013

In Honor of your Sacrifice and for your family and friends, I salute you as a HERO! May God
Give the family and friends the strength and faith to deal with this tragic loss. Words can not express my sorrow!

"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

This may be re-posted in the Honor of his death and the death of any Law Enforcement Officer!

Investigator David L Bell (Retired)
Richland County Sheriff's Dept., Columbia, SC

December 20, 2013

My sincerest sympathy to the family and friends of
Sergeant Investigator Adam Sowders as well as to the Burleson County Sheriff's Office. Rest in peace Sergeant Sowders, you are gone but will not be forgotten...

Dispatcher Sue Rusch
Punta Gorda PD, Punta Gorda FL

December 20, 2013

RIP Brother

Deputy Anita Price
Bexar County Sheriff's Office, San Antonio, Texas

December 20, 2013

May God comfort Officer Sowder's family and in time, bring them peace in knowing the legacy he left behind, was the love he gave while he was here.

Terri Calhoun
Daughter of Officer Richard Calhoun HPD 2414 EOW Oct. 10, 1975

December 20, 2013

Sgt Sowders, rest in peace our brother. You'll never be forgotten.

Sgt Richard Eckert
Town of Chester PD

December 20, 2013

So saddened to hear the news.

May you rest in peace after having served those around you. My thoughts are with you, your family, fellow officers and friends.

Reserve Officer G. Krystof
Los Angeles Police Department

December 20, 2013

God Bless you Sergeant Sowders

Resident of Malden, MA

December 20, 2013

RIP Sergeant Sowders. You have fought the good fight. Thank you for your service. Prayers to you family, blood & blue.

Cheryl Railsback
Surviving Mother of Deputy Shane Detwiler EOW 7-13-09

December 20, 2013

WEEPING MAY ENDURE FOR A NIGHT ,BUT JOY COMES IN THE MORNING...GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY..

RICKY & AQUANETTA ISSAC
SURVIVING PARENTS OF DEPUTY RICKY R ISSAC JR. EOW:12-8-12

December 20, 2013

I am deeply saddened by your loss. Our prayers are with you and your family.

Stephanie Harris, LEOW - Spouse of Sgt, LAPD

December 20, 2013

R.I.P. BROTHER Sowders!!!

Nebraska Police Officer

December 20, 2013

RIP, Adam

Amanda A
Travis County Pretrial

December 20, 2013

My deepest condolences and sympathy to Sgt. Sowders’ family, friends, and the Burleson County Sheriff’s Office.

Officer Carlos Garcia
La Joya ISD Police Dept.

December 20, 2013

My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. You are a Hero Sergeant Sowders. Rest in peace Dear Brother. God bless.

CATHERINE A. GARIBAY SANCHEZ
SURVIVING SISTER of DEPUTY SHERIFF
STEVEN GARIBAY EOW 2/10/1987

December 20, 2013

Adam,
Brother, you were an amazing man and excellent officer. You will be truly missed by everyone. It was an honor to have gotten to work with you!

Narcotics K9 Officer Jim Sherer
Caldwell Police Department

December 20, 2013

Rest in peace my brother. Our thoughts and prayers are with you, your family and the Burleson County Sheriff's Office.

James J. Scanlon (CPD Rtird
North Amrican SWAT Training Assoc.

December 20, 2013

May God be with this family throughout as his Law Enforcement brothers and sisters are here to help them heal during a time like this. When an officer gives his all in service to the people, the best of memories lingers forever. Our love and respect goes out to this fallen hero. He is with God now receiving his medal for meritorious service. God bless and we will continually pray for his family.

City Marshal Bonnea Tindle
Killeen, Texas City Marshals Office

December 20, 2013

Rest easy brother, you have stood your watch with pride and professionalism. Go to the promised place where you can look down to see your brothers continue what you have started. Thank you for your service. May the light of Christ ease the pain on the ones you have loved, and those who have loved you in return

Sean D. Creamer; Chief (ret)
TPSU; New Bern, NC

December 20, 2013