Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

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

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

July 6, 2014

Rest in peace.

Sgt. Jim Russo

July 6, 2014

RIP Brother, My prayers are with your family, both blood and blue.

Officer John Dilger
Neoga IL Police Department

July 6, 2014

IN MEMORY OF PATROLMAN JEFFREY BRADY WESTERFIELD

To the family, friends, and colleagues of Patrolman Jeffrey Brady Westerfield:

From the beginning of time after Cain killed his brother, Abel, there has been a need for law enforcement officers to protect the weak and to bring evildoers to justice. This work is necessary in a sinful world and is dangerous. In modern times, some fourteen law enforcement officers have sacrificed their lives to protect the citizens of Gary, Indiana. Today, we honor the sacrifice of Patrolman Jeffrey Brady Westerfield, of the Gary, Indiana Police Department; who was shot and killed, ambush-style, as he sat in his patrol car along the 2600 block of Van Buren Street on Sunday, July 6, 2014, in Gary, Indiana.

Lord God, we are grateful for the life of Patrolman Jeffrey Brady Westerfield. He died serving us. Help us never to forget. Help us celebrate the life of Patrolman Jeffrey Brady Westerfield and honor his sacrifice. Be with the family, friends, and colleagues of this fallen hero. Comfort them and give them your strength. Guide those who seek to take care of the family of this hero. May those empowered to do so, care for them with integrity. In commemorating the death of this hero, help those who mourn to remember that death is not the end. Death does not have the final say, but is simply the transition to the glorious life to come. They should look forward to that life to come with joy and thanksgiving.

As for the citizens of Gary, Indiana, help them to faithfully equip their law enforcement officers with the best tools to protect their community. May their training be adequate to the task. Help the citizens of Gary, Indiana, to remember to pay their law enforcement officers fairly and treat them with respect. Help the citizens of Gary, Indiana, to obey the law and treat each other with dignity so as not to add to the burden of crime and pain to their community.

The time for mourning will soon pass. We have now remembered and celebrated the life lost in this great tragedy. As the family, friends, and colleagues of Patrolman Jeffrey Brady Westerfield go forward, they must celebrate the good things in their lives; and to celebrate life itself!

Finally, Lord God, we pray for the families, friends, and colleagues of all the law enforcement officers who have been killed in the line-of-duty and we thank you for their sacrifices. Bless the lives of their families, friends, and colleagues so they might find healing. Help their law enforcement organizations support the families of these fallen heroes. Even though their deaths might have been senseless, make something good come out of these situations so that their law enforcement organizations and the communities in which they lived and served might be stronger because of their lives and their deaths.

Amen.

Lord God, hear our prayers.

Now, may the Lord bless you, and keep you: the Lord make His face to shine upon you, and be gracious unto you: the Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace. Amen.

In His Service,

Pastor Steven R. Closs
Retired Captain of Police, Nashua NH Police Department
The Peacemakers Prayer Ministry

Pastor Steven R. Closs
Retired Captain of Police, Nashua NH Police Department

July 6, 2014

I am so sorry for your loss. Having walked the path your family is on now, please know we are praying for you. May God hold you in the palm of His hand until you see Jeffrey in heaven again.

Michelle James
Sister of Eryk Heck
Allen County, Indiana Sheriff's Dept
EOW 8-15-07

Michelle James

July 6, 2014

May the Lord watch over and protect you as you did your fellow man. Rest in peace my brother.

Master Deputy Patrick Cockrell
Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office

July 6, 2014

RIP, Brother. God give courage and comfort to your families, both immediate and 'blue'. Be assured that, even though evil has done its worst, it will never prevail because of the heroes among ug us. Thank God for all who serve.

Chaplain Paul Worley
San Antonio, Texas Police Department

July 6, 2014

Your family and friends are in our thoughts and prayers. We will carry on from here. Godspeed brother and may you rest in peace.

Investigator Christopher King
Shelby County Sheriff's Office, Texas

July 6, 2014

May he rest in peace, and may God bless the family and colleagues he left behind.

Police Commissioner (retired) Bernard Ke
NYPD

July 6, 2014

Rest in Peace Brother

Corporal B.P. SULLIVAN
Royal Canadian Mounted Police

July 6, 2014

Thank you for your many years of service. I'm so grateful for all you did in life.

Stephanie, sister of an officer

July 6, 2014

RIP brother, we got the watch from here. My prayers go out to your family and friends may God Bless them all.

Officer A. OROZCO
ADOT/ECD

July 6, 2014

Why good guy's die? This is crying justice... RIP

Citizen Vladislav Sultanov
Russia

July 6, 2014

Why good guy's die? This is crying injuctise... RIP

Citizen Vladislav Sultanov
Russia

July 6, 2014

Rest in Peace Sir..........................................

Officer Thomas Wiederhold Retired
Fort Worth Texas Police Department

July 6, 2014

R.I.P. Patrolman Westerfield, our prayers go out to the family, Gary Police Department, and all those involved with him. From LVMPD our hearts are void from this tragic incident.

Police Officer
Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department

July 6, 2014

RIP, May God comfort your family!

Lt C. Rantz
Salisbury Police Department Salisbury,Md

July 6, 2014

My Deepest Sympathy to the Westerfield family, including Gary P.D.

Chuck Ingram, Retired Patrol & Detective
Barberton Ohio P.D.

July 6, 2014

It is bad enough to hear of one slain officer. Now another. Please accept my heartfelt condolences for the tragic loss of yet another officer. This is another example of the breakdown in the moral fiber of society.

My thoughts and prayers are with all of you at this most difficult time. May the Lord bless and keep you all.

Rest in peace brother.

P.O. (Ret) Donald Current
City of New York PD #2461

July 6, 2014

May God watch over you and your family as well as all law enforcement officers everywhere.

Professor Lyndon Wicker

M.S. Criminal Justice / Behavior

July 6, 2014

Rest in peace brother, we have the watch now.

Sergeant James Alfieri
New York State Office Of Court Administration

July 6, 2014

RIP Brother, may GOD bless you and your family.

Det. Russ Cain
Pittsburgh PD

July 6, 2014

Rest with God Officer Westerfield. Prayers for your family during this time in their lives. Your dedication and ultimate sacrifice will never be forgotten

retired Police Officer Bob Lester
Midland Texas Police Department

July 6, 2014

Rest in peace, Patrolman Westerfield. Thank you for your many years of dedicated service to your community. Your ultimate sacrifice and that of your family will not be forgotten. Prayers for your family, friends, Gary PD and many law enforcement brothers and sisters. Godspeed, Hero.

Kathy B
Grateful Citizen

July 6, 2014

Rest in peace patrolman Westerfield my sincere condolences to your family and to your department Godspeed as you now patrol the streets of gold

Ofc. Terry F Zech
Veteran affairs police department Detroit Michigan

July 6, 2014