Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

It has been 37 years since you were taken away. I think of you every day as you are so missed.
Until we meet again, I love you always.

Loretta Brey, Wife

May 15, 2024

Thirty-five years ago today, you were suddenly taken away. A date which JFK proclaimed "National Peace Officers Memorial Day". You swore to an oath, to Serve and Protect. A Policeman wearing blue, Of great honor and respect. A shining example, Of the This Blue Line. Protecting your hometown citizens, Against everyday crime. Your actions this day, were Brave, Strong and True. He made the Supreme Sacrifice, Serving to protect all of you.

You joined an elite group of Blue, as many more have since joined you. This is the date, Of your very last tour, Bravo 204. Your name at roll call, will be no more. Uniform still in the closet, Belt hanging on the chair. Locker is emptied, Your name not on the door.

Honored by many, Remembered by all. Today, Many Families and Law Enforcement, Gather at the Memorial Wall. The Pathways of Remembrance, where your name is etched in Stone. Guarded by fierce lions, while protecting it's young. Flags flown at half-staff, blue lights to be shown.
You many be gone and certainly are not forgotten. Until we meet again my dear, you are in my heart forever. I love you always, your wife Loretta

Support your local Law Enforcement Community, today and every day. We need them, as much as they need us.

Loretta Brey, Wife

May 15, 2022

No one would ever have expected this kind of tragedy to happen in my home town. I am sorry to your family and friends this many years later. God Bless all of you.

Elizabeth OBrien-Sides

July 7, 2021

Thank you for your service and please know that your sacrifice will never, ever be forgotten by your law enforcement brethren. Rest in peace always.

Detective Cpl/3 Steven Rizzo
Delaware State Police (Retired)

May 15, 2021

34 years ago today, you were suddenly taken away. Serving and protecting your hometown citizens against everyday crime. You made the supreme sacrifice and joined an elite group of Blue as many more have since joined you. Today is National Peace Officers Memorial Day. Give thanks to any Law Enforcement Officer who serves and protects all citizens.

MISSING YOU!
I miss your smile.
I miss your laugh.
I miss the twinkle of your eyes.
I miss your Curly Howard impression.
I miss your humor.
I miss your hugs.
I miss your kisses.
I miss you holding my hand.
I miss our conversations.
I miss our good and bad times.
I miss our yesterdays.
I miss our today.
I miss our tomorrow.
I miss my best friend.
I miss my husband.
I miss us.
I miss the Love of My life and always will.

Loretta Brey, Wife

May 15, 2021

Rest In Peace Brother in Blue. Thank you Hero and your family for your courage and sacrifice. Always remembered.

Officer Mike Robinson(Ret.)
Upland Police Dept. CA

May 15, 2020

As the anniversary of that dreadful day approaches once again I think of you and the events of that day.
I still recall every detail including our conversation before it all went down outside of my apartment.
I can still hear people yelling to call 911 and heard the shots and you falling out the front door. As I was talking to 911 I ran down the steps and tossed the phone to someone to tell them where to send help as I ran to you.
You kept trying to get up and I told you to stay and then I realized you were tryin to get you gum back and I grabbed it and said it’s ok I have it relax. I can still see your face and watched you pass and your lips turned blue.
Then everyone stared coming running, driving from all over to give you aid. So much more to the story but those were the toughest days for a long time. I couldn’t forget your face and still see it. RIP Bill and God Bless.

Richard Booth
Witness

May 11, 2020

Read a letter by Lt Davies (ret) about releasing one of the killers of officer William Bret in 1987. A life sentence for this killer should be just that, life. Officer Brey will never be free in this world again. I know you rest with the Lord in peace forever.

Capt. Pete McHugh Jr. (ret)
Camden PD

March 15, 2020

Rest in peace Patrolman Brey.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

May 11, 2019

Brother Brey,

Yesterday we laid a wreath at your grave site. The program that runs this is the Fallen Heroes Wreath Program. Although the Officers that honored you yesterday never worked with you, we want you to know that you have not been forgotten. Your locker is still waiting for you at police headquarters. Rest In Peace Brother.

Patrolman Michael Ciaccia #172
Pennsauken Township

December 2, 2018

Time may have passed but you are not forgotten. I believe as long as someone remembers you or speaks your name, you are still with us.
Thank you for your heroism.
God Bless

Detention Officer A.Zambito
Texas

May 15, 2015

Bill, as May 15th approaches every year I am reminded of you and how we lost a brother, a great friend, and a hero. You worked with my father and I remember you frequently stopping by my house to see him. My father still speaks of you to this day about trips and calls you two were on. My father had finished his 8-4 shift that day and still remembers talking with you at shift change. Although you are gone from this world, you are not forgotten brother.

Deputy Brian Shue
Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office

April 25, 2015

Bill was my cousin on my mothers side.
My other cousin came to Bills aid on the roof on 46th Street that day. Bob Jones has since passed and is now with Bill in heaven. Only one of the skum was killed that day and the other sits in prison. There is no justice !

Thomas Hooper
Relative

May 15, 2014

As I watch the news unfold of the brothers responsible for the Boston Marathon bombing, I remember Officer Brey, as I have so often over the years, and the two brothers responsible for his death. As a neighbor on that day, I have been haunted over the years by his sacrifice and heroism. I just want his loved ones to know that he will never be forgotten. Thank you, Officer Brey.

Lynn

April 19, 2013

Rest in peace , i never knew you but you were my mothers uncle and she still has her teddy bear , it's all torn up but its cute . c:

Melissa .
Niece

May 17, 2012

Your heroism and service is honored today, the 25th anniversary of your death. Your memory lives and you continue to inspire. Thank you for your service. My cherished son Larry Lasater was a fellow police officer who was murdered in the line of duty on April 24, 2005 while serving as a Pittsburg, CA police officer.

Time never diminishes respect. Your memory will always be honored and revered.

I pray for solace for all those that love and remember you for I know that both the pain and pride are forever. Your family is in my heart's embrace. Thanks to your family and friends for sharing their memories and devotion to you their refletions.

Rest In Peace.

Phyllis Loya
Mom of fallen California Officer Larry Lasater, Pittsburg PD, eow 4/24/05

May 16, 2012

I am a daughter of a retired Pennsauken Police Officer who was there that day 25 years ago. My Dad was off duty but lived down the street and we got a phone call from a friend. I will never forget that day! You were such a nice man and always a Hero and will never be forgotten!!!

Jennifer

May 15, 2012

dearest uncle billy, i remember growing up with you. even tho you were my uncle we were so close in age you were always the closest person i had to an older brother. i loved you always. I remember so well when we used to shovel the snow together at nannys and the neighbors house. he also was a police officer.and nannys best friends. when i came home from florida i told you i was dating a man who was also on the jax police force for three years you were so very proud of me. but i am getting ahead of my story, i want to thank you for teaching me how to drive and taking me to get my drivers license.you were patienent and calm. haha! you said i did very well. at that time i did not have any one in my family to help me . you even let me use your car, and you werent even scared! i passed THANKED THE LORD! you took me out to lunch! when ever i had a problem, you always gave me the best advice a big brother and an uncle could have ever given me. you were so smart, you knew all the heart aches me and my siblings endured all of our lives. i never met any one who acted like or truely cared about all of us kids. now we are all in our 40's and 50's we sure could listen to your advice now. but i can tell you now i hear you speaking to me every time i ask you "what should i do"? your voice comes to me loud and clear through god, i can hear you billy. thank you, you are not or never will be forgotton! i cant believe your grand father my great grandfather started the first police department in pennsauken, he is in history books. you were the one and only police officer that i know of that was killed in the line of duty and on the week that honored all of our fallen heros. isn't it unrealistic that our family started the first police department, and you, his grandson was the first police officer that was killed in the line of duty over a hundred years of the force. on a lighter note, you had the most happyest loving full of fun attitude who loved his parents, loved all of us kids and loved his brother and sister and their inlaws more than you loved yourself. you would have given your life up for any of us if you could have saved us. i am soooo happy that you are with our KING. you are at a better place than we are in this world. i feel safer knowing you are in heaven looking down and protecting all of us. buy the way i said good buy to my police officer friend after your murder, loosing you was just much than i could ever take in this short life time, loosing someone who serves and protects to be taken like you and so many others is too much for me to bear. so in closing all i have to say is I MISS YOU SO VERY MUCH! SEE YOU LUMMPY< IN HEAVEN

Joni Miller Brantley
Neice

May 10, 2012

Bill, I remeber working with you and your humor like it was yesterday. It has been 24 years since i returned home from vacation and heard the horrible news. You readily accepted your assignment that day with the intentions of keeping the peace and possibly protecting some errant teens from harm, when the hatred for your badge and uniform caused those same teens to erupt in a savage attack upon you. You defended yourself heroically and made the ultimate sacrifice. rest in peace brother.

Retired Capt. David Newman
Pennsauken

December 8, 2011

I was a sophomore in high school when you were taken from us. Your death hurt me and I have never forgotten you. Rest in peace brave officer.

Pennsauken High School Alumni 89

June 16, 2011

Thinking of you today, thankyou for your service. You are a hero who will never be forgotten. God bless your family.

POLICE OFFICER
PHILA PA

January 25, 2011

I went to you funeral as a police explorer. I am a sgt. now and remember it like it yesterday. It was my first police funeral and had a great impact on me. You are not forgotten.

Anonymous

April 4, 2009

I am so honored to see this page, to see your face, it is so beautiful, I see the face of and Angel. You were taken from us young. You must have really loved your job because you continue to stand there watching over everyone who enter the building. I thank God for knowing you even though your on the other side of life, you are very much alive to me, I know you as and Angel, Sweet, Kind, and Good. For this I am blessed. Love from Carol.

Carol Smith
Friend

June 3, 2008

Rest in peace my Brother.

Kevin T Ryan
NJ

May 15, 2008

"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
Sergeant
Richland County Sheriff's Department
Columbia, South Carolina
Used with Special Permission of the Author
Copyright © 1999 - All Rights Reserved
and may not be duplicated without permission

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

December 12, 2007