Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

RIP Lt. Eslary. Your sacrifice will not be forgotten.

Police Explorer Ben Quist
Angels Camp Police Department

May 5, 2015

Our hearts are heavy with the loss of L.T. eric ,R.I.P. BROTHER

patrolman
mt pleasant tn

May 5, 2015

We are so sorry to hear of this tragic accident. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all.

Darlene Newton
friend of Story County Sheriff's Office

May 5, 2015

IN MEMORY OF LIEUTENANT ERIC A. ESLARY

To the family, friends, and colleagues of Lieutenant Eric A. Eslary:

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, two police officers have sacrificed their lives to protect the citizens of Ligonier Township, Pennsylvania. Today, we honor the sacrifice of Lieutenant Eric A. Eslary, of the Ligonier Township, Pennsylvania, Police Department; who was killed in the line-of-duty on Tuesday, May 5, 2015, when a van, driving the wrong way on a divided highway, Route 30, struck his patrol SUV head-on in Ligonier Township, Pennsylvania, at about 2:00 AM.

Lord God, we are grateful for the life of Lieutenant Eric A. Eslary. He died serving us. Help us never to forget. Help us celebrate the life of Lieutenant Eric A. Eslary 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 Ligonier Township, Pennsylvania, help them to faithfully equip their law enforcement officers with the best tools to protect their township. May their training be adequate to the task. Help the citizens of Ligonier Township, Pennsylvania, to remember to pay their law enforcement officers fairly and treat them with respect. Help the citizens of Ligonier Township, Pennsylvania, to obey the law and treat each other with dignity so as not to add to the burden of crime and pain to their township.

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 Lieutenant Eric A. Eslary 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.

Now, Lieutenant Eric A. Eslary, 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,

Police Chaplain Steven R. Closs
Retired Captain of Police of the Nashua NH (USA) Police Department
Police Chaplain of the Merrimack NH (USA) Police Department
The Peacemakers Prayer Ministry

Police Chaplain Steven R. Closs
Merrimack NH Police Department

May 5, 2015

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 BMI © 1993 - All Rights Reserved

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

May 5, 2015

Our prayers to his family at his loss. Lt. Eslary's service to his department was obviously very good and appreciated by many. May GOD be with his family during this time.

Retired Sergeant Charles Carty
Benton AR Police Department

May 5, 2015

So wrong - my heartfelt prayers to the wonderful community of Ligonier, his fellow officers, law enforcement all together and his beloved wife and children.

Christine Honan
FOP Auxiliary #1 Pittsburgh

May 5, 2015

I salute you and your family.

Randalyn Benson
survivor daughter of Chief James Leonard Speer

May 5, 2015

RIP Lieutenant Eric. A. Eslary!
My condolences to Leutetnts Family, it's a sad day for all the Law Enforcement Officers!

Arthur Korsky
Self Employed

May 5, 2015

My thoughts and prayers are with your family and friends. Thank you for your service.

Stephanie Harris, LEOW - Spouse of Sgt, LAPD

May 5, 2015

I know that God has carried you into Paradise Lt. It takes a brave and caring person to be a cop in todays world. It takes even a more special soul to want to be a K-9 handler. It's simply just not for everyone. You were a K-9 handler and if that was all I knew of you it would be enough. My prayers for your partner K-9 Blek for a full recovery. May God comfort your wife and kids until they again meet you in Paradise. I know there are many wagging tails over that bridge to Paradise waiting for their handler/Daddy. Just let them know to stand fast and be patient. My respect Sir. You and K-9 Blek are American Heroes and so is your family for they share this job to.

K-9 Trooper D Osborne
Tennessee Highway Patrol

May 5, 2015

I am so sorry and you will always be remembered. From one k9 handler to another, RIP brother and know your partner will always remember you and fight for you!

Retired k9 Officer Laurel Huff
MDPD

May 5, 2015

Rest in God's hands my brother. My sympathies to family, friends, department and all emergency responders in the community. We are one big family and Lt.Eslary's family can call on and depend on any of their law enforcement family. Sympathies to the emergency responders and community. Being a small community means everyone knows everyone and feel each other's pain. To the family be at peace knowing your husband, father, son, brother or sisters that he died doing what he loved.
Jim Welch

Deputy/ret. James Welch
Harnett County Sheriffs Office(NC)

May 5, 2015

May God grant His peace and comfort to the family, friends, and colleagues of Lt. Eslary at this time of loss. We ask for God's healing touch on his partner. In all things, His will be done.

Chaplain Steve De Santo
Payson PD, Payson, AZ

May 5, 2015

Eric I will miss seeing you and Blek standing with such dignity in our school's hall. I hope you know how much I appreciated your presence. I will miss your smile and your kindness. I ask one final favor of you, Officer Eslary. Please smile down on your brother (and sister) officers. I worry about them and how they will go on without you. I pray your former K-9 partner, Ando, met you in God's kingdom, and that you both are at peace.

Dee Ambrose-Stahl
Teacher

May 5, 2015

God filled with mercy, dwelling in heaven above, grant proper mercy admid the ranks of the rightous and pure.
May the ranks of the Holy illumunate the soul of Officer Eric A. Easlary, and may the brillance of his soul bind the family of Officer Eric Eslary, and his brother and sister officers in their time of grief. Officer Eslary, you were a comforter and defender to thoes who were in dire need...thoes in dispair...... and the victims of violence. May God grant you mercy and peace in his heavenly kingdom, as now your watch has ended. I personally thank you for your service to your community and country. Greater love has no man........

With the highest respect and regards,

Mark A. Proch, retired LEO
St. Joseph Hospital Police, Warren, Ohio
Cortland P.D. Ohio
Office of the Sheriff, Portage Co. Ohio
Office of the Sheriff, Lawrence Co. Pennsylvania

Mark A. Proch

May 5, 2015

Godspeed Brother. Prayers to your family and to LPD.

J. Craven
Silver Spring Township Police Department (PA)

May 5, 2015

RIP Brother

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

May 5, 2015

Rest in peace my brother. We have the watch.

Deputy Sheriff/FTO Nathan Fisher
Jackson County Sheriff's Office

May 5, 2015

I am deeply saddened by this news. Though I did not know Lieutenant Eslary he was my brother. My deepest condolances go out to his family, fellow officers of the Ligonier Township Police Department, his community and all brother and sister LOEs.

Take comfort knowing Eric now walks with Jesus and is looking down upon us each day. He will watch over you until you meet again. Rest in Peace brother.

Spl. Agent Kevin Morris, Retired
Norfolk Southern Rwy. Police
Pittsburgh, PA

May 5, 2015

Thank you for your service and dedication. Rest in peace brother.

Cpl. M. Davis #2614
Prince George's County Police

May 5, 2015

Grieve not for Officer Eslary, he's is with his Lord. Grieve for his family; can't even imagine how they will cope. I expect, other officers in his department, other officers in the community, and fire department members will help in the manner only they can. I will keep Officer Eslary, his family, the Ligonier Township Police Department and his community of friends in my prayers. He is in the loving arms of his Lord. May God bless him.

Linda Cooper
Community Member

May 5, 2015

Rest in Peace Lt. Eslary. Thank you for your service to this country and your community, and for your sacrifice. You will never be forgotten. Your family, friends & department are in my thoughts and prayers at this time of deep sorrow.

David Hoechstetter
ex-Patrolman (Disabled)
Conway Police Department
Pennsylvania

May 5, 2015

We have it from here. Walk the beat of the streets of heaven.

Cpl.
Maryland State Police

May 5, 2015

IN HONORE CASORUM
Our thoughts and prayers are with your family, friends, and colleagues.
The promise: Always honored, never forgotten.

Sgt. T. J. Jones
Greater Cleveland Transit Police Department, Ohio

May 5, 2015