Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

Rest in peace.

Sgt. Jim Russo

May 26, 2015

This is very tragic and my thoughts and prayers go out to his family as well as his fellow inspectors with the License and Theft Bureau! May you rest in Peace my Friend!

S. A. Lee
Citizen

May 26, 2015

IN MEMORY OF INSPECTOR ROBERT JAMES BOWLING

To the family, friends, and colleagues of Inspector Robert James Bowling

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 Motor Vehicle inspectors have sacrificed their lives to protect the citizens of the State of North Carolina. Today, we honor the sacrifice of Inspector Robert James Bowling, of the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles License and Theft Bureau; who was killed in the line-of-duty, on Thursday, May 21, 2015, in a vehicle crash on Old Hillsborough Road, near Longleaf Pine Place, in Mebane, North Carolina, at approximately 11:30 am. His department vehicle collided head-on with a cement mixer after crossing the center line. The vehicle became engulfed in flames and he succumbed to his injuries at the scene.

Lord God, we are grateful for the life of Inspector Robert James Bowling. He died serving us. Help us never to forget him. Help us celebrate the life of Inspector Robert James Bowling 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 the State of North Carolina, help them to faithfully equip their law enforcement officers with the best tools to protect their state. May their training be adequate to the task. Help the citizens of the State of North Carolina to remember to pay their law enforcement officers fairly and treat them with respect. Help the citizens of the State of North Carolina to obey the law and treat each other with dignity so as not to add to the burden of crime and pain to their state.

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 Inspector Robert James Bowling 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, Inspector Robert James Bowling, 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
Senior Pastor of “The Peacemakers Prayer Ministry”

Police Chaplain Steven R. Closs
Merrimack NH Police Department

May 26, 2015

God bless Inspector Bowling's family, friends and coworkers and give them strength and peace to get through their grief and pain. Thank you for your service brother.

Sergeant Clark O. Parry
Cattaraugus County Sheriff's Office, New York

May 26, 2015

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND SACRIFICE. REST IN PEACE.

POLICE OFFICER
NAPERVILLE IL POLICE DEPT

May 26, 2015

Rest in peace brother.

Officer Kyle Groose
Laramie PD, WY

May 26, 2015

Our thoughts and prayers are with your family, friends and co-workers during this difficult time. Your service and ultimate sacrifice will never be forgotten.

Supervisory FAM, Thomas Kelly Jr.
Federal Air Marshal Service

May 26, 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 26, 2015

Thank you for your dedicated and commitment to community service and public safety.
Rest in peace brother.
May the Lord bring peace and comfort to your family, friends and co-workers in their time of mourning.

Chief R. A. McCann
Armour College Police

May 26, 2015

Thank you Inspector Bowling for your years of hard work and dedication and for paying the ultimate sacrifice for the fine folks in the great state of North Carolina. You are a true AMERICAN HERO !!! My thoughts and prayers are with your family, friends and co-workers. May you forever, rest in peace, my brother.

HEROES LIVE FOREVER...

Sergeant Mitchell G. Cheselka (Retired)
Orange County Sheriff, California
Polk County Sheriff, Oregon

May 26, 2015

The National Police Wives Association would like to extend their heartfelt prayers to the family of Inspector Bowling and the North Caroline Division of Motor Vehicles License and Theft Bureau during this time. Thank you, Inspector Bowling, for your service.

Administration
National Police Wives Association

May 26, 2015

Please accept my heartfelt condolences for the tragic loss of Inspector Bowling. My thoughts and prayers are with you at this difficult time.

Ret in peace brother.

P.O. (Ret) Donald Current
NYC Transit PD/NYPD

May 26, 2015

"Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God."
Matthew 5:9

Marshal Chris Di Gerolamo
Federal Air Marshal Service

May 26, 2015

Rest in Peace Brother

Brian Sullivan, Cpl. (RET)
Royal Canadian Mounted Police

May 26, 2015

RIP my Brother.

Deputy Yates
Covington County Sheriff's Office

May 26, 2015

Rest in peace Inspector Bowling!
You will not be forgotten!

Willie Bell Hopewell VA!
Friend Of All Law Enforcement Officers!

May 26, 2015

Rest in eternal peace, Inspector Bowling, for we have the watch now. Your family and your brothers and sisters in uniform, our brothers and sisters, too, are in our thoughts and prayers. May they find comfort in remembrances of your dedication and service.

Deputy Warden Patricia Powers
Philadelphia Prison System

May 26, 2015

RIP OFFICER!!

Stephen Bruet PPO II
NC Department of Public Safety

May 26, 2015