Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

Rest in peace always knowing that your service and sacrifice will never, ever be forgotten by your law enforcement brethren.

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

August 4, 2020

Rest in peace Deputy Sheriff Hodges. Forever in God's loving arms.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

April 9, 2019

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

Marshal Chris Di Gerolamo
Federal Air Marshal Service

October 4, 2016

Rest in Peace Deputy Sheriff Marion Dyer Hodges. Thank You for your Service and Sacrifice protecting the citizens of Gregg County, Texas.

I Pray for Peace for your Family, Friends, Co-Workers and those brave souls who have chosen to follow in your foot steps protecting the public.

Amen.

Senior Special Agent B.L. Sherwood (Ret)
Port Terminal Railroad Police Houston, TX

August 4, 2016

You have not been forgotten. Thank you for your service to others.

Bob Gordon
Father of Chicago Officer: Michael P. Gordon, EOW: 8/8/04

August 4, 2010

Your heroism and service is honored today, the eighteenth 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 murdered in the line of duty on April 24, 2005 while serving as a Pittsburg, CA police officer.

Rest In Peace

Phyllis Loya

Phyllis Loya
mother of fallen officer Larry Lasater

August 4, 2009

You and all your loved ones are in my thoughts today. 17 years may have passed but you have not been forgotten as true heroes never die. Thankyou for your dedicated service to law enforcement.

Bob Gordon
Father of Michael P. Gordon, EOW: 8/8/04

August 4, 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

February 7, 2008

Our deepest sympathy goes out to the family, friends and all the members of the Gregg County Sheriff's Department. We were made safer by his service and we all suffer their tragic loss. The family of Deputy Hodges deserves our appreciation and gratitude for their sacrifice. In the days to follow, may you be strengthened by the fact that Deputy Hodges is a man distinguished by exceptional courage and will always be admired for his brave deeds and noble qualities. You, your family and your sacrifice will never be forgotten.

Tom Doyle
Cary Police Department, North Carolina

June 7, 2006

MD Hodges was so many things to me and my family. To me he was a pastor and brother-officer. To my wife he was a friend and spiritual leader, to my children he was "Grand-pa" even though we are not his true family. We worshiped together and swapped "cop stories" afterward. My family could count on him to be there when they needed him most; even at 2am when we needed a baby sitter so I could be taken to the hospital. He never balked. Because he found me and my family so close to his own son Danny, he held a special love for us. I cannot say how much I owe to this man as he provided so much for my family. He baptized both of my children and doted on them at every turn. I'll never forget the morning I was awakened and was asked to go with Deputies and Officers to tell Sue what had happened. I've never felt a heavier burden nor one that I was more determined and tearfully glad to bear. Other than the death of my own father I believe this was the longest and most difficult time of my life.

Now I have the honor of calling the roll each year at the Peace Officer's Memorial for Officers who have fallen in the line of duty in Gregg County. Though I know each of the stories well and ache for their families, his is the name that I choke up on every time. He was in so many ways the model Law Enforcement Officer. He was in every way my friend. I love you and miss you MD.

Director Terry Turner, LUCS
LPD Retired

May 8, 2006

As a Gregg County deputy, I first saw your photo on the Wall of Honor at the SO when I walked into the office every day. Your memory remains alive and we honor you. I have never heard anything but postive, respectful, wonderful comments about you from any of the deputies who knew and loved you.

Rest in peace, brother deputy.

Michael Ferguson, Instructor
East Texas Police Academy; former GCSO deputy

January 2, 2006

Deputy Sheriff M.D. Hodges was my uncle. I had not seen him for many years prior to his unfortunate passing and always thought of him as a pastor and of course my uncle. I always knew him as a kind and caring man. He always had a smile and a joke to share. When I was very young, he used to pick me up and I would stay with him for the weekend. I would go everywhere with him and he would always make me happy with his story's and jokes. Usually his story's had a lesson in them, but the way he told them, but you feel that they were made just for you. The love and memories I have are of very wonderful times that I will never forget. He loved his family dearly and always had time to listen. It's not very often we run into anyone that had his ability to listen. A very important trait that I wish I was better at to this day. As I said before, I had not seen him in many years prior to his passing. which I deeply regret. I had been in the Navy for 14 years at the time of his untimely passing and was living in Virginia Beach, VA. I did speak with him on the phone for a very long time a couple of months prior to this accident. When we hung up, the last words I heard was "I love you". He was the kindest, most loving human being I've ever known. I am very lucky and proud of being his nephew. I love and miss him very much.

RMCS(SS)Steven M. Cox, USN-Ret

October 13, 2003

M.D. Hodges was a friend to all the officers that knew him. Some of my fondest memories of being a Deputy Sheriff for 7.5 years come from the times that M.D. would ride with me. I found M.D. to be a human being like myself, not a self-righteous-Minister-beating-me-over-the-head-with-a-Bible type. He understood my pain, my problems, my heart.
The last time that I wore a uniform was at M.D.'s funeral. I had already decided to stop pursuing any career in law enforcement before his death for personal reasons. But for M.D., I wore the uniform.He deserved the greatest amount of respect that I could give him. I am still a peace officer at heart because of his love and influence in my life, because he taught me, from his heart, that "There is no greater love that a friend can have, than to (be willing) to lay down his life for a friend."
I think M.D. would laugh and be at the same time be totally supportive of what I do now. For I have become a Firefighter. And if M.D. were still here and be able, I think he would go through the flames with me. That's the type of man that he was. I still miss him after all these years.

Kelly Allen, Former Deputy Sheriff
Gregg County Sheriff's Department

i had the privilege and honor of knowing and working with m.d. hodges for a number of yrs.he worked with me and my troops every hour he could and he loved law enforcement and was a respected member of the dept and always made you feel good to be around him.
m.d. always talked a lot about his son and family and went to visit them every time he had the opportunity and always came back talking about riding with his son on patrol and how proud he was of him.
he has been gone a lot of yrs now but i still miss him and think of him often.he left a lot of good memories that will never die.

LT.LEON CARPENTER
GREGG COUNTY SHERIFFS DEPT.

Deputy Hodges was my father. Not only was he a dedicated officer, but he was also a minister. He was a very positive influence in my life and still is. I have been in law enforcement for 21 years and I contribute my success to him. He was a caring man and loved his family and friends. I am very greatful for this site. There is no doubt that alot of dedication and hard work has gone into it. This is one way that my wife and two daughters, who never got to know their father in law and grandfather, can reflect and get to know him. I miss him very much, but I know he is watching over me and my family.

Detective D. W. Hodges
City of Orange, Texas Police