Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

On behalf of the Klamath County Sheriff's Office in Klamath Falls Oregon, we send our sincerest sympathy in the recent loss of your Officer, Zachary Cottongim, in the line of duty. It is always a huge loss when a fellow Officer makes the ultimate sacrifice. His bravery and courage to protect and serve your community has not gone unnoticed.

Sheriff Chris Kaber
Klamath County Sheriff's Office

December 20, 2021

Rest in Peace Officer Cottengim, my sincere condolences to your family and to your department. God speed as you now patrol the streets of gold. Your ultimate sacrifice will never be forgotten. Fair winds and following seas. We have your patrol now.

TERRY FRANCIS ZECH OFC RET
DEPARTMENT OF VETERAN AFFAIRS POLICE DETROIT MICHIGAN

December 20, 2021

Rest in Peace my brother.

Captain Bernard Flint
Department of Defense Police Division

December 20, 2021

Officer Cottongim,

Thank you for your sacrifice for our nation. May you be with the Lord and may he be with your family.

Det. Russ Cain

Pittsburgh PD

December 20, 2021

Thank you for your service, brother. RIP.

Lieutenant Brian J. Wills II
Oswego County Sheriff's Office
New York

December 20, 2021

Zach I love you more than you will ever know. I’m so heartbroken and I miss you so much. Thank you for following in my footsteps becoming a LMPD Officer just like your dad. I’m so proud of you and all you have done in your life. I will take care of Jamie and the boys forever. Rip we have the watch now.

I love you DAD

Officer Dale Cottongim #2976
Louisville Metro Police

December 20, 2021

Requiescat in Paces

Sergeants Mike O'Connor
Branford CT PD

December 20, 2021

Rest In Peace and may the Good Lord take care of your wife and two children.

A fellow copper
St. Louis Police Department

December 20, 2021

So sad & tragic, RIP. Well done thou good & faithful servant. May God bless and comfort your wife & children, your other family members, as well as your brothers & sisters with LMPD.

Mike Nixon
High Point, NC Police Dept, Retired

December 20, 2021

I feel how weak and fruitless must be any word of mine which should attempt to beguile you from the grief of a loss so overwhelming. But I cannot refrain from tendering you the consolation that may be found in the thanks of the Republic they died to save. I pray that our Heavenly Father may assuage the anguish of your bereavement, and leave you only the cherished memory of the loved and lost, and the solemn pride that must be yours to have laid so costly a sacrifice upon the altar of freedom.

Yours, very sincerely and respectfully,

Abraham Lincoln

Captain E.Kemmer
Nevada Department of Public Safety

December 20, 2021

Our deepest condolences from Session 19, Zone 5 Regional Law Enforcement Training Academy. Rest in peace Officer.

Session 19
Zone 5 Regional Law Enforcement Academy

December 20, 2021

"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God." Matthew 5: 9. Prayers to his family, fellow officers and friends! RIP and thank you for your service.

Former Correctional Officer W. Reed
Iowa Departament of Correction

December 20, 2021

On behalf of POINT 27, we would like to offer condolences for Police Officer Zachary Cottongim. Please know we are eternally grateful for Zachary’s service and his ultimate sacrifice.

To honor Police Officer Cottongim, POINT 27 sent 27 Thin Blue Line Dog Tag Necklaces, engraved with “Blessed are the Peacemakers for they will be called children of God” Matthew 5:9, to the Louisville Metro Police Department in Louisville, Kentucky for Zachary’s partner and fellow officers. POINT 27 sent a Folded Flag Necklace engraved with “Greater Love has no one than this; than to lay down one’s life for one’s friend” John 15:13 for Police Officer Zachary Cottongim’s .

POINT 27 is a Non-Profit organization with a mission to strengthen and encourage members of the Armed Forces, First Responders, and their families, by sharing scripture on Dog Tags and Jewelry called Shields of Strength.

We will never forget and we are forever grateful.

Respectfully,

Colonel David Dodd,
United States Army Retired
Executive Director-POINT 27

Detective Jerry M. Rhodes (Retired)
Dallas Police Department-Reserve Division
POINT 27 National Outreach Coordinator
Law Enforcement Liaison
[email protected]
214-908-2617

Detective Jerry M. Rhodes (Retired)
Dallas Police Department Reserve Division
POINT 27- National Out Reach Coordinator
Law Enforcement Liaison

December 19, 2021

Deepest sympathy to the family of Officer Zachary Cottongim and to his Brothers and Sisters of the Louisville Metro Police Department, Kentucky. May GOD give comfort, peace, and understanding to his family, friends, and associates RIP Brother!

Chaplain Terry L. Longacre. MTPD (Retire
Red Rose Lodge FOP #16 Lancaster, County, Pennsylvania

December 19, 2021

He was such a NICE GUY!

Charlene Ann Romanski
Former Central Parking Services

December 19, 2021

Down these mean streets a man must go who is not himself mean, who is neither tarnished nor afraid. He is the hero; he is everything. He must be a complete man and a common man and yet an unusual man. He must be, to use a rather weathered phrase, a man of honor by instinct, by inevitability, without thought of it, and certainly without saying it. He must be the best man in his world and a good enough man for any world. (Raymond Chandler) Officer Cottongim, you exceeded this standard. May the good Lord look over your wife and children and Bless you for your selfless service.

Tim Gilpin
SMSgt, USAF (Ret)
USAF Security Police
Superintendent

December 19, 2021

Heavenly Father, You are Compassionate and Merciful. No law enforcement officer leaves home without the fear of not returning at the end of the watch. It is a fear that is lived daily. Unfortunately, the worst does sometimes come to pass, and lives are left shattered. Lord God, bless and keep the hearts and souls of those who have lost loved ones in the line of duty. Wipe away the tears from their eyes. Soothe their pain and bind up their emotional wounds through the wounds of Your beloved Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. In His name, I pray. Amen.

“Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called children of God.” [Matthew 5:9]

“No one has greater love than this, that someone would lay down his life for his friends.” [John 15:13]

“And he [Jesus] said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” [Luke 23:43 ESV]

Minister Steven Robert Closs, DDiv, MSBS, NCCA
Ordained / Licensed Independent Christian Outreach Minister / Clergy
Christian Global Outreach Ministries

Captain Steven R. Closs (Ret.)
Nashua NH Police Department

December 19, 2021

Rest In Peace brother. May God bless you and your family. Always know you are in our hearts and you are missed.

State Traffic Officer 7185.
California Highway Patrol & US Marine

December 19, 2021

God bless you.””. Brother in Blue’!!
My family prays for you and yours.
Hold strong to your faith and his promise of life eternal .

Dale-I love you brother. I am here for you.

LT Rick Eastham (Rey) LMPD
LPD-LMPD-KSP-KyABC

December 19, 2021

RIP Officer Cottongim. Thank you for your service to the citizens of Louisville

Sergeant Darren Weisse
Tufts University Police

December 19, 2021

Rest in Peace officer.
My sincere condolences ad prayers for the family.

Chief R. A. McCann
Armour College Law Enforcement/Department of Public Safety

December 19, 2021

R.I.P. sir.

Deputy Christopher Land
Macomb County Sheriff's Office, MI

December 19, 2021

Cottongim family and friends may God grant all of you with a speedy healing. Officer Cottongim thank you for your service to your Community and Department. Most of all thank you for your Ultimate Sacrifice in the Line of Duty.

Rudy Jones ( Retired )
Former Reserve Sgt Cuyahoga Falls Ohio Police Dept.

December 19, 2021

In Honor of your Sacrifice and for your family and friends, I salute you as a HERO!

"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 whose 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

Used with Special Permission of the Author
Copyright © 1993 - All Rights Reserved
and may not be duplicated without permission

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

December 19, 2021

Rest in Peace Police Officer Zachary Cottongim! Thank you for your 7 years of service with the Louisville Metro Police Department, in Kentucky. We are all thankful to you for your service, your devotion and your sacrifices, and also to your family and friends for their sacrifices. Our hearts break for your wife and your two children during this terrible tragedy, and we want them to know that you will never be forgotten! Our thoughts and Prayers go out to the rest of your family and to all of your sisters and brothers in Blue that protect us. God bless you all!! (Matthew5:9)

Kelly & Eddie King

December 19, 2021