Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

Rest in Peace my brother, We will take it from here!

Sergeant Shannon Ferguson
Morgan County, Al. Sheriff's Office

January 4, 2022

On behalf of the Ohio Attorneys General Bureau of Criminal Identification & Investigation, our thoughts and prayers are with the immediate family Trooper John S. Horton and the extended law enforcement family of the North Carolina Highway Patrol, North Carolina.



End of Watch Monday, January 3, 2022.



Rest in Peace brother and watch over us. We will protect and serve from here on in your honor.

I fight not for glory or fame, for they are momentary. I fight for those who can't. I fight for Justice. I fight for the oppressed and the down trodden. And if I should lose my life for these just causes, then I have no regrets, For I serve to protect the innocent. It matters not where or when, for evil knows no boundaries. Be it fire, flood, or the threat of tyranny, I will not flee. Justice is my weapon. Faith is my shield. Hope is my armor. Cry not at my passing, for it was my Honor to fight for you. Shed not tears of sorrow, but tears of joy, for now, I stand with God.

By Jon F. Hooper

Superintendent Joe Morbitzer
Ohio Attorney General, Bureau of Criminal Investigation

January 4, 2022

Rest in peace my brother, we will take it from here.

Sergeant Shannon Ferguson
Morgan County, Al. Sheriff's Office

January 4, 2022

To the family, friends and coworkers of Trooper John Horton: I am terribly sorry for your loss. May God watch over you all during this most difficult time. God's Speed John!

Reserve Deputy Brian Jacobsen
Mahaska County Iowa Sheriff’s Office

January 4, 2022

Condolences to the family, friends and fellow Officers from Blue Knights NC II

Frank Spears Chaplain
Blue Knights NC II

January 4, 2022

Rest in Peace Trooper

Anrae G Godley-Cooper
U.S. Army Military Police

January 4, 2022

Well done my good and faithful servant… come and share in your masters happiness.

Do you and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.

Connie Weber
Sheriff Allan Weber EOW 12/18/2021

January 4, 2022

Faithful Unto Death | Eternal Rest | Salute

S. I. Drake - Lt/IPD | IMPD (Ret)

January 4, 2022

Deepest sympathy to the family of Trooper Horton and to his Brothers and Sisters of the North Carolina Highway Patrol, North Carolina. May GOD give peace, comfort, and understanding to his family, friends, and associates for their loss.RIP Brother!

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

January 4, 2022

Rest easy brother. May God bless your soul and watch over your family. Thank you for your service.

Police Officer Michael Lamiroult
Nassau County Police Department (NY) Highway Patrol

January 4, 2022

Rest in Peace, Trooper Horton. Praying for your loved ones.

Officer C Curione (Retired)
Rochester Police Department, NY

January 4, 2022

Rest Easy Brother. God Bless Your Soul and watch over your family. Thank you for your service.

PO M Lamiroult
Nassau County PD (NY) Highway Patrol

January 4, 2022

I am so sorry to hear of this tragic event. My heart and prayers go out to the families involved. May God’s love and tender mercy’s grant you peace and up lift you in this time of need.

Retired law enforcement officer
Marquette County Sheriff

January 4, 2022

I am so sorry to hear of this tragic event. My heart and prayers go out to the families involved. May God’s love and tender mercy’s grant you peace and up lift in this time of need.

Retired law enforcement officer
Marquette County Sheriff

January 4, 2022

My heart, like a lot, is shattered by this. The greatest thing about the job, for which it shares with the military and other services, is the bonds that are created. The greater you love, the greater your heart breaks when it is lost in any way.

John has always been "my" trooper throughout my career. He was the one I looked for behind that seat when I saw that silver and black. I would either say or think to myself, "Is that my John?!" When that was answered with a yes, it was pure excitement knowing I got to see him and joke around. Over the past year, those chances were less frequent due to schedules between us being different....but it just made me that much more excited when I got to see him.

John was also one of the very few I'd engage in religious conversation with, being very private to myself in that matter when down to the really spiritual level.

As many have and will say, he was a great man and I am thankful and proud I could call him friend. I am thankful that I still have Nick around, because I've always seen a lot of John in him.

Buddy, I'm going to miss your winks and the banter we shared. I know I've told you at least once how I'm looking for you when I see them cars. I know you knew I loved ya, but I'm hoping you're looking down and seeing how much I really did. Rest easy.

Lt. B. Huckabee
Forest City Police Dept., NC

January 4, 2022

On behalf of the Klamath County Sheriff's Office in Klamath Falls Oregon, we send our sincerest sympathy in the recent loss of your Trooper, John S. Horton, in the line of duty. It is always a huge loss when a fellow Trooper 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

January 4, 2022

Rest peacefully my brother.

Lieutenant Greg Kouba
Victoria County Sheriff’s Office

January 4, 2022

The MICHIGAN LAW ENFORCEMENT Memorial Monument sends condolences to Trooper Horton's family and the NCHP family. Rest In Peace sir.

Lydia Amaya (Commissioner)
Michigan Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Monument

January 4, 2022

He wears the grey proudly and his black and silver unit shines line the sun. He carries on a tradition started in 1929, the thin grey line. He is one of Carolina's finest and he protects and serves his state. He often works on Holidays and even Birthdays, as well as long into each night spent on patrol and then days waiting in the courtroom. Every car that he stops could be his last. Nothing is constant except the standards of the NC SHP. His family is proud of their Trooper, and he loves them. With his family he hangs up the greys but, no matter what he wears, he is still a Trooper. May God bless your family, Trooper, and grant that your next assignment will be on the Honor Guard of God. With admiration and sympathy, former NC Unit # 1894.

Dr. Jerry Leonard,
Special Agent-in-Charge [Retired] US DOD ACI [ Counterintelligence ]

January 4, 2022

He wears the grey proudly and his black and silver unit shines line the sun. He carries on a tradition started in 1929, the thin grey line. He is one of Carolina's finest and he protects and serves his state. He often works on Holidays and even Birthdays, as well as long into each night spent on patrol and then days waiting in the courtroom. Every car that he stops could be his last. Nothing is constant except the standards of the NC SHP. His family is proud of their Trooper, and he loves them. With his family he hangs up the greys but, no matter what he wears, he is still a Trooper. May God bless your family, Trooper, and grant that your next assignment will be on the Honor Guard of God. With admiration and sympathy, former Unit # 1894.

Dr. Jerry Leonard,
Special Agent-in-Charge [Retired] US DOD ACI [ Counterintelligence ]

January 4, 2022

Another "Hero" taken.
You helped make this world a safer place to live.
May God grant you eternal peace.
Prayers to your loved ones and to your department.

Det. Billy Russo (Ret.)
Nassau County PD, NY

January 4, 2022

On behalf of POINT 27, we would like to offer condolences for Trooper John S. Horton. Please know we are eternally grateful for John’s service and his ultimate sacrifice.

To honor Trooper Horton, 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 North Carolina Highway Patrol in Raleigh, North Carolina for John’s partner and fellow troopers. 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 Trooper John S. Horton’s wife.

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

January 4, 2022

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

January 4, 2022

Rest in peace Trooper Horton.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

January 4, 2022

My heart is broken for your family, friends, coworkers and community.. Rest In Peace Sir and thank you for your service and sacrifice.

Christine Petzold
Sister of David M Petzold EOW 11/9/06

January 4, 2022