Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

IT'S BEEN ALMOST 8 YEARS SENCE I FIRST VIEWED MARKS IN CAR VIDEO WHILE IN THE ACADEMY, THE MOST TOUCHING VIDEO I'VE EVER SEEN, THERES NOT ONE TRAFFIC STOP THAT I MAKE THAT I DON'T THINK ABOUT MARK. MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY,ALWAYS. "YOU FOUGHT A GOOD FIGHT, BRAVE TILL THE END. GOD BLESS!!!

DEPUTY GRANTHAM
CCSO, AL.

August 11, 2004

Mark,
Rest in Peace, you continue to train all of your brothers and sisters in lawenforcement. You are a true HERO; God Bless you and your family.

Trooper V. Ortalano
PA State Police

August 6, 2004

Recently I viewed your video of your tragic death. As an explorer I am learning how to handle a "routine" traffic stop but there is no such thing as a "routine" stop. With the new STOPS program this hopefully will prevent another officer being killed in the line of duty. Thanks you Trooper Coates.

Explorer Lieutenant
Louisville Metro Police Dept.

August 5, 2004

Just recently in my mandate class we viewed the video of Trooper Coates making his fatal traffic stop. There are eleven other recruits in the class, and after the video there was not one person whose mouth wasn't to the floor. We were shocked, scared, grievened, and angry at the same time. Our reason for viewing the video was for educational purposes, but for the rest of the day it was all we could talk about. God Bless the family of Trooper Coates and their loss; the law enforcement of this nation does not get the respect they deserve, and I know that Coates' tragic death will not be forgotten, nor be in vain. God Bless.

Recruit K.W. Haynes
Cobb County Police Department, GA

August 4, 2004

Trooper Coates your death was untimly and cold. Even through your death was sad and untimly you have save so many lives, You are a hero and will always be remembered as a hero. Law Enforcement is a thankless and unforgiving Job that we accept and love. In this life we know that God gives and God takes and we don't always understand, but even in this darkness we know God has a plan known only to him. I have seen your video and I have to say you've helped saved my life by give yours so unselfishy, for that my brother I am grateful. To the Family of Trooper Coates every one of his brothers and sisters in Law Enforcement will remember him every day forever he is a Hero and will Never be forgotten. Walk Talk Brother as you patrol the new Beat that God himself has assigned you. Sempi Fi Brother once a Marine always a Marine. Gone but Never Forgotten. Rest in peace my brother and you will always be one of our many Heros.

Federal Police Officer Phillip Reid
Veterans Affairs Police Dept KY

June 12, 2004

Trooper Mark Coates, Brother, I first met you by your video that was shown by S.A. Jim Crotty (RET.)of the ATF in 1995 in Athens, AL. It had changed my way of training and mental preparation for patrolling. You have done so much for me and hundreds of other officers since your death. You are still working in the thin blue line by training all of us. You have been working hard for the past 12 years and I and all the other men and women in the law enforcement family say thank you, Thank You Mark for a job well done.
You will always live on in our hearts and our minds.

Patrolman Sam Decker
Hokes Bluff PD , Hokes Bluff, AL

June 9, 2004

As a rookie trooper, I was honored to have attended Mark's funeral, along with many other Georgia Troopers. That was almost 12 years ago. How many of us will ever be able to say that we saved hundreds of lives AFTER we have given our own life? God Bless you, Mark. You are not forgotten, brother...

SFC A.P. Carrier #441
Georgia State Patrol

June 5, 2004

Tpr. Coates, your tragic death has saved untold numbers of other officers.... your video reminds us all that no matter how well trained you are you still have to be ready for the unknown..... One Trooper to another, thank you Mark

Trooper
Kentucky State Police

May 26, 2004

To Mark's family THANK YOU. When I was old enough I joined the Marine Corps and people would ask "why do you want to be a marine" and I would reply, for all of those who have served befor me. Now that I'm a cop people ask "why do you want to be a cop" and the answer has not changed, for Trooper Coates and all the other law enforcment officers who are serving or have served. Semper fi!

Police officer
Gwinnett County P.D.

May 8, 2004

your video really moved me. your great bravery will not go forgotten. i honor your bravery. god bless your family and friends.

officer jason alexander
kingston police dept.

April 29, 2004

I just want to let the family to know that i am sorry for what has happend. Even though it has been a few years sice his death, i know that it is still hard to live with. Both of my parents are cops and so is my sister and brother in law. i worry about them everyday when they leave for work. i am going to be a police officer one day. i am 16 so i have a little while, but Coates death that night will be with me everyday untill then, and when i go 10-8 i know ill think if ill be home. im sorry. he is missed.

Explorer Kourtney Davis
Clemson City Police Department

April 12, 2004

I stop by this website often after the death of two dear friends with the NCSHP (Troopers Calvin Taylor E.O.W. October 3, 2001 and Anthony Cogdill E.O.W. May 30, 2003).
Unfortunately, I had to add the name of another friend. Deputy Jeffrey Hewitt, Buncombe County (NC) Sheriff’s Department, E.O.W. April 4, 2004.

We all grieve over the lives lost in the line of duty. I hope you can find some comfort knowing that there are countless prayers that go out for your family.

It is obvious from the reflections, that Trooper Coates did not die in vain.

These are senseless tragedies that never seem to stop. God Bless the men and women who continue to serve their communities in our great Nation.

...Gone, but never Forgotten....

Marti Ingle (EMT-Paramedic)
Haywood Co EMS (NC)

April 10, 2004

Thank you Trooper Coates, you are a true saint in my eyes. I hope God reserved a special beat for you in heaven, you deserved a much better end that what you recieved. We all know the name of the low life that did this to you, and I hope when he dies, he is senteanced to the lowest depths of hell. Thank you.

Cadet Brad J Simmons
Southeastern Public Safety Institute (Police Acadamy) in Florida

April 6, 2004

"Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."


Trooper Coates was truly a great man, and I truly and deeply respect him. He was calm in the face of danger and never gave up. I am 16 and also hope to become an officer. My thought s and prayers are wit hthe family of Trooper Coates.
rest in peace

Anonymous

April 2, 2004

I watched the vidieo of Trooper Coates being shot and I would like to say that from what I can gather he was a heck of an officer, and I would like to express my sympathy to his family. G.P MARTIN (737)

Anonymous

April 2, 2004

Trooper Coates:

“For those who pledge to uphold it, Freedom requires a sacrifice the protected will never know”

Rest in Peace.....

Officer
North Carolina

April 1, 2004

Your last stop that night has changed my life forever. I never thought that 8 min. could change someones life forever, but it can. I am only 16 and I am set to be a officer. I think that I learned a lot from your last stop, never trust anyone. My mom is a cop and i worry everyday that she wount come home, same for my sister, and brother in-law. I respect you so much. Thank you for teaching me a lesson of life.

Anonymous

March 19, 2004

Trooper Coates, the video of your tragic last stop is the only thing in the world that could make the eyes of 35 hardened police recruits water. I think about you and your sacrafice everytime I make a stop or see another officer on a stop. You are loved and respected by everyone of us. Thank you from everyone down here in Alabama and "Semper Fi" from all of us in the Corps. God bless you my brother.

Watch Commander J. Shaw
BSCC Campus Police

March 17, 2004

I heard about you while I was in the Police Academy. I watched the video from your dashboard camera numerous times and learned a lot from what happened to you. I will always remember your story and the bravery you showed in the face of such a cowardice act. Rest in peace brother...
A New York Officer

March 15, 2004

Every time I pass through Interstate 95 I see the sign dedicating the highway. I just think about him and give a prayer - knowing how vulnerable we police officers are. You may be gone - but your spirit lives when I pass through to Florida, and always.

Sgt. Scott McGovney
Barrington Police Dept- Barrington, RI

March 11, 2004

A true hero and a tragic loss. You are in my thoughts everyday. Thank God for your service. You are not forgotten!!

Patrolman Chris Pearce
Blountsville Police Dept

March 10, 2004

To a true warrior and inspiration to all those in the Law Enforcement family. As a fellow Marine, I say "Semper Fi" as your brother in Law Enforcement, I say, "We will never forget you." Rest easy, we have the watch now.

Deputy Justin F. Salisbury
Parke County Sheriff's Department, Rockville Indiana

February 24, 2004

I will never forget the shock and emotion that came over my academy class as we watched that horrific tape. You will never know how many lives you save everyday but realize we take you with us in our hearts and minds everytime we get in our patrol cars. May god bless you and your family Trooper Mark Coates.

Corporal
Maryland State Police

February 13, 2004

Mark, in death you continue to save the lives of thousands of officers. The video tape of your last stop tugs at the heart strings of all your thousands of brother and sister officers. I think of you often, especially when passing the location of your last vehicle stop on I95 in Jasper County (SC). That section of the interstate is appropriately named after you. God bless you Mark and keep you always. You are a true hero and warrior. With brotherly love and respect, Jim Crotty, former Richmond, (VA) Police Officer and retired ATF Special Agent.

Special Agent Jim Crotty
ATF, Ret.

February 12, 2004

Though it's been a few years since my recruit class, many of us still have the image of your final stop in our minds. Your are memorialized by thousands of officers across this country, and have something to teach all of us about the selfless service of which we are required. Look down on us from heaven as we try to live up to the standard of nobility that you set.

Police Officer
Newark Police Department (NJ)

January 7, 2004