Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

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

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

August 17, 2020

Rest in peace Sheriff Dyess.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

January 18, 2019

The Sheriffs of Florida and their deputies will never forget the sacrifice you and your family made to uphold our laws and protect society.

Your name has been inscribed on the Florida Sheriffs and the National Law Enforcement Memorial and in our hearts. May you forever rest in peace.

A scripture inscribed on the Florida Sheriffs Law Enforcement Memorial:

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

Executive Director Steve Casey
Florida Sheriffs Association

August 20, 2016

MY NAME IS CHRISTINE DYESS HUFF. I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN FT. MYERS, FLORIDA. MY FATHER, WHO IS DECEASED, WAS CLARENCE DYESS OF ALVA, FLORIDA. I PRESENTLY LIVE IN GEORGIA.

YESTERDAY I HAD THE MOST AMAZING EXPERIENCE! I WAS VISITING MY DAUGHTER WHO LIVES IN WASHINGTON, DC.
WE WERE CASUALLY TOURING THE LAW ENFORCEMENT MEMORIAL . WHILE WALKING ALONG LOOKING AT THE MOVING MEMORIAL ,TO MY AMAZEMENT, THE NAME 'EARL DYESS JUMPED OUT AT ME. WHAT A SHOCK! A CHILL RAN THROUGH MY BODY.
I NEVER MET EARL DYESS, BUT KNEW THAT HE HAD BEEN SHERIFF OF LaBELLE.
WHAT AN HONOR TO SEE MY LAST NAME ENGRAVED IN STONE AT A UNITES STATES OF AMERICA'S MEMORIAL. AT THAT MOMENT I was PROUD TO HAVE THE DYESS NAME. YOUR DEDICATION AND HONOR MADE YOU A A TRUE HERO AND FOR THE FUTURE GENERATIONS TO COME, I NOW HAVE A MOST INTERESTING STORY AND AM A PROUD ANCESTOR OF EARL DYESS.
I SALUTE YOU AND YOURS. THANK YOU.

CHRISTINE (TINA) DYESS HUFF
A DYESS RELATIVE

February 8, 2015

I had the diistinct honor to have worked for you from 1972 till the misfotunate incident that took you from your family and all that loved you. It's some 34 years later and on occasion I still have dreams about the grest times I had working under your leadership. Just knw that I have never forgotten you even though we won't share memories till later on.

Bob Durkis

Sheriff Bob Durkis 1980-85
Hendry County S O

November 20, 2014

HEROES live foreve, and you sir are a hero. May you continue to rest in peace Sheriff Dyess, we will never forget the sacrifice that you and your family made for all of us.

Deb Azure
Mother of Deputy Renee Danell Azure
EOW 08/06/02
Union County SO, Lake Butler, FL

August 17, 2012

Sheriff Dyess, Sr. was a fair, honest, and just law man, I'm proud to have worked with him 13 years.

Mary E Robinson, Finance
Hendry County Sheriff's Office

August 16, 2012

Rest in Peace, Sheriff Dyess. Your sacrifice is not forgotten.

Officer 11169

February 10, 2012

We will never forget the sacrifice that you and your family made for all of us. May God be with them today as they face another EOW without you. HEROES live forever, and you sir are a HERO. Continute to rest in peace Sheriff.

Deb Azure
Mother of Deputy Renee Danell Azure
EOW 08/06/02
Union County SO, Lake Butler, FL

Deb

August 17, 2011

Your heroism and service is honored today, the 30th 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
mother of fallen officer Larry Lasater

August 17, 2010

To the Dyess familly may you know that your hero has not been forgotten. I know that the pain in your hearts is as strong today as they were in 1980. May God bless you all.

Deb Azure
Mother of Deputy Renee Danell Azure
EOW 08/06/02
Union County Sheriff's Office, Lake Butler Florida

Anonymous

August 17, 2009

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

December 13, 2007

DEAR SHERIFF DYESS,

UNFORTUNATLEY I DID NOT HAVE THE PRIVELAGE OF MEETING YOU FOR I WAS A MERE 2 YEARS OLD WHEN YOU PASSED ON. MY MOTHER, AND FATHER (MARY AND RICHARD ROBINSON) WORKED FOR YOU FOR MANY YEARS AND HAD THE UPMOST RESPECT FOR YOU AS A PERSON AS WELL AS THEIR SHERIFF, THERFORE I COULD JUST IMAGINE HOW WONDERFUL YOU WERE. STAND PROUD IN YOUR HIGHER PLACE OF GLORY. I SALUTE YOU AND YOURS.

C/O TERESA F. HELMLINGER #321
HENDRY CO SHERIFFS OFFICE

April 30, 2004

Sheriff Dyess,

I never had the honor of serving under you, but I did have the privilege of serving under your Son when he became Sheriff after your tragic but heroic death.

You left the peace of your home one evening to investigate a noise you heard in the business behind your house. That noise later turned out to be your cowardly assailant. You personified what true dedication to duty was all about. You deminstrated that no matter what our rank, we are always peace officers, on and off duty. You lead by example with pride, honor and dignity right to the end. You are a true hero.

To the Dyess family, know that the Sheriff now serves a higher authority with the same faithfulness that he served us with in life. Maybe what made him most successful in his long law enforcement career is a tradition that his Son, "Sermon" carried forward. Every day of his career, he carried a Bible with him. That Bible gave him strength to face anything knowing that the Lord would guide him in doing his will. I know that you are now in heaven with our Lord, realizing the rewards of your faith. God Bless you Sheriff.

Respectfully,

Ian Roberts
NJ FireFighter/EMT
Former HCSO 49-20

April 29, 2004

Rest in peace.

Inv. Michael Walker
Tallahassee Police Department