Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

It's hard to believe that it's been 13 years since John Burnette and Andy Nobles were killed in the line of duty. I knew John for a relatively short time, but I quickly came to respect what a good person he was. Ironically, just days before his death, I asked him if he worried about the dangers of being a police officer, and his response was that he loved the job, and the people he served so much, that the fear just sort of faded into the background. His sense of service to his community should be an inspiration to all, and it should be a mission that we all carry on for him.

John Southwick
Friend

October 6, 2006

Officer Burnette you are a hero. May God continue to bless you and your loved ones. Rest in peace my brother.

State Constable J.L. Green
S.C. State Constables

October 5, 2006

John,

Everyday that I go to work, I think of you. I do my best, as do my colleagues, to help prevent any more pictures on the wall of honor.

RIP, brother, and know that your sacrifice is remembered by many, and you and your family will always be heroes to me.

"And when he gets to Heaven,
to St. Peter he will tell:
'One more soldier reporting, Sir,
I've served my time in Hell.'"

Telecommunicator James Andrews
CMPD

June 21, 2006

To a legend that will never be forgotten. I have had the honor to work with your comrads and friends that think so highly of you. Not a day goes by at CMPD that you are not remembered.
We have had a recent scare of a fellow officer that was shot in the head by a suspect while serving a warrant. By the grace of God and his angels above, his life was spared!
Thank You for watching over him!!

CMPD Officer's wife

April 23, 2006

John,
I remember the day you died. I was a student at Wingate University, your alma mater. I knew many of your friends and they all spoke so highly of you. I remember being disappointed because I never got to meet you. Now, I do what you do. Your sacrifice reminds me to be as careful as can, but to be ready if it is my time.
You were a good man and a credit to the college motto of Faith, Knowledge, Service.

Deputy MA Burgess
Henderson County, NC Sheriff's Department

February 15, 2006

John,

These other folks are right, you will never be forgotton. Here it is over 10 years since your death and they still speak of yours and Andy's sacrifice in the academy, they have a video memorial to the two of you, and other officers still tear up when they speak of you. How awesome a legacy is that! I work with a few of your closest friends and it warms my heart to enter their offices and see your pictures on their walls. You will forever be heroes to me. God bless and thank you.

Officer
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department

November 17, 2005

John Burnette was my uncle and I dearly miss him.

Grayson Pressley
none

October 21, 2005

When God Made Peace Officers

When God made Peace Officers, he was into his sixth day of overtime when an angel appeared and said, 'You're doing a lot of fiddling around on this one.' And the Lord said, ' Have you read the spec on this order?

A peace officer has to be able to run five miles through alleys in the dark, scale walls, enter homes the health inspector wouldn't touch, and not wrinkle his uniform. ' He has to be able to sit in an undercover car all day on a stakeout, cover a homicide scene that night, canvass the neighborhood for witnesses, and testify in court the next day. 'He has to be in top physical condition at all times, running on black coffee and half-eaten meals. And he has to have six pairs of hands. '

The angel shook her head slowly and said, 'Six pairs of hands ... no way.' 'It's not the hands that are causing me problems,' said the Lord, 'it's the three pairs of eyes an officer has to have.' 'That's on the standard model?' asked the angel.

The Lord nodded. One pair that sees through a bulge in a pocket before he asks, 'May I see what's in there, sir?' (When he already knows and wishes he'd taken that accounting job.) ' Another pair here in the side of his head for his partners' safety. And another pair of eyes here in front that can look reassuringly at a bleeding victim and say, 'You'll be all right ma'am, when he knows it isn't so. '

'Lord,' said the angel, touching his sleeve, 'rest and work on this tomorrow.' 'I can't,' said the Lord, 'I already have a model that can talk a 250 pound drunk into a patrol car without incident and feed a family of five on a civil service paycheck.'

The angel circled the model of the peace officer very slowly, 'Can it think?' she asked. 'You bet,' said the Lord. ' It can tell you the elements of a hundred crimes; recite Miranda warnings in its sleep; detain, investigate, search, and arrest a gang member on the street in less time than it takes five learned judges to debate the legality of the stop ... and still it keeps its sense of humor.

This officer also has phenomenal personal control. He can deal with crime scenes painted in hell, coax a confession from a child abuser, comfort a murder victim's family, and then read in the daily paper how law enforcement isn't sensitive to the rights of criminal suspects. '

Finally, the angel bent over and ran her finger across the cheek of the peace officer. 'There's a leak,' she pronounced. 'I told you that you were trying to put too much into this model.' 'That's not a leak,' said the lord, 'it's a tear.' 'What's the tear for?' asked the angel. 'It's for bottled-up emotions, for fallen comrades, for commitment to that funny piece of cloth called the American flag, for justice.'

'You're a genius,' said the angel.

The Lord looked somber. 'I didn't put it there,' he said.

- Unknown

CMPD

May 18, 2005

There was a court hearing today (12-14-04). Your killer wants a new trial-says he has been treated unfairly. This almost sickens me to even hear. You and Andy have been dead for all these years, never got to say goodbye and this murderer says he was treated unfairly. I saw your family on the news this evening speaking on your behalf. Your father moved me greatly when he said "if the good Lord gives me 20 more years I will be here (in court)to speak for him-that's what families do." You could see the pain in his face but more importantly you could hear the the resolve in his voice. May God give comfort to all of your family as they deal with this latest ordeal. Many of us (officers) here in Charlotte continue to honor your memory in many varied ways. You and John are not forgotten in the least. New recruits hear your name, hear your story, hear of your successes. God Bless you all!

Anonymous

December 14, 2004

John:
Your mom came to our department this year and told our officers about you and Andy. I still think about it, even today. She is a very special person. You are lucky to have someone like her. Rest In Peace.

Sgt. Joe D. Friday Jr.
Greenville NC Police Department

October 20, 2004

On the anniversary of your death, I salute you for your service and honor you for your sacrifice.

A hero never dies....

God bless, hero. Rest in peace.

A grateful citizen.

October 5, 2004

"Someone only dies when they are forgotten,
You will live on in our hearts forever,
Although you are far away,
In our thoughts you are very near."
Author: Steph Adams

Rest in Peace... never forgotten

Wife of CMPD Officer

June 18, 2004

The policeman stood and faced his God,which must always come to pass.
He hoped his shoes were shining just as brightly as his brass.
"Step forward now, policeman. How shall I deal with you?
Have you always turned the other cheek?
To my church have you been true?
The policeman squared his shoulders and said.
"No, I guess I ain't because those of us who carry a badge can't always be a Saint."
I've had to work most Sundays
and at times my talk is rough,
and sometimes I've been violent,
because the streets are awfully tough.
But I never took a penny that wasn't mine to keep...
though I worked a lot of overtime when the bills got too steep.
And I never passed a cry for help
though at times I shook with fear,
and sometimes, God forgive me, I've wept unmanly tears.
I know I don't deserve a place among the people here.
They never wanted me around except to calm their fear.
If you've a place for me here, Lord, it needn't be so grand,
I never expected or had too much, but if you don't...I'll understand"
There was a silence all around the throne where the Saints had often trod.
As the policeman waited quietly for the judgment of his God.
"Step forward now, policeman.
You've borne you burdens well.
Come walk a beat on Heaven's streets.
You've done your time in Hell"

G. HOUSTON
SOUTH CAROLINA

June 9, 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).

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.

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 (EMT-Paramedic)
Haywood Co EMS (NC)

April 5, 2004

On angels ...
"The wings ain't anything but a uniform, that's all. When they are in the field so to speak, they always wear them."
Taken from Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain.

It's been 10 years but you're not forgotten ...
October 5, 2003

Anonymous

October 13, 2003

Thank you for protecting us citizens from the violent predators who make us victims. We are so sorry to see that you were taken from us violently, while only trying to keep our communities safe. God bless your family, I hope they are doing well after all these years. It is 2003, and your sacrifice is not and will never be forgotten. Rest in peace, your brothers and sisters now have the watch.

Pat
Baltimore, MD

August 25, 2003

Greater Love hath no Man than this
That He Lay down His Life for His Friends.


May your memory be always like a candle in our hearts that
causes us to do good for others and brings hope to the less
fortunate.

Chuck Spell
United State Treasury Department