Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

You bid no one a last farewell
Or never said goodbye…
You were gone before we knew it,
And only God knows why,
A million times we needed you,
A million times we cried…
If Love alone could have saved you,
You never would have died…
In life we loved you dearly,
In death we love you still…
In our hearts you hold a special place
No one can ever fill…
It broke our hearts to lose you,
But you did not go alone…
For part of us went with you…
The day God called you home…

Love and Miss YOU....

Joyce
Sister

July 6, 2008

Officer Harris your work on this Earth as we know it is done. You are in God's Hands now brother. May you rest in peace.

SGT. Daryl Brewer
Clarksville Police Dept. Clarksville, Tennessee

May 19, 2008

Hi John,

Its your birthday today and I can't believe you are 40 today.. It makes me sad to think of all you missed out on. I know you are watching down on everyone, but we all miss you so very much.. Happy Birthday! Love and Miss YOU!

Joyce
Sister

April 29, 2008

If Tears Could Build A Stairway

If tears could build a stairway
And memories were a lane
We would walk right up to Heaven
And bring you back again

No farewell words were spoken
No time to say goodbye
You were gone before we knew it
And only God knows why

Our hearts still ache in sadness
And secret tears still flow
What it meant to lose you
No one will ever know

But now we know you want us
To mourn for you no more
To remember all the happy times
Life still has much in store

Since you’ll never be forgotten
We pledge to you today
A hallowed place within our hearts
Is where you’ll always stay

Joyce
Sister

April 18, 2008

John,

I continue to miss you and think of you everyday.. I can't believe you would have been 40 this year. I think of all the special days and family you never met and wish you were here. I know you continue to watch over our family and your special family in blue.. Miss and Love You!!
Love, Joyce

Joyce
Sister

April 14, 2008

"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 © 1993 - All Rights Reserved
and may not be duplicated without permission

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

April 2, 2008

Officer Harris Rest in Peace my brother and thank you for your service .

To Joyce
I want to thank you for the words you provided to Joshua Norris EOW 7/5/07 who was to be my son in-law, they touched my daughter and has helped my family during a dark time. My daughter had a general idea of how large our police family was, but your reflection showed just how large the family of blue is. God Bless you

Deputy John Latour
Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office

December 19, 2007

Officer Harris,
I found your reflection page while visiting another fallen officer's page, and wanted to say that citizens everywhere are so grateful for people like you, who have the courage to change the world while putting yourself in a precarious position every minute on the clock. You will be celebrating another Christmas in heaven soon, and my thoughts will be with your loved ones and friends who have many wonderful memories of you. Thank you for making such a profound difference on earth, which I am sure you are also doing in heaven.

Pennsylvania citizen

December 14, 2007

John,
Christmas is almost here and your angel is on the tree as always. I know you are watching down on all of us. We miss you so very much. You are thought of every day. We Love You, and Miss you so very much...
Love,
J

J
Sister

December 13, 2007

I came across your name somewhere among these many pages of heroes and wanted to stop and your page and leave a reflection. You have not been forgotten. Continue to keep watch over your loved ones and those still out on patrol. I know there has not been a day that has passed since your EOW that someone has not thought of you and missed your smile, warm touch and heard your voice. You will never be forgotten.

Bob Gordon
Father of Michael P. Gordon, EOW: 8/8/04

December 10, 2007

John,

Another year has gone by, and so swiftly. I was brought back to the sad day of your funeral, and suddenly I was with the rest of the dept standing at attention, while someone was playing taps, and we were all in tears. It just doesn't seem possible that this many years have gone by already. You are missed, that is for sure. You are thought of often, and my prayers are with your family.

CSO Tara Martin
Greeley Police Department/ Former SVPD NY

August 20, 2007

John today is 13 years that you have been gone, and not a day goes by that I don't think of you and miss you. I know you are watching over everyone, you are our special angel. You are always in our hearts.. Love and Miss you so very much...

J
Sister

August 19, 2007

You are not forgotten. We visited your name at the memorial in May, and your picture looks over the troops as they start and finish their tours.

Rest well, Brother...

r. j. clark

August 18, 2007

John today your funeral came flooding back to me, as if it was yesterday. Today was the funeral of Officer Cortez from Phoenix, he went to school where the kids did and was only 23 he was shot in the line of duty, so sad. Everytime I hear a cop dies I think of you and how much it hurt to lose you and how their families are hurting too. What helps is to know how many people loved and honored you. Today all the people standing on the road side and the funeral procession with all the people who loved this officer and who wanted to honor this him as they did you when you died. This makes me sad but also proud. It will be 13 years this month since you left us and not a day goes by that I don't think of you and miss you so very much... With all my love always...

Joyce
sister

August 3, 2007

John,

Your birthday just past and it still hurts that you aren't here to celebrate it with all of us. We love and miss you so very much. Happy Birthday! We will never forget..
Love You Always!!

Joyce
Sister

May 2, 2007

John,
We miss you so very much, not only were you a great brother but an awesome friend. I know you are always with us all. You are our hero. We love and miss you and you are always in our hearts.
Love, Joyce

sister

February 24, 2007

It's hard to believe its been 12 years. Time has gone by so fast. Just wanted you and your family to know I am thinking of you today, just as lots of us are. God Bless you and your family, John; you are missed very much.

CSO Tara N. Martin
Greeley Police Dept, CO (formerly SVPD

August 19, 2006

John, My goodness, it has been so long and still I miss you, what a great loss to bear. Yours is a passing I will never ever forget my friend, so sorrowful for us, your friends, and your wonderful family. I will never forget you and I waiting to take the dispatch test together, and how you talked about leaving for Henrico, I couldn't convince you to stay. God had another plan for you, and I know He does things for a reason, but it still pulls on my heartstrings. Time does not ease the pain, you were so young and such a great person, if I could have picked a brother he'd be just like you. When I left LI I visited your grave for the last time, it was hard to leave. I hope you know I visited you often there, just to let you know I was thinking of you and your family. What a turnout there was for you, but I wasn't surprised, a great turnout for an even greater guy. I know you are at peace my friend. We all miss you.

CSO Tara N. Martin (Camardo)
Greeley Police Dept, Colorado (former SVPD)

February 6, 2006

I never met you in life,but I was one of many Nassau County PD members that came to your Funeral in Riverhead,L.I. as part of a Detail to Honor You in you in Death.

You would have been proud of your Department.Your whole Department came with you from Virgina.Your Dept.was there at your Mass and the Escorted you to your final resting place.

Afterwards I met your dad.He had a gathering at the Riverhead Moose Club in your Honor.I was so impressed with the Club that I had joined and was a member for years.
I have let it lapse,unfortuneatley.Today 5/20/05 I had clicked onto Officer Downs web site to research a name and you were there on the home page.
I will call the moose lodge and see if they can put me in contact with your dad.
GodBless you and your Family

PO Tim Davies
4th Pct NCPD
Sgt @ Arms
FOP Nassau Police Lodge 69

PO Tim Davies
Nassau County Police Dept

May 20, 2005

Hey John,
It is coming up on the 10th anniversary of you leaving us. I just wanted you to know that I really miss you. I will never forget how great of a friend you were while we were growing up in Hampton Bays. The picture I took of you in your uniform, in the apartment down there in VA, is up on the board in my office. I will never forget the pride you took in how the uniform looked on you. I now work for Lake Success PD in Nassau County for the past 6 years. Just thought you'd want to know that. I really miss you buddy. Take care and rest in piece.

PO Fred Nordt Jr.
Lake Success PD, Long Island, NY

March 19, 2004

Rest in Peace Brother John, you will never be forgotten

Assistant Chief Carl Wortham
Sand Springs Police Dept. Okla