Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

I remember passing by the highway sign pointing to Lynn, MA. on a trip back
East in 1986. Your end of watch was almost 13 years ago, but time has not
diminished your service or sacrifice.
Lynn Kole
Bellingham, WA

April 22, 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 © 1999 - All Rights Reserved
and may not be duplicated without permission

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

February 18, 2008

On the anniversary of your death we remember you Sir and thank you for your Service.

This writer is pleased that justice in your death came swift and quickly.

Pat Van Den Berghe, Manchester, NH
Neighbors for a Better Manchester, NH

October 9, 2007

Patrolman Twyman,
On today, the 12th anniversary of your murder, I would like to say thank you for your service and sacrifice for the citizens of Lynn. And to your family and loved ones, I wish to extend my deepest sympathy.

R.I.P.
Anonymous

Anonymous

October 9, 2007

Patrolman Twyman thank you for the bravely you displayed that dreadful day. I know the world was a better place with you in it. God bless you and thank you for being a hero the time you were with us. R.I.P. you’ll never be forgotten.

Deputy Sheriff
El Paso County (Colorado)

October 9, 2006

Patrolman Twyman, today marks the 11th anniversary of your murder. You are the perfect example of what it means to be a hero. Unarmed and off duty, you tried to defend a woman from an attacker. You have my utmost admiration and respect for that deed. I am just so sorry that it cost you your life. Every Police Department needs plenty of guys like you.

God Bless and may you continue to Rest in Peace, Brother.

Ptl. Jim Leahy, Jr.
Harvard University Police Dept.

October 9, 2006

Fallen but NEVER forgotten.

Joanie
Mother, daughter, sister, and granddau. of LEO's

October 8, 2006

PRIDE INTEGIRTY & GUTS !

Some of you may know my face, but not my name. Most of you have seen me around the city and some have even met me, but not always under the best of circumstances. Some of you have even spoken to me on the phone, when you called me while I was working.

Most of you have an opinion on how my job should be done, but would never take my job if it was the last one on earth. And some of you who don’t even know me, hate me because of my job. But when I go to my job, I go to make a difference and so I can fight what everyone else fears.

When most would be running away from danger, my job requires me to run towards it. I do this in the hopes of making a difference for someone else I don’t even know. Most people say I make too much money, because my pay is published in the newspaper. But don’t think twice about hearing about another sports player sign a 20 million dollar contract for 6 months a year of playing a “game.”

Since my job’s base pay isn’t the best I must work extra to pay the bills. Including working extra shifts, on holidays and pick up side work at construction sites as well on my days off, most still complain thinking I am greedy, but don’t they realize that I to must pay taxes, have a mortgage car payments and kids in collage as well?

Don’t they understand that I am not paid for what I do, but for what I am willing to do for them? After all how can you properly compensate someone to risk their own life and face danger everyday they go to work?

And when I go to work I am punched, kicked, spit on and called every name in the book for doing my job. And every night I leave my house to go to work I realize I may not come back home in the morning. Because when I go to work I can be stabbed, shot, drown, fall, be electrocuted, or die in a car accident rushing to help you.

My job also requires me to carry special “tools” to help me do my job. Sometimes even while doing my job I have to defend myself from someone attacking me. Although, the newspapers will report to you that I “beat someone down”, and not that I defended myself from an attack.

While at work I must also carry a gun to protect you, but should I have to use it, the media reports to you that I “gunned someone down” or that I “shot and killed” somebody, not that I defended myself. Don’t they realize that I shoot to live and never to kill?

Also when I go to work I wrap a protective vest around me to help keep me safe through my shift. I use this vest so that I will be allowed to live to the end of my work day. And hope and pray that should something bad happen that this vest helps keep me alive so that I will be allowed to see my children grow.

When I go to my job, I will see more pain, sorrow, agony, death and destruction in one month than most of you will see in an entire lifetime.


And to the ones who don’t know me, I unforunetly will meet most of you at the worst times in your life. You often will call me to come help you out with a problem. But if you have a really big problem you can get me at a special 3 digit number and me and my coworkers will race to your house, just to help you no questions asked. All you have to do is call and we will be there for you, no matter what time, day, night or holiday, rain shine or blizzard.

Sometimes my job also requires me to deliver lectures, babies and even bad news. I am also the one required to ring your doorbell in the middle of the night, swallow hard and advise you that a loved one will not be coming home tonight, then I spend the rest of my shift wondering why I ever took such a job.

Some people even refer to me as a “pig,” but when I hear that word called to me or one of my coworkers I think of Pride, Integrity and Guts, which everyone in my profession needs to do this job.

Me and my coworkers must be able to have muscles of steel, have a sense of humor and put ourselves into dangerous situations and face danger head on all in a days work.

We must act in a second and make a decision in the blink of an eye, and spend the rest of our life hoping we made the right choice in that split second. If not we can be arrested and charged with breaking a law, be sued for violating someone’s rights, or end up with even a worse fate.

My job requires me to take an oath to be their and to risk my life to protect you. And it is an oath that me and my fellow coworkers have taken and is one that we will never break.

What, you ask is my job? I am your local police officer. And what do I ask in return of doing all this and risking my life for you? Nothing at all, because it is my job and my hope of being the one who makes the difference.


- Paul Cotter, Lynn Mass

---------------------------------------

This article was written by me for a local newspaper to remember our fallen brother and sisters during national police week.

it was later re-published in 4 more newspapers and one national police magazine.

Officer Twyman, you are in my thoughts and prayers. God bless you!

Ofc. Paul Cotter
Lynn (MA) PD

February 6, 2006

10 years later, you sacrafice has not been forgotten, Officer Twyman.

Officer
Somerville, MA Police

August 21, 2005

Gary, this will be the tenth anniversary of your EOW. You are not forgotten but remain in our thoughts.
thanks once more for you ultimate sacrifice.

July 31, 2005

RIP HERO, WE WILL NEVER FORGET..

Explorer Mike C
Newton PD (MA)

March 8, 2005

ONE MOMENT

In the whisper of the wind,
I felt God embrace me.
As the voice of a loved one,
I heard God speak to me
Looking in a mirror
I saw God smile at me.
One moment and I knew
That God and I were one.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Though your smile is gone forever,
And your hands we cannot touch;
Still we have so many memories
Of the one we loved so much.
Your memory is our keepsake,
With which we will never part.
God has you in His keeping
And we have you in our hearts.
We know you walk beside us,
And when our lives are through,
We pray that God will take our hands
And lead us straight to you.

March 2, 2005

Gary,
We will never forget you patrolling our streets in West Lynn on your motorcycle,we thank you for your service and the supreme sacrifice you made to save another . God Bless my friend and protector. To all others on the Lynn PD , always , stay safe and thank you all. Bob from Orchard St.

Bob from Orchard Street
OSA-CW

December 31, 2004

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

Anonymous

It seems like just yesterday, my friend. I miss you and the way you were always smiling. Your daughters doing great with her grandma. God bless.

Anonymous

People often question why I want to become a police officer so much. Patrolman Twyman and people like him are the reason why. I've been amazed to see how the officers I know are so dedicated to their work, and also by reading the stories of America's fallen heroes. Patrolman Twyman leaves behind a legacy of the most selfless courage. God bless his family and friends now and in years to come.

Explorer Patrick Siemon
Baltimore County Police Explorers

It takes a decent man to want to make the world a better place;
A good man to do his job right while he's on duty;
A great man to put his life on the line while he's on duty;
An outstanding man to put his life on the line when unarmed on duty;
And an angel to want to make the world a better place by putting his life on the line while off-duty and unarmed.

God bless you.

Thank you for your service. May god be with you and your family.

Explorer Justin Betts
Alameda County Sheriff's Office, CA

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

Anonymous

I am amazed at the sacrifices officers are willing to make for those they've sworn to serve and protect, whether on duty, "ready" for what may happen, or off duty, "taken by surprise."

To Officer Twyman and all other officers, I say a heartfelt "Thank you" for your courage and dedication.

Anonymous