Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

“When God made Peace Officers….”

When the lord was creating 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 their uniform.

They have 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.

They have to be in top physical condition at all times, running on black coffee and half- eaten meals. And they have 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 the 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 they already know and wishes they had taken that accounting job.) Another pair here in the side of their head for their partners’ safety. And another pair of eyes here in front that can look reassuringly at a bleeding victim and say, “ You’ll be alright ma’am, when they know it isn’t so.”

“Lord,” said the angel, touching his sleeve,” rest and work 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 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 elements of a hundred crimes, recite Miranda warnings in it’s sleep; detain, investigate, search, and arrest a gang member on the street in less time than it takes five judges to debate the legality of the stop…and still it keeps it’s sense of humor.

This officer also has phenomenal personal control. They 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, and for justice.”

“You’re a genius,” said the angel.

The Lord looked sober. “I didn’t put it there,” he said.


Anonymous

Senior Instructor
Federal Law Enforcement Training Center

February 5, 2004

I check the website every morning after working the night shift praying that no new names have been added. It causes me great pain abd sadness to see another hero has been added to this list. God bless you and your family. We will continue to soldier on. We will never give up fighting the good fight.

Officer Paul E. George
HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT

February 5, 2004

your wife and children will be kept in our prayers. God speed to you.

Anonymous

February 5, 2004

DEEPEST SYMPATHY TO THE FAMILY OF DET. WILLIAM ROLNIAK.

Anonymous

February 5, 2004

To the family and friends of Detective William Rolniak, we express our deepest sympathies to all of you and hope one day, the US govt. will give law enforcement the power we need to protect one another and keep criminals off the streets.

Officer Ron Reardon
City of Riverside Police Dept. (Ohio)

Detective Sondra Reardon
University of Cincinnati Police Dept.

Officer Ron Reardon
Riverside Ohio Police Department

February 5, 2004

My thoughts and prayers are with the family , friends and comrades of this fine officer . The community this officer served cannot afford to lose officers of his calibre .

Garda kenneth Harrington
An Garda Siochana , Ireland .

February 5, 2004

God Bless you sir. Words can't express how loosing a public servant affects not only thier family but an entire Nation. You will not be FORGOTTEN but honored and remembered.

My heart, prayers, and thoughts are sent to those that were closest to you.

Tonya Stephenson
Private Citizen, PA

February 5, 2004

To the family of officer Rolnaik,
No peace officer should have to be taken this way. The suspect got what needed to be done. We don't need trash like this on any streets in America.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to all involved in this tragedy.

Citizen
Oklahoma City
2-5-03

Eddie Schantz
citizen

February 5, 2004

Rest in peace Brother William, you are a true hero and will not be forgotten.

Son of G. Truman Wortham EOW 7/15/73

Assistant Chief Carl Wortham
Sand Springs Police Dept. Okla

February 5, 2004

My condolences and prayers go out to the family and friends of Officer Rolniak.
Rest in peace Brother in Blue.
Watch over those who still Serve here on earth from your "beat" in Heaven

Deputy
Walworth County WI Sheriff's Dept.

February 5, 2004

Our deepest condolences to the Family, friends, and co-workers of Officer Rolniak.

Newark NJ PD Auto Theft Task Force

February 5, 2004

My thoughts and prayers are with Officer Rolniak's family, friends and co-workers. You will never be alone in your pain and grief. Your law enforcement family will always be with you. Psalm 55:22

Denise Nichols - surviving spouse
Alabama State Trooper Brian Nichols EOW 2/17/2002

February 5, 2004

Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of officer Rolniak and the Riverdale Police Department especially those also involved in this incident. May God Be with You.

Dear Brother in Blue, may you walk that beat on heaven's street until we come and walk it with you. Sit next to each rookie and keep them safe and may your memory sharpen their senses and keep them on their toes. Your sacrifice was not in vain. You will be missed.
God Speed my Brother.

Anonymous

February 5, 2004

Ofc. Rolniak,
May God help your family, friends, and brothers & sisters in Blue get through this tradgedy. This was such a senseless act. It just makes me sick! You are now in a much better place. Your tour is done. God bless.

Inv. Tom Faircloth
Laurens County DA's Office, GA

February 5, 2004

Yet another hero has been taken too soon. My deepest sympathy to the family, friends and co-workers of Officer Rolniak. May the Lord give you strength and bless each of you during this time.
Rest in peace for your watch here is over; walk in heavens beat and guide us all to protect and serve others safely.

US Ranger Catroppa
National Park Service Kennesaw GA

February 5, 2004

"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because tough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf."
-Steve Robinson, Seal Team One, 1971-1973

First Sergeant J.L. Slaughter
Radford City Department of Police

February 5, 2004

I am saddened to read of what has transpired. My preyers and thoughs go out to the family, co-workers and friends of Officer William Rolniak.

Anonymous

February 5, 2004