New York City Police Department, New York
End of Watch Friday, September 10, 2004
Reflections for Detective Patrick H. Rafferty
May your family and friends find peace in these heart felt reflections. You are both true hero's. May your spirits have quick journeys home and a joyous homecoming celebration. Go rest high on the mountain!
D/Sgt. Vencent Woods
State of Michigan Department of Environmental Quality
September 13, 2004
“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
September 13, 2004
God bless you and your family at this time of sorrow. You will never be forgotten.
DE
St. Louis City Police
September 13, 2004
Rest in peace.
Offc. Michael Walker
Tallahassee Police Department
September 13, 2004
Out thought and prayers go out to Detective Rafferty, his family and the NYPD. Rest in Peace.
Officers of the Foreign Mission Branch
U.S. Secret Service/Uniformed Division
September 13, 2004
My deepest sympathy to the Rafferty family. May God watch over you in this very trying time.
Robert Gordon
Father of Michael P. Gordon, EOW: 8/8/04
Robert Gordon
Riverside PD, Ret.
September 13, 2004
To the family, friends and co-workers of Detective Rafferty, my prayers go out to you, the pain you are feeling right now is unbelieveable. It will be that way for a long time, I know that I'm still feeling the same feelings 8 months later. The only things that helps me is that I knew Clint loved being a police officer and would not have traded places with anyone.
Detective Rafferty I know that your family will miss you everyday but we will never forget you. Tell Clint we miss him everyday.
Connie Barker
Mother of Clint Walker E.O.W. 1-14-04
September 13, 2004
What do you do with pain like this? To the family of Det. Rafferty, may you gain some comfort in knowing he is in a better place smiling down on us all. Sometime during our grieving we forget that. What does I take? What will it take to change the essence of mans thinking? I can only hope that one day GOD Himself will get so tired of the countless acts of violence and return to adjust the free will thinking of these ignorant perps. May GOD keep all my brothers and sisters and blue safe. And please guys, PLEASE BE SAFE OUT THERE. WE ARE ALL EACH OTHER HAS GOT.
Poilce Officer Jason Chandler
New York City police Dept.
September 13, 2004
May you sit with Jesus and watch over all of us.
Officer Randy M Taylor
US DOJ
September 13, 2004
Rest in peace Detective Patrick Rafferty.
Lt Thomas Drury
Clare City Police Department, Mich.
September 13, 2004
Our deepest sympathy to the family of Detective Patrick Rafferty and the New York City Police Department...our hearts and prayers are with you all...... Thank you for a job well done Patrick... rest in peace as you continue your watch from the heavens......your memory will never be forgotten...
God Bless....Be Safe..... and wear your vests...
Vin, Pook and all of us at beyond-the-blue
Vinman and Pooky -Site Owners
beyond-the-blue
September 13, 2004
Rest in peace Brother Patrick, you are a true hero and will never be forgotten. Thank you for your service and courage.
Son of G. Truman Wortham EOW 7/15/73
September 12, 2004
It was with deepest regret that I read about the tragic death of Det. Rafferty. Again two of our country's finest has paid the ultimate for the safety of others. Please accept the prayers of the entire shift of officers and sergeants here at BPD West Precinct. Back in June of this year we lost three of our own. It was a difficult time then and still is, as I am sure it is for Det. Raferty's and Det. Parker's fellow officers and families.
Remember that they are now watching over us all.
Lt. Jerry Wiley
Birmingham, AL Police Department
September 12, 2004
Fidelis Ad Mortem
Rest in peace, brother.
Police Officer
Union City Police Dept.
September 12, 2004
Farewell Brother..You now reside among the Heroes of Heroes. Thank you for your faithfulness and dedication to duty.Rest in the knowledge that your loved ones are not alone. We are but a phone call away.
Bob Johnson VA-VI
Bob Johnson U.S. Marshal's (Ret'd)
Blue Knights International Police Assn.
September 12, 2004
Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family, friends and fellow officers of Detective Rafferty. You died a hero sir and your name will never be forgotten. Thank you for your service and dedication. New York is a little better because you were there. Rest in peace sir.
Captain Robert W. Cannon; Retired
Vermilion County, Illinois, Sheriff's Department
September 12, 2004
god bless your in our thoughts and prayers.
wife of det rolniak eow 2-4-04
rpd
September 12, 2004
Rest in peace sir. Thank you.
shannon
concerned citizen
September 12, 2004
Words cannot express the sorrow we feel for the family of Det.Rafferty and his fellow NYPD Officers. You don't walk alone. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.GOD bless.
P.O.Michael F.O'Neill
Pipes&Drums of the Cleveland Police Dept.
September 12, 2004
To Detective Rafferty family and friends our hearts and prayers go out to you.
God Bless you
terry miyares, surviving spouse
Officer Emilio Miyares, Hialeah PD< Fl 11/6/86
September 12, 2004
Not one of you will be forgotten, all of you are missed. Our thoughts and prayers are with your family; Rest in Peace, Brother.
a colleague from the UK
September 12, 2004
There are but two persons who protect the sinful human race from destroying itself. One is God's Holy Spirit. The other is the Peace Officer. Without them, we would all perish at each other's hands.
You were called into this profession and our Lord and Savior has blessed you because:
According to Romans 13.1-5...
God ordains the Peace Officer’s profession.
The Peace Officer is sent by God.
The Peace Officer is vested with God's authority to enforce the law.
A Peace Officer's badge is to be honored by us, because it is honored by God.
To the family of Detective Patrick Rafferty and the New York City Police Department, your extended family of Law Enforcement Officers grieves with you during this time. I pray that God will wrap his loving arms around each of you and comfort you during this most difficult time.
You gave the ultimate sacrifice for your fellow man, your life.
While serving, defending, and protecting others in your community.
Rest easy with our other fallen Brothers and Sisters, we have the watch now.
To all my brothers and sisters, please remember the fallen officers we have lost. Remember the men and women who died trying to make this world a safer and better place for us all to live in, and their families. Please pray for this officer's family, agency, and friends as they struggle with this tragedy.
May God be with you every day, please remember, we are a part of the largest family in the world and when one hurts we all hurt.
Though our badges and uniforms may be different, our mission is the same. We continue the fight in your honor.
Florida Deputy Sheriff
September 12, 2004
You are a hero to all that you served. God will bless you and your family, and your sacrifice will not be forgotten.
Officer T. SanGiacomo
San Francisco Police Dept
September 12, 2004
BUFFALO, NEW YORK
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS POLICE
OFFICERS WISH TO SEND OUR CONDOLENCES.
OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS ARE WITH
DETECTIVE RAFFERTY, HIS FAMILY AND CO-WORKERS.
GOD BLESS...
PO ERNEST G. PENN
DEPT. OF VETERANS AFFAIRS POLICE
September 12, 2004
We extend heart felt sympathy to the family of Patrick and to the New York City Police Department. Rest in peace Detective.
Vincent Lowe/Chief
Kentland Police Dept./Indiana
September 12, 2004