Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

When God made Police Officers.......

When the Lord was creating police officers, he was into his sixth day of overtime when an angel appeared and said, "You're doing a lot of fiddling on this one?"

And the Lord said, "Have you read the spec on this order?"

"A police 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 is 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 phyiscal 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."

"Its not the hands that are causing me problems, "said the Lord, "its the three pairs of eyes an officer has to have."

"Thats 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 the accounting job.) Another pair in the side of his head for his partners' safety. And another pair of eyes here in the front that that can look reassuring 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 police office 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 it's sleep" detain, investigate, search, and arrest a gang member on the street in less time it takes five learned judges to debate the legality of the stop...and still 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 vicitm's family, and then read in the daily paper how law enforcement isn't sensative to the rights of criminal suspects."

Finally, the angel bent over and ran her finger across the cheek of the police officer. "There's a leak," she pronounced. "I told you that you were trying to put too much into this model."

"Thats not a leak," said the Lord, "its a tear."

"What's the tear for?" asked the angel.

"Its 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.

Bob-I'll miss you coming in from time to time. Keep watching over everyone. Let them take the watch from here on out.

Kay
Security at Saint Mary's Hospital

July 8, 2007

My heart & prayers go out to you. Rest Easy.

Cindy, Arkansas
sister of slain Officer Randy Basnett, eow 9/24/76

July 8, 2007

Koz-
I cannot describe the feeling I had when I got the phone call from the police department this morning telling me that you were gone. My heart goes out to your daughter, parents, and siblings. While I didn't know you that well I will never forget seeing your smiling face around the building. Your sacrifice will never be forgotten by your brothers and sisters at GRPD. Rest in peace my brother and may God grant your family, the department, and the community the strength to get through this tough time and continue on in your memory. May God bless you!

GRPD Detective
Grand Rapids Police Department

July 8, 2007

Rest in Peace, Officer Kozminski. You will NEVER be forgotten. We thank you for your Service, Sir.

Sr. Trooper Trey Pellizzari
Texas Dept of Public Safety/Commercial Vehicle Enforcement--Rockwall

July 8, 2007

My brother (Robert Hull) was a retired GRPD. The police department has a special meaning to our family. The loss of one is a tragedy for us all. We will pray for his parents for their loss and for his daughter in understanding this vile act.

The McKenna Family

July 8, 2007

rest easy my friend god bless you and your family

jack doyle
ny state police ret

July 8, 2007

YESTERDAY IS HISTORY, TOMORROW IS A MYSTERY AND TODAY IS A GIFT.

OFFICER KOZMINSKI, YOU REST IN PEACE MY FRIEND. I SALUTE YOU! MY PRAYERS ARE WITH YOU, YOUR FAMILY, FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES. I THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. YOU DID NOT LOSE YOUR LIFE, YOU GAVE IT IN SERVICE TO OTHERS. A TRUE HERO INDEED.

THOSE CLOSE TO THIS HERO, PLEASE TAKE COMFORT IN KNOWING THAT I, ALONG WITH MANY OTHERS ACROSS THIS LAND, GRIEVE WITH YOU. KEEP HIM IN YOUR HEART, AND PASS HIS STORY ALONG. MAY GOD BLESS YOU.

JOB WELL DONE, OFFICER KOZMINSKI.

JIM SWEENEY CIVILIAN NEW JERSEY
A FRIEND TO ALL PEACE OFFICERS

July 8, 2007

To the family of Robert,
I am from Grand Rapids and just wanted to let you know how sorry I am to hear that we have lost one of our own polic officers and a protector for the people of Grand Rapids and Michigan. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and the whole Grand Rapids Police Dept. and for everyone else that knew Robert. We are so sorry and thankyou for putting your lives at risk for the safety of the community.

Sheryl Hoek

July 8, 2007

God bless you, brother, as you now sit with the angels. You and your family are in my heart and prayers.

Captain Gary Graham (RET)
Denver Police Department

July 8, 2007

Police Officer Kozminski,
You are in GODS hands now rest in peace, we will not forget. Detective E.Zitek NYPD (Retired).

Detective Edward Zitek
NYPD

July 8, 2007

Thoughts and prayers are with your family and your agency. RIP Brother in Blue.

Patrolman D. Kirk #309
Round Lake Heights PD (IL)

July 8, 2007

May the Lord bless Officer Kozminski, his family, friends and fellow Officers. Thank you for your service and may you rest in peace Brother.

Patrolman Bryan Losagio
Salisbury Township Police Department, Lehigh County, PA

July 8, 2007

Thank you for your service, Officer Kozminski. You will NEVER be forgotten. May God be with your family and friends always.

CMPD Wife, Charlotte, NC

July 8, 2007

Rest in peace fallen brother....Semper Cop

Edward Mattson-Sgt Retired
Baltimore City Police

July 8, 2007

Thank you for your service, you died a hero. May God bless you and your family in these difficult times. Godspeed.

Police Officer
WRPD, Colorado

July 8, 2007

Robert, you gave your life to protect others and for that, You shall be honored in Heaven. May God be with your family and fellow Officers in this tragic time. Having most of my family and friends in Grand Rapids I am honored to know that brave Officers like yourself are there to guard those that I hold so dear. Thank you Brother for your many years of diligent service. Godspeed Brother.

M. Anderson
Clearwater Police Dept.- FL

July 8, 2007

It was an honor to serve with you. Always enjoyed your quiet manner and smile. You will be greatly missed by your fellow officers.

Ed Hillyer (retired)
Grand Rapids Police Department

July 8, 2007

I was sad to hear the horrible news. I went to College and the Academy with Robert. He was a funny guy and always a joy to be around. My prayers go out to his family, loved ones and Comrads on the force

Jeremy Tobin
Grand Rapids Community College Police Academy

July 8, 2007

Thank-you for your service to your community. Our prayers go out to your family and your department. You will truly be missed. Rest in Peace Officer Kozminski.

Sergeant
Portage MI PD

July 8, 2007

My deepest sympathy to each of you. May you find the peace and comfort you need during this sad day when yet another HERO must die to protect the people in which he served. God Bless my thoughts and prayers are with you.


Betty A. Bell
Former Spouse
Ptl. William B. Bell
E.O.W.11-19-02
Summerville, PD

July 8, 2007

On behalf of the Hastings Post our thoughts and prayers are with your family, friends, and the GRPD. The city of Grand Rapids lost a true hero due to a senseless and cowardly act.

Tpr. E Felkers
MSP Hastings

July 8, 2007

God bless & R.I.P brother. You will never be forgotten

Ofcr MW Moore 3176
FWPD

July 8, 2007

The violence has to stop! We have become a society that has to hold persons responsible. We have no fault divorce, no fault car insurance and there are too many single parent homes. We need to bring back the family values that were once present in our society, only then will the violence stop and we will be able to live as neighbors and friends again.
My prayers are with Officer Kozminski's family.

Tom
citizen

July 8, 2007

May God keep watch over your family during this tremendously difficult time. This is an unbelievable loss. Bobby is now in that place we all strive to be, I pray you find comfort in that fact.

Love,
Cyndi, Christopher and Adriana

Cyndi, Christopher and Adriana
Friend of family

July 8, 2007

My prayers are with the Kozminski family. To his mother and father,thanks for the upbringing you gave him which molded him into the honorable man he was. To his daughter, your father is a hero and may his memory live with you forever. Robert, you are a hero my brother. May all that wear a badge be as brave as you were today. We will carry on the fight from here. May you rest in peace.

Sgt. Travis Gribble
Ionia County Sheriff's Office

July 8, 2007