support your local police

bgreenea3 · Post by **bgreenea3** » Tue Apr 26, 2011 3:36 pm

we just put a good officer to rest. Kalamazoo Public Safety Officer Eric Zapata was shot and killed April 18, 2011 Rest In Peace.

http://www.woodtv.com/dpp/news/local/ka ... procession

Stay safe my friends

bearandoldman · Post by **bearandoldman** » Tue Apr 26, 2011 3:51 pm

Post by **Bullseye** » Tue Apr 26, 2011 3:59 pm

Sad to hear. May he rest in peace.

R,
Bullseye

Hakaman · Post by **Hakaman** » Tue Apr 26, 2011 4:03 pm

Rest in Peace !
One of the first things that came to my mind, unfortunately, was how some protesters
protest at military funerals. There was part of me that wondered if that happens at police funerals. Supreme court allows it.

bgreenea3 · Post by **bgreenea3** » Tue Apr 26, 2011 4:38 pm

Hakaman wrote:Rest in Peace !
One of the first things that came to my mind, unfortunately, was how some protesters
protest at military funerals. There was part of me that wondered if that happens at police funerals. Supreme court allows it.

thanks gentlemen...... and no protesters here he died a hero

blue68f100 · Post by **blue68f100** » Tue Apr 26, 2011 6:35 pm

Sorry to hear you had lost one, Let him Rest in Peace.

greener · Post by **greener** » Wed Apr 27, 2011 8:01 pm

Quite a turnout. Says a lot about the folks in KZ. I believe you said that this was the first policy killing in about 140 years.

Baldy · Post by **Baldy** » Wed Apr 27, 2011 9:05 pm

How Sad...

The policeman stood and faced his God,
which must always come to pass.
He hoped his shoes were shining,
just as brightly as his brass.

"Step forward now, Officer.
How shall I deal with you?
Have you always turned the other cheek?
To My church have you been true?"

The Officer squared his shoulders
and said, "No Lord. I guess I ain't.
Because those who carry badges,
can't always be a saint."

"I've had to work most Sundays,
and at times my talk was rough...
and sometimes I've been violent
because the streets are awful tough."

"But I never took a penny,
that wasn't mine to keep...
though I worked a lot of overtime
when the bills got just too steep."

"And I never passed a cry for help,
though at times I shook with fear.
And sometimes, God forgive me,
I wept unmanly tears."

"I know I don't deserve a place
among the people here.
They never wanted me around
except to calm their fear."

"If you've a place for me here, Lord,
it needn't be so grand.
I never expected or had too much,
But, if you don't...I'll understand."

There was silence all around the throne,
where saints had often trod,
as the Officer waited quietly
for the judgement of his God.

"Step forward now, Officer
You've borne your burdens well.
Come walk a beat on heaven's streets.
You've done your time in hell."

bgreenea3 · Post by **bgreenea3** » Thu Apr 28, 2011 12:29 am

greener wrote:Quite a turnout. Says a lot about the folks in KZ. I believe you said that this was the first policy killing in about 140 years.

the only other line of Duty death in Kalamazoo was in 1867.... the Sherriff was shot interupting a jailbreak

bgreenea3 · Post by **bgreenea3** » Thu Apr 28, 2011 12:30 am

Baldy wrote:How Sad...

The policeman stood and faced his God,
which must always come to pass.
He hoped his shoes were shining,
just as brightly as his brass.

"Step forward now, Officer.
How shall I deal with you?
Have you always turned the other cheek?
To My church have you been true?"

The Officer squared his shoulders
and said, "No Lord. I guess I ain't.
Because those who carry badges,
can't always be a saint."

"I've had to work most Sundays,
and at times my talk was rough...
and sometimes I've been violent
because the streets are awful tough."

"But I never took a penny,
that wasn't mine to keep...
though I worked a lot of overtime
when the bills got just too steep."

"And I never passed a cry for help,
though at times I shook with fear.
And sometimes, God forgive me,
I wept unmanly tears."

"I know I don't deserve a place
among the people here.
They never wanted me around
except to calm their fear."

"If you've a place for me here, Lord,
it needn't be so grand.
I never expected or had too much,
But, if you don't...I'll understand."

There was silence all around the throne,
where saints had often trod,
as the Officer waited quietly
for the judgement of his God.

"Step forward now, Officer
You've borne your burdens well.
Come walk a beat on heaven's streets.
You've done your time in hell."

I've always liked that poem

Baldy · Post by **Baldy** » Fri Apr 29, 2011 6:57 pm

Yes sir that is one of the best in my book. If you have a loved one on the force it takes on a real special meaning.

bgreenea3 · Post by **bgreenea3** » Fri Apr 29, 2011 8:44 pm

can't show it to my wife..... she would cry for a week

Baldy · Post by **Baldy** » Sun May 01, 2011 12:42 am

bgreenea3 wrote:can't show it to my wife..... she would cry for a week

Yes Sir I understand how that works.

Yleefox · Post by **Yleefox** » Sun May 01, 2011 9:35 pm

It's a real shame that we lose those who work to protect us. May he RIP.

Y

Medicine Hat · Post by **Medicine Hat** » Mon May 02, 2011 12:51 am

This is always sad to hear. Many of my friends, and some family are, or have been LEOs.
R.I.P. friend.