So very sad. Rest in peace Deputy Myers. My heart goes out to his family. A retired 64 year old officer who returned to work and shot down by some low life with a gun.
I am.in Miami this week and they have had this tragedy on the news several times and the donation info too. Way to go Sunshine State!
This is phenomenal. Rest in peace Bill Myers and blessings to our local law enforcement and their families.T.H. Merritt owner WZEP wrote the following and there is also an audio version on WZEP.
POINT BLANK | WZEP AM 1460
POINT BLANK
Commentary By: T.H. Merritt, News Director
A good man died Tuesday – a husband, a father, a son, a brother, a friend – a part of you and me.
Deputy Bill Myers of the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office was murdered by a coward who could not face him man to man. Shot multiple times in the back and in the head, it appears Deputy Myers was still able to draw his weapon before slipping into unconsciousness. And he didn’t die immediately. He fought, with every ounce of fortitude, to survive. For nearly six hours, he struggled to live and cling to life while surgeons tried heroically to save him from his mortal wounds that would have killed a lesser man instantly.
However, this mere mortal man was mortal. There has been only one who has conquered death…for now.
I never met Bill Myers but, I know him. He is the Policeman who lives down the street and keeps an eye on my kids at the bus stop. He is the cop I see at the Tom Thumb paying for the kid who didn’t have enough money to pay for his candy. He is the Trooper I see constantly looking up when helping a motorist on the Interstate. He is the Game Warden who checked my hunting license to make sure I followed game laws so there will be enough turkey and deer for my grandson. He is the Deputy who changed my tire so I wouldn’t hurt myself or ruin my suit. And, he is the cop who has to tell a man accused of beating his wife to stay the hell away from her until a judge can sort it out.
But, more than that, Bill Myers was portrait of all that is good about America. For over 26 years he studied, trained, certified, re-certified, performed and practiced what he preached. He lived his life before his fellow man with honor, courage and integrity.
He laughed, cried, told jokes, gave a firm handshake and looked you in the eye. He stayed up late, worked when he didn’t feel good, ate poorly, quickly or not at all. He took better care of others than himself because that’s what MOST cops do. He gave when there was no more to give. He bit his tongue when he wanted to tell a bad guy what you and I really think. He held his temper and brought to bear his many years of life experience that taught him the difference between ruining a kid’s life and giving him a second chance.
Bill Myers was a father of three sons. Yes, he was harder on them because he didn’t want them to end up like others and he also knew that this day might come when he would not be here for them. He was a husband. He loved his wife and he was always reminding her to be careful because he has seen the underbelly of society and, no matter how tough or brave he had to be, she was his rock.
Bill Myers was a friend. He wasn’t afraid to say hi, try to make you smile, make you feel special or lift your spirits. He was tough when he had to be but could bring calm to a crisis. He believed there were just some things that should never change like decency, kindness and respect.
People respected Bill Myers. Not because he made you but because he earned it. He was a man of his word. You could count on Bill Myers.
He was a grandfather, God’s way of giving a Dad a second chance. Yes, he retired but, a cop NEVER really retires. He needed something to “do.” He wasn’t ready to give up. He felt he still had something to give and wanted to feel useful. A little extra income allowed him to cherish time with being a grand “dad” again.
For over 25 years he has faced untold numbers of dangerous encounters and situations and lived to tell about it. But, deep in his heart, as all cops know, he knew this was always a possibility. Even more so today as he has witnessed the moral decay of American society over the past quarter century. Yet, he continued to hold the line because that is who he was. Bill Myers didn’t give his life. It was taken from him. After 25 years, it ended with a coward shooting him in the back because once he met Bill Myers, he knew he couldn’t take him man to man and evil could not look into the eyes of goodness, love, faith, courage and justice.
On this early Autumn day, whatever good and decent thing you enjoy in life, remember it is men and women like Bill Myers who protect it and stand between evil and you.
Treasure it. EARN IT.
May his memory be eternal.