Super cool way to separate the egg yolks

If you don't read another one of my blog posts ever again, you must watch this.  I just tried it and it worked beautifully!

I can't wait to give a little demonstration at my next AHOP breakfast!  I already have these guys fooled to thinking I can cook -- just wait until they see me do this!  Boy, will they ever be impressed with this new skill that I didn't even know I had until last night.

Make sure your plastic bottle is clean before doing this.  But you already knew that, right?

Thank you to my friend, Kat, for sending me this gem!  It changed my world!  ♥

Patty Melts

When I first saw this patty melt on The Pioneer Woman's website, I thought...."now THIS is a hungry cop sandwich."  Besides Ree Drummond's awesome sense of humor, I love all the 'cowboy/cowgirl' comfort food (as she likes to call it.)  I have made two other recipes from her show and they were awesome - the potato skins, and her spicey whiskey sliders, but as good as the patty melt looked on her website, I was disappointed (my fault - see below). I was hoping my taste buds would explode, but they didn't.  It still needs some perfecting before it's Po-Po ready.  Looks pretty though, don't you think?

I ran into a few problems with this recipe that resulted in (my) patty melt not turning out as I had hoped:
1)  I used Baby Swiss cheese instead of regular Swiss (my store was out of regular).
2)  I used white bread instead of rye (I don't care for rye).
3)  Onions need more salt and pepper.
4)  Ground beef needs more Dale's Steak Seasoning or Worcestershire.
5)  I don't typically care for hamburgers on the stove (grill yes; stove no).
6)  I'm not a real cook, so I don't know what I'm doing half the time.

Here's what you need - I wanted regular Swiss cheese but my store was out of it.  

Saute onions in butter (or vegetable oil) -- I used butter

Shape your patty before you cook it so it's about the size of the bread you're using

Lay buttered bread (face down) on griddle or clean skillet and top w/ Swiss cheese

Patty Melt 
Adapted from this recipe

1 pound of ground beef
1 large onion
Butter
Salt and Pepper
1 tsp. Dales Steak Seasoning (or Worcestershire Sauce)
8 slices Swiss cheese
8 slices White or Rye Bread

In a medium skillet, melt 2 tablespoons of butter over medium-low heat and add your onions. I sliced my onions in thin whole rings, but it's actually easier to eat if you cut the onion in half before slicing.  Stir occasionally until the onions are golden brown and soft. 

In a medium bowl, mix together the ground beef, salt & pepper, and Dale's Steak Seasoning (or Worcestershire sauce). 

Make 4 patties shaping them to fit your bread (width and length).  

Cook the patties on both sides until the middle is cooked through.  

Over medium heat, and using a clean griddle or skillet:

• Lightly butter one slice of bread and lay face down on grill or skillet
• Add one slice of Swiss cheese
• Add cooked hamburger patty on top of Swiss cheese
• Add sauted onions on top of hamburger patty
• Add one slice of Swiss cheese on top of sauted onions
• Top with second slice of lightly buttered bread (buttered side up)

Cook until golden brown and crisp, and until cheese is melted.

Slice in half and serve immediately!

Thank you Effie's Cafe & Grill!

Today was the last breakfast until after the Democratic National Convention (DNC) is over.  Six officers and one sergeant came this morning.  There was a slight hint of Fall in the air.  Nothing major....just a feeling this time of year.    

Thank you Effie, Andreas and Irene, co-owners of Effie's Cafe & Grill, for providing this lovely fruit bowl for today's AHOP breakfast.  Effie's is located at 13024 Ballantyne Corporate Place, Charlotte, NC, right next to the building I work in.  They catered lunch for a big meeting the other day and their food presentation was awesome.  Of course, what caught my eye was Effie's beautiful fruit bowl. I stopped by yesterday to get a price on a small fruit bowl for Saturday and told Effie a little about AHOP, and she wanted to help.  She asked me to bring her the bowl I usually use and she put together this beautiful fruit bowl for today's breakfast with her compliments and thanks to the CMPD. 

I would be embarrassed to show you a picture of my flimsy little fruit bowl my guys are used to getting.  Suffice it to say, I don't think they were surprised to learn I (didn't) make this.  :)

The best for the best....thank you, Effie! ♥ 

Effie's Cafe & Grill

13024 Ballantyne Corporate Place, Suite 175

Charlotte, NC  28277

Tel:  980.819.9462

Green Bean Bundles - Delicious!

Yes, color me crazy, but I went to 3 different grocery stores and HAND-SELECTED 160 green beans to make up 20 bundles for my 2nd shift dinner Tuesday night.  Only the best for the best!  :)

Green Bean Bundles

Adapted from this recipe

10 slices of bacon (1 for each bundle)

1/2 pound fresh green beans (I hand-selected my green beans at the store and counted 8 beans per bundle to ensure I got the pretty ones)

4 tablespoons butter

1/4 c. brown sugar 

1 tablespoon soy sauce

1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

1-2 garlic cloves, minced (optional)

Toothpicks
Parchment Paper
* Of course, double this recipe if you make more than 10 bundles.

Note: This recipe is supposed to yield 10 bundles, but I didn't weigh my green beans -- I manually hand-selected them and counted them out right there in the store. So for 10 bundles, I would count out 80 green beans (that way you can select the same size beans and get only the pretty ones.)

Partially cook your bacon

I cooked my bacon on parchment paper in a preheated 400 degree oven -- the same as I do for my Saturday morning breakfasts, except I only cooked halfway. Keep a close watch on it until it's PARTIALLY cooked. I think 7 minutes in the oven did it for mine.  If you cook the bacon in the oven, follow my post here, or cook the bacon in a skillet over medium heat until partly cooked, but not crisp. Bacon needs to easily bend to wrap around the bundles.  The white fatty part of the bacon is translucent.  Drain on paper towels, and place a paper towel on top and dab the bacon to remove excess grease. 

Beans

Most recipes I read said to 'blanch' the beans, cooking for only two minutes in boiling water.  For me, after two minutes cook time, the beans were still basically raw.  I boiled my beans for at least 20 minutes.  The beans had that (cooked) color to them, but still weren't completely done.  I guess it's a personal preference.  Drain beans and rinse with cold water.  Count 7-8 beans to form your bundle and wrap with the partially cooked bacon.  Secure with a toothpick.  

Sauce

Melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Add the brown sugar, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce and the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute, stirring, until the sugar melts.

Bake
Preheat over to 375 degrees.  Arrange green bean bundles in a 13" x 9" casserole pan (or larger) lined with parchment paper (if you have it), or tin foil works well too.  A cookie sheet works well too (the kind with an edge too it so nothing drips off).  Brush mixture over the bean bundles with a basting brush.  Bake, uncovered, for about 15 minutes, until the bacon is cooked through.

These green bean bundles are so delicious and I am always 'secretly' hoping there are a few bundles left after everyone leaves.  

Enjoy!  ♥

AHOP's 'Magic' Meatloaf

Okay, so we all know there is really no such thing as a 'magic' meatloaf, but the very first time I made this for 2nd shift, immediately following dinner, the Sergeant received a Priority One call before he even left my driveway.  He sent me a thank you note later that night and mentioned the priority call he responded to and said …. "I couldn’t have done it without your magic meatloaf."  Translation:  We appreciate everything you do for us.  The officers I cook for make it so easy to want to do for them because they never forget to show their gratitude -- it only makes me want to do more.  Sometimes I’ll get a quick text message thanking me even before they leave my front yard.  I’m sure there are many missed meals when a Priority One call takes precedence over their lunch or dinner.  So many times, their patrol car is their office and their dinner table. 

I did a lot of research for my final meatloaf concoction.  I scoured the Internet, cookbooks, I asked my friends, and I had my friends call their moms. I wanted to come up with one recipe that would be a winner every time and I think I achieved that.  All the recipes varied. Some recipes used raw onions, some said to sauté the onions first, some recipes called for white bread, some said to use bread crumbs, some recipes called for milk, some didn’t. 

You won't believe how stressed out I was over this meatloaf.  I had to keep reminding myself...
IT – IS– JUST – A – MEATLOAF!! 

So here it is….I hope you all enjoy it as much as my 1st and 2nd shift officers did. 

AHOP’s Magic Meatloaf
Thanks to Mike, Mary T. (Mike's Mom) and my friend, Jeff (a Culinary Chef), for their input and help with this recipe.

• 2 lbs. ground chuck
• ½ onion diced
• ½ green pepper diced
• 1 tbs. lite olive oil,  vegetable oil,  or butter (your preference) - I used lite olive oil
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup Progresso Italian breadcrumbs
• ¼ cup milk
• 1 tsp Worcestershire
• ¼ cup ketchup
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 1 tsp salt

Glaze for Top of Meatloaf 
Recipe from 'Aunt Bee's Mayberry Cookbook'

¼ cup ketchup
3 tbsp brown sugar

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  In a large skillet, saute the chopped onions and green pepper in a little olive oil for about 5 minutes. Stir, stir, stir so they are just translucent and not browned.  Transfer to a small bowl to let cool for about 5 minutes. 
• In a large bowl, combine the meat, eggs, bread crumbs, Worcestershire, ketchup, salt/pepper, and onion/peppers.  I purchased some food prep gloves at my local grocery store to mix my meatloaf, but your bare hands work well too.  
• Mix really well -- it will fall apart if you don't mix it well, so you want to be sure all of those breadcrumbs are incorporated into the meat really well.  While you're mixing and kneading your meatloaf in the bowl, start to shape it into a loaf.
• Line a 13" x 9" pan with the parchment paper I love so much.  Transfer your loaf from the bowl to the baking pan and continue to form a rectangular loaf about 2" tall and about 6" wide.
• Bake uncovered in a preheated 350 degree oven.  Full cooking time is an hour.
• After 30 minutes in the oven, remove the meatloaf to put the glaze on top. But before adding the glaze, I remove some of the grease from the pan. It's very hot, so be careful. Tilt the pan slightly and take a bunch of paper towels to soak up some of the grease and discard the towels.  You don't have to get all of it - but get what you can without going to too much trouble.  
• Using a basting brush, brush the brown sugar/ketchup glaze on top. Return to the oven for the remaining 30 minutes cooking time.  

Serves 4-6

I wish this picture had come out better. It was moist and had lots of flavor. 

Happy 100th Birthday, Julia Child!

Google Doodle honored Julia Child today recognizing what would have been her 100th birthday. What kind of amateur cook and Julia Child wannabe would I be if I also didn't pay homage and respects to this great lady.  Julia Child is recognized for bringing French cuisine to the American public with her debut cookbook, Mastering the Art of French Cooking, and her subsequent television programs, the most notable of which was The French Chef, which premiered in 1963. *

Julia and David Letterman - 1987

The "Julie and Julia" movie really inspired me. I consider myself very much an amateur cook, but I can honestly say, I haven't used a spatula to flip a fried egg since watching this movie.  In an odd sort of way, it gave me a tiny bit of confidence in the kitchen. This movie is a true story about a lady named Julie Powell who set out to cook 524 recipes from Julia Child's cookbook 'Mastering the Art of French Cooking', in one year (365 days). Julie Powell blogged about her experience and wrote a subsequent bestselling book in 2005 which later inspired this 2009 film starring Meryl Streep and Amy Adams.  I love this movie! ♥

The 2009 movie "Julie & Julia"

Happy Birthday, Julia -- thanks for inspiring me to want to be a better cook.  I hope I learn a lot from you in the years to come.  I have said it before, but everything I cook for my officers is not always perfect.  No one will benefit more than my officers.   

* Information for my post was found on Wikipedia.  For more information on Julia Child, click here.

My little orphaned meatloaf....

I haven't made a meatloaf in at least 30 years - seriously. My ex-husband was a meat and potato kind of guy, and I became a meat and potato kind of girl. When I started thinking about the next AHOP dinner for 2nd shift and what I wanted to serve that I haven't already made, meatloaf came to mind. I started scouring the internet, cookbooks, I asked my friends, I had my friends call their moms, and then I pulled out all the stops and called my ex-boyfriends (again). I honestly don't know if they look forward to my call or email, but they genuinely seem happy to help.

I always get a little nervous when I'm cooking dinner for 2nd shift.  It just doesn't come as easy as the breakfast I cook for 1st shift. And I get especially nervous when I'm making a new dish, so I thought this recipe required a test-run. I called this post 'My little orphaned meatloaf' because every recipe I looked at was different. And they differed a lot!

A friend of mine came over last night for a meatloaf test-run and we both agreed it passed the AHOP test....it's good enough to serve to 2nd shift (minus the wine, of course).  :)

The menu:

• Meatloaf 
• Mash potatoes and gravy
• Green bean bundles wrapped in bacon

I'll post the recipe for both the meatloaf, green bean bundles, and brown gravy after 2nd shift comes for dinner. I was just so happy everything turned out and tasted good and wanted to share my excitement. 

Can't wait until my next dinner.  Stay tuned..... ♥

Hungry cops, tested and approved, breakfast casserole

I love making this casserole and have enjoyed it many times for breakfast, lunch and dinner. There are no leftovers when I make this for 1st shift, but in my pre-AHOP days, I made this quite often for dinner just for myself, and still do every now and then. When I make this just for me, I will eat one piece, about the size of a lasagna slab, and then cut the rest into serving size pieces and refrigerate in a large Rubbermaid container. The next day, sometimes two days, I'll forget all about it and will open the refrigerator door looking around trying to find something to eat. Then, all of a sudden, I spot the clear Rubbermaid container and it's "oh my gosh...I totally forgot all about this!!", and then my face lights up because I know I have a satisfying meal waiting for me. 

Here's what you need (I substituted butter for
vegetable oil because I forgot to buy it)

Saute onions and peppers, then add hashbrowns
and cook until they look like the next picture.

Grease 9" x 13" pan - cooked potatoes go in first - YUM.

Then add the cooked sausage. I don't drain the grease, because there usually isn't that much.  

Whisk nine (9) eggs in a large bowl and add 1 cup of milk. Then add the cheese to the egg mix and stir well. I added almost the entire 2-cup bag of cheese. Pour the egg/cheese mix evenly over sausage.

See how the cheese stays on top....you probably won't need more.
Ready for the oven - 350 degrees for 45-50 minutes 

    

AHOP's Breakfast Casserole

1 pkg. Simply Potato shredded hashbrowns
Vegetable Oil (or butter) - I used butter this time because I didn't have vegetable oil
½ onion chopped (I like the sweet Vidalia onions)
½ green pepper diced as big or as small as you like them (optional)
1 lb. Jimmy Dean or Neese’s sausage
9 eggs
1 cup of milk
1-1/2 to 2 cups of shredded cheese - I used Kraft Colby and Monterey Jack (I think it melts better) 
9” x 13” casserole pan 

• Heat the oil in a skillet. I didn't realize I was out of vegetable oil, so I used butter. Whichever one you use, be fairly generous with the amount as it’s for both the onions and the hashbrowns. I guess it depends on how greasy you like your hashbrowns. I kind of like my hashbrowns Waffle House greasy (don’t judge me.) Cook the hashbrowns and onions (and green peppers if you're using them) until they just start to brown (add salt and pepper to your liking).
• Grease a 9” x 13” pan and fill with cooked hashbrowns.
• Fry sausage and be sure to break it up good. Add cooked sausage to the top of hashbrowns. I usually don’t drain the grease because there’s really not much and it makes the hashbrowns taste really, really good.
• Beat the eggs in the large mixing bowl (use a whisk if you have one). Slowly and gradually add milk and whisk again. After the eggs are beaten, add approx. 1-1/2 cup of cheddar cheese and stir well.
• Pour egg mixture evenly on top of the sausage and hashbrowns.  As the egg mixture sinks to bottom, the cheese will stay on top which is what you want it to do.
• Back at 350 degrees (uncovered) for about 50-60 minutes. Oven temperatures vary so check it at 45 minutes.  Casserole is done when you can insert a knife and it comes out clean (you want to make sure the eggs are done.)

Variation: For a little different flavor, follow the same recipe except add cooked bite-size bacon bits to the top of the hashbrowns instead of sausage. Some people like a little sour cream and salsa on the side.

Note: I prepare the sausage and potato part the night before an AHOP breakfast, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate. Then the morning of all I have to do is whisk the eggs, milk and add the cheese. If you make this ahead of time, make sure you remove the pan from the refrigerator approx. 30 minutes before it goes into the oven.  

Mozzarella Cheese Sticks -- I get an 'E' for Effort

Some girls walk away from relationships empty-handed -- they might be mad; their feelings could be hurt; and they might even have a broken heart. I seem to maintain distant friendships with my ex-boyfriends. I walked away from my last heartthrob with recipes and all the free cooking advice a girl could ask for. Thanks to my ex-boyfriend and culinary chef, Jeff, for not only giving me this recipe (which I revised slightly), but for being my 'phone-a-friend' and safety net when my insurmountable amateur cooking questions start to take up too much space in my brain. Another ex-heartthrob hung my AHOP neon sign that proudly hangs in my dining room window. He did an awesome job (thank you Mike)! I'd say I'm one lucky ex-girlfriend...lucky me!

These cheese sticks didn't turn out as pretty as I had hoped, but for my first attempt, I think I did OK. They were good, I'll have to say that! I hope to have an appetizer lunch and dinner for 1st and 2nd shift soon. If I can master these cheese sticks, I'll serve them with the potato skins posted on June 26, and I just saw this awesome patty melt that would go perfectly with it. Click here.  I still need to test it out, but doesn't it look good? ♥  Update: Tested the Patty Melts on 8/27/12 - click here.

  

Here's what you need

Cut cheese 4” x ½” x ½” sticks (I think I goofed
some of these up -- it was my first try)

The production line

Ready for the freezer (2 hours)

Mozzarella Cheese Sticks
Recipe given to me by Culinary Chef Jeff 

• Mozzarella cheese cut into approx. 4” x ½” x ½” sticks. 
• 2 eggs
• Italian bread crumbs
• Flour
• Salt (I used coarse salt)
• 1/2 tsp. garlic power
• Set up a breading station with flour / eggs / Italian bread crumbs – left to right. Jeff didn't say how much flour and bread crumbs to use -- I guess it depends on how many cheese sticks you're making. I didn't measure,  but I started with about a cup of each, I guess.  
• Season the Italian bread crumbs with some coarse salt and 1/2 tsp. garlic powder.  
• Use your left hand to drop the cheese stick into the flour, roll and coat, then drop into the egg.
• Use your right hand to pick the cheese stick out of the egg and toss into the bread crumbs, roll and coat. With this method, you don’t bread your fingers.
• Line a plate with wax paper (I didn't have any and used parchment paper). As each cheese stick is coated, place it on the wax or parchment paper.  
• Freeze for 2 hours.
• Deep fry – 1” of vegetable oil in a pan, heat on med-high until a drop of water crackles and spits (be careful).  This kind of scared me (all the crackling)...if you have a cooking thermometer, I would recommend you use it.  I'm going to buy myself one.    

Fry a few at a time until golden on the outside, but not too long or the inside will come out. Scoop out and put on a paper towel or a rack (like a cookie cooling rack) when done. I highlighted this part because I forgot to do that. I put however many the pan would hold which is why they probably didn't turn out as pretty as they could have (the oil cooled down too much with too many in the pan.) Also....I put the cheese sticks on a paper towel -- if  you have any cheese coming out, the cheese (sticks) to the paper towel. As you can see, my first time was a lot of trial and error.  

Serve with your favorite tomato/marinara sauce (fresh basil chopped into the sauce at the end will add a lot).  

My long-distance surprise from the UK

People never cease to amaze me.  Over the past two years I have received so many wonderful gifts from my colleagues, friends, neighbors,  and my South Division officers, in support of AHOP. It has been a long time though (if ever) since I received a gift from a total stranger. This gift found its way to my mailbox all the way from a little seaside town southeast of London called Kent. Wow!  

When I first started my blog a year ago next month, it didn't take me long to realize how enormous the blogging community was. You quickly meet fellow bloggers either by searching for blogs written by people who share your similar interest - ie: cooking and law enforcement, in my case, or you might find a blog that you like totally by accident. I found Caroline's blog when her father 'Old Chap' shared her blog link on Twitter. He was obviously very proud of his daughter's talent for making cards and posted a Tweet with her blog link. I visited Caroline's blog that day. She makes lovely handmade and custom cards, invitations, gift tags, etc. I left a comment to let Caroline know I was there and how much I enjoyed her cards and her blog.

She then took a peek at my blog and complimented my efforts with what I do for my officers and said she had something she wanted to send me.  Immediately I wondered if she realized I was in the US? I didn't want her to go to any trouble or expense.

My long-distance surprise arrived on Wednesday. Miss Caroline sent me this awesome cookbook "The Best of Traditional British Cooking", and one of her lovely handmade cards with note inside.  

                                                       http://craftyhallett.wordpress.com/

Miss Caroline, my officers are coming for breakfast in the morning. They will be as touched as I was by your kindness. Through your gift to me, you expressed your appreciation and support for them.

I hope your kindness is returned ten times over.  ♥

End of watch ... "we'll take it from here"

"We'll take it from here" is a comment I see quite often among officers who have lost a brother or sister in the line of duty and they're writing a reflection of sympathy. The fallen officer has given the ultimate sacrifice to keep the citizens on their watch safe. For the officer leaving the reflection, I think it is their way of letting the fallen hero know they can rest in peace....and they'll take it from here.

I added a link to the above menu bar called CMPD Fallen Heroes to give honor to the officers who have given their lives in the line of duty. Little did I know when I started gathering data for this memorial page, I would learn a little bit about Charlotte police history, but that's exactly what happened. Before the CMPD (as I know it -- the boys and girls who I cook for), there was the Charlotte Police Department (city police) and the Mecklenburg County Police Department (county police), and in 1993 these two entities became what we now know as Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD). I gathered data from both the Officer Down Memorial website and the CMPD memorial page to create this memorial page.

This page is dedicated to the officers from all three agencies who have given the ultimate sacrifice. Some officers never had the chance to marry and be the husband and father they always wanted to be. One officer and his wife were expecting their second child. Thank you for your bravery and for your service to the Charlotte community. You are all heroes.  

Total Line of Duty Deaths:  30 / Aircraft accident: 1 / Automobile accident: 3 / Explosion; 1 / Gunfire: 21 / Heart attach: 1 / Struck by vehicle: 1 / Vehicular assault: 2.

End of Watch - April 4, 1892
Officer James "Jimmy" Moran On Saturday, April 2, 1892, Officer Moran and his partner were on patrol when they saw two men walking on N. Tryon Street carrying bags of flour. When the officers approached the men, one of them began to run away. Officer Moran's partner chased the fleeing suspect, while Officer Moran stayed with the other man. As Officer Moran talked to the second suspect the man pulled out a gun and shot him. Officer Moran was taken to his home where he succumbed to his injuries two days later. Officer Moran was the first Charlotte Police officer to die in the line of duty. Officer Moran had been with the agency for three years. Read more: http://www.odmp.org/officer/9590-patrol-officer-james-moran#ixzz20cvtDHzr

End of Watch - August 2, 1904

Officer James H. Brown

Officer Brown died as a result of a ruptured spleen and heart attack shortly after struggling with a suspect near the corner of East Trade and North College Streets. Officer Brown had testified against the suspect earlier in the day and the man was overheard by another officer that he was going to cause Officer Brown to lose his job. Officer Brown returned to his post following the court proceeding and was confronted by the man a short time later. He told the man to continue on his way or he would be arrested. Words were exchanged and a struggle ensued after a brief foot chase. Officer Brown was able to take the suspect into custody and he was removed to the police station. The officer felt ill and was attended to by the city physician, who sent him home. He suffered a heart attack a short time after arriving at home. The coroner ruled Officer Brown's death accidental as a result of the heart attack and ruptured spleen. All charges against the suspect were dropped. Officer Brown had served with the Charlotte Police Department for 6 months. He was buried at Elmwood Cemetery in Charlotte, North Carolina. He was 29-years-old.  Read more: http://www.odmp.org/officer/17346-officer-james-h-brown#ixzz20db5xAnf

End of Watch - January 1, 1905

Rural  Police Officer Sampson Cole

Officer Cole was shot and killed while responding to a disturbance in which a man had threatened another man with a handgun. The victim left the scene in search of a police officer and located Officer Cole. Officer Cole and his son-in-law followed the man back to the location, near present day East Sugar Creek Road, where they confronted the suspect on a set of railroad tracks. Officer Cole drew his service revolver and ordered the man to raise his hands. The suspect raised his left hand and then reached into his right pocket and produced a revolver. He immediately opened fire, wounding Officer Cole's son-in-law in the chest and striking Officer Cole in the abdomen and neck, mortally wounding him. The suspect fled the scene but was arrested several days later in Fort Mill, South Carolina. He was returned to Charlotte where he was charged with murder. The jury found him guilty of the less serious charge of manslaughter and sentenced him to 2 years on the county chain gang. Officer Cole had served with the Mecklenburg County Police Department for 4 years. He was survived by his wife. He was buried in Elmwood Cemetery in Charlotte, North Carolina.  Read more: http://www.odmp.org/officer/17345-rural-police-officer-sampson-e-cole#ixzz20deTj8ym

End of Watch - March 29, 1913

Officer John Robert Estridge

On March 29, 1913, Officer Estridge was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a man creating a disturbance at the Dixie Theater.  Officer Estridge and his partner were assigned to the theater and warned the man to stop or he would be kicked out.  The man began struggling with the officers, gained control of the partner's gun, and shot Officer Estridge.  The suspect fled the scene and was never apprehended.  He was survived by his wife and seven children.  Read more: http://www.odmp.org/officer/17164-officer-john-robert-estridge#ixzz20dZZuSBr

End of Watch - February 16, 1924

Rural Police Officer John Franklin Fesperman

On Saturday, February 16, 1924, Officer Fesperman and other officers were en route to a liquor raid on a home at the Wakefield Farm off of Providence Road. When the officers arrived at the house they located almost 100 people. As they began to search the people in the crowd, officers found liquor on one of the men, who was then placed into Officer Fesperman's custody.  Moments later, the man shot Officer Fesperman in the head and fled the scene. Officer Fesperman was taken to Presbyterian Hospital where he died. The suspect was arrested a short time later by the Charlotte police chief. He was convicted of Officer Fesperman's murder and sentenced to death.  Officer Fesperman had been appointed to the police force on the day he was killed.  Read more: http://www.odmp.org/officer/16371-rural-police-officer-john-franklin-fesperman#ixzz20d3vS62j

End of Watch - September 29, 1926

Chief of Detectives Joseph Eckels Orr

Chief of Detective Joseph Orr and Detective John Byers died as the result of injuries sustained in an automobile accident in China Grove, North Carolina.

The detectives, along with seven other Charlotte police officers, were participating in a state-wide police training exercise. They were driving from Charlotte to High Point responding to a mock riot when the accident occurred.  Chief Orr succumbed to his injuries the day after the crash. Detective Byers passed away two days after the crash.  Chief Orr had served with the Charlotte Police Department for 15 years. He had also served as chief of police in Lancaster, South Carolina, for three years and chief of police in Gastonia, North Carolina, for four years. He was survived by his wife and six children.  Read more: http://www.odmp.org/officer/20343-chief-of-detectives-joseph-eckels-orr#ixzz20dYUIpDu

End of Watch - September 30, 1926

Detective John Byers 

On September 28, 1926, Detective John Byers and Chief of Detective Joseph Orr died as the result of injuries sustained in an automobile accident in China Grove, North Carolina.  The detectives, along with seven other Charlotte police officers, were participating in a state-wide police training exercise.  They were driving from Charlotte to High Point responding to a mock riot when the accident occurred.  Chief Orr succumbed to his injuries the day after the crash.  Detective Byers passed away two days after the crash.  Detective Byers had served with the agency for 2-1/2 years.  He was survived by his wife and five children.  Read more: http://www.odmp.org/officer/20344-detective-john-north-byers#ixzz20dVYWd00

End of Watch - January 1, 1927

Officer Robert M. Reid

On December 31, 1926, Officer Reid was struck down by a car at the intersection of College and Trade Streets, as he was directing traffic to prevent congestion at the Square. Officer Reid, 49, died January 1, 1927 as a result of his injuries.  Read more: http://www.odmp.org/officer/11137-patrol-officer-robert-m-reid#ixzz20cOjaMXM

End of Watch - January 22, 1929

Detective Harvey Edgar  "Ed' Correll

On January 22, 1929, Detective Ed Correll and his partner were searching a house for stolen goods. During the search the suspect pulled out a gun and fired at the detectives. Detective Correll, 40,was fatally shot and his partner was wounded. Although the suspect fled the scene, he was apprehended a short time later.  The suspect was convicted of murder and sentenced to 25 to 30 years.  Detective Correll had been with the agency for just under five years.  Read more: http://www.odmp.org/officer/3477-detective-harvey-edgar-correll#ixzz20cLog8go

End of Watch - August 30, 1929

Officer William S. Rogers

On August 30, 1929 at approximately 0300 hours, Officer Rogers was on foot patrol with fellow officers in the Paw Creek area, looking into a series of robberies that had occurred in that community.  As the officers approached a suspicious, parked vehicle and identified themselves, the driver opened fire. Officer Rogers and the suspect were killed in return gunfire.  Officer Rogers had been with the agency for six years.  He was 33-years-old.  Read more: http://www.odmp.org/officer/11458-officer-william-rogers#ixzz20dKP6LIC

End of Watch - October 21, 1929

Detective Thomas H. Jenkins

On October 21, 1929 Detective Jenkins and his partner were at First and South Davidson Streets attempting to quell a riot. The detectives were trying to make an arrest when a suspect grabbed a "riot" shotgun from Jenkins' partner. During the struggle that ensued, Detective Jenkins, 48, was shot and later died from his injuries. Detective Jenkins had been with the agency for five years and had been in law enforcement for 20 years.  Read more: http://www.odmp.org/officer/7096-detective-thomas-h-jenkins#ixzz20cQJegIN

End of Watch - June 9, 1930

Benjamin H. Frye

On June 9, 1930, Officer Frye was on duty in the early morning hours when he noticed an open on College Street and he went inside to investigate.  As Officer Frye shined his flashlight inside the establishment, the suspect opened fire and struck Frye five times.  Officer Frye was later transported to Mercy Hospital where he died from his injuries.  Officer Frye was 44-years- old.  Read more: http://www.odmp.org/officer/5158-patrol-officer-benjamin-h-frye#ixzz20dECOyTe

End of Watch - March 29, 1936

Officer Charles P. Nichols

In the early morning on March 29, 1936, Officer Nichols was on patrol in the business district. At the intersection of Third and South Tryon Street, Officer Nichols was struck by a hit-and-run driver. Officer Nichols, 60, remained unconscious until his death on April 17.  Officer Nichols had been with the agency for 10 years.  Read more: http://www.odmp.org/officer/9937-officer-charles-p-nichols#ixzz20d7FnXhj

End of Watch - February 12, 1937

Officer Rufus Biggers

On February 12, 1937, Officer Biggers, a motorcycle officer, escorted a school bus to Matthews School.  As he was returning to his regular patrol area, he was struck and killed by a hit-and-run driver.  The driver of the vehicle was never identified.  Officer Biggers was 47-years-old.  Read more: http://www.odmp.org/officer/1844-officer-rufus-l-biggers#ixzz20crlONqG

End of Watch - April 12, 1941

Detective Charlie Herbert Baker

Detective Charlie Baker, 36, was transporting two prisoners back to Charlotte, when he was involved in a fatal car crash on April 7,1941. He was hospitalized in Roanoke Rapids, N.C. and died from his injuries five days later on April 12.  Detective Baker had been with the agency for 11 years.  Read more: http://www.odmp.org/officer/1418-detective-charlie-herbert-baker#ixzz20cGWYG6a

End of Watch - May 21, 1960
Officer Johnny Reed Annas

On May 21, 1960, Officer Annas and his partner were trying to break up a street fight between two men at the corner of South Church Street and West Summit Avenue. A large crowd had gathered to watch the fight. While Officer Annas went back to the patrol car to radio for assistance, the other officer was assaulted by members of the crowd. As Officer Annas rushed to assist his partner, a member of the crowd grabbed the officer's service weapon and shot the 25-year-old Annas, fatally wounding him. The suspect was convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to life in prison December 20, 1962. He was released October 16, 1986. Officer Annas had served with the Charlotte Police Department for two years. Read more: http://www.odmp.org/officer/1250-police-officer-johnny-reed-annas#ixzz20cGusGEI

End of Watch-~ May 4, 1970
Sgt. Lewis Edward Robinson, Sr. 

On May 4, 1970, in a trailer park near McIlwaine Rd., Sergeant Robinson and fellow officers were attempting to apprehend a man suspected of firing shots at a utility worker. As the officers searched the area, the suspect was hiding and opened fire on them with a high-powered rifle, striking 44-year-old Sergeant Robinson.  The other officers returned fire and wounded the suspect. The officers took him into custody. Sergeant Robinson was survived by his wife and son. Read more: http://www.odmp.org/officer/11381-sergeant-lewis-edward-robinson-sr#ixzz20cfVuax8

End of Watch - October 17, 1970

Officer Ronnie E. McGraw

On October 17, 1970, Officer McGraw led a raid on a gambling house on East Fourth Street.  Officers were fired upon as they forced their way inside to serve the warrants.  Officer McGraw was fatally wounded during the raid.  17 suspects were arrested, and $42,000 in cash, a shotgun and eight handguns were seized.  Officer McGraw was 25-years-old. Officer McGraw had been with the agency for three years and was survived by his wife and daughter. Read more: http://www.odmp.org/officer/8995-officer-ronnie-e-mcgraw#ixzz20dCB2qEc

End of Watch - November 23, 1981

Officer Edmond "Ed" Cannon

While on routine patrol during the evening of November 23, 1981, Officer Cannon stopped at a convenience store in his patrol area. Unknown to Officer Cannon, three men had just robbed the store and were still inside. They ambushed Officer Cannon, mortally wounding him with five shots, and fled. Officer Cannon was 26 years old.  The suspect was convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to life on June 30, 1982. He died in prison December 27, 1988.  Officer Cannon had served with the agency for four years. He was the the first black Charlotte Police Officer killed in the line of duty. He was survived by his son. Read more: http://www.odmp.org/officer/2748-patrol-officer-edmond-n-cannon 

End of Watch - July 1, 1982

Officer Ernest Coleman

On June 30, 1982, Officer Coleman was working off-duty at a convenience store on Oaklawn Avenue. Earlier in the evening Officer Coleman had removed an unruly customer from the store. The subject returned with a gun and shot Officer Coleman. Coleman, age 31, died the next day, July 1, from his injuries. The suspect was convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to life in prison on March 2, 1983.
Read more: http://www.odmp.org/officer/3252-patrol-officer-ernest-coleman#ixzz20cBZqrWj

End of Watch - July 16, 1985

Officer Timothy Wayne Whittington

While on patrol on July 16, 1985, Officer Tim Whittington and a fellow officer responded to a first degree burglary call. The subject had robbed an elderly couple and stabbed the elderly man in the chest, arm, and hand, taking a pistol from the home as he fled.  When Officer Whittington stopped to question a man who matched the suspect's description, the man pulled a gun and killed Officer Whittington.  The suspect was apprehended and sentenced to 150 years in prison.  Officer Whittington was 26-years-old and had been with the agency for three years.  Read more: http://www.odmp.org/officer/14129-patrol-officer-timothy-wayne-whittington#ixzz20d93Exeg

End of Watch - January 15, 1987
Officer Robert Lewis Smith
On January 15, 1987, Officer Robert Smith responded with other officers to a call on Spyglass Place in reference to shots fired into a condominium complex. While Officer Smith was searching for the source of the shots, a suspect opened fire on Smith, fatally wounding him. Other officers responded to the sound of the gun shots and returned fire, wounding the suspect.  The man was taken into custody and sentenced to life in prison.  Officer Smith had been with the agency for seven years and was survived by his wife, mother, sister, and two brothers.  Officer Smith was 27-years-old.  Read more: http://www.odmp.org/officer/12480-police-officer-robert-louis-smith#ixzz20dLuL7Jt

End of Watch - August 6, 1990

Officer Milus "Terry" Lyles

On August 5, 1990, Officer Terry Lyles and another officer responded to a domestic disturbance call in northwest Charlotte.  Officer Lyles arrested a male at the scene for communicating threats and began driving the suspect to jail for processing. During transport the handcuffed suspect  retrieved a small .22 caliber handgun which he had concealed in his underwear and shot Officer Lyles twice through the driver's seat, while still handcuffed, and again as Officer Lyles stumbled out of the car. Lyles died the next day, August 6, from his wounds.  The suspect was apprehended and sentenced to death. He was later awarded a new trial and sentenced to life without the possibility of parole on April 8, 1994.  Officer Lyles had served in law enforcement for just over 2.5 years. He is survived by his wife and parents. Officer Lyles was 32-years-old.  Read more: http://www.odmp.org/officer/106-police-officer-milus-terry-lyles#ixzz20cibDCth

End of Watch - November 22, 1991

Officer Eugene A. "Gene" Griffin 

On November 22, 1991, Officer Griffin was working off-duty at the Red Roof Inn near Nations Ford Rd. Earlier in the evening, Officer Griffin had banned three teenagers from the property. Officer Griffin was sitting in the lobby of the motel when the teenagers returned and one of them fired a shotgun at Officer Griffin. Griffin, 42, died a short time later at the hospital. The shooter and another youth were convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to life on October 6, 1993. The third suspect was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to 10 years. He was paroled September 19, 1996. Officer Griffin is survived by his wife, son, daughter, father and mother, and brother, who is a retired police sergeant. Read more: http://www.odmp.org/officer/278-patrol-officer-eugene-a-griffin#ixzz20cDhp48H

End of Watch - October 5, 1993

John Thomas Burnette, III

On October 5, 1993, Officers John Burnette and Andy Nobles were responding to a call about a suspicious vehicle in Boulevard Homes.  After the officers confirmed that the vehicle had been reported stolen and that the driver was a wanted person, the driver ran into a nearby wooded area.  The officers caught up with the suspect, and a struggle ensued.  During the fight, the suspect was able to grab one of the officers' service weapon and shot both of them.  The suspect was later apprehended after an intense manhunt.  Officer Burnette was 25-years-old.  The officers were transported to Carolinas Medical Center by responding officers, where both were pronounced dead on arrival.  The suspect was arrested nearby after a brief manhunt involving over 700 officers from various local, state, and federal agencies in North Carolina and South Carolina.  He was later convicted of two counts of first degree murder and sentenced to death.  Officer Burnette had served with the agency for two and a half years.  He is survived by his mother, stepfather, and sister.  The city of Charlotte named a park and two streets in honor of Officer Burnette and Officer Nobles.  Read more: http://www.odmp.org/officer/553-police-officer-john-thomas-burnette#ixzz20dGHTNZ0

End of Watch - October 5, 1993

Officer Anthony "Andy" A. Nobles

On October 5, 1993, Officers Andy Nobles and John Burnette were responding to a call about a suspicious vehicle in Boulevard Homes. After the officers confirmed that the vehicle had been reported stolen and that the driver was a wanted person, the driver ran into a nearby wooded area. The officers caught up with the suspect, and a struggle ensued. During the fight, the suspect was able to grab one of the officers' service weapon and shot both of them. The suspect was later apprehended after an intense manhunt.  Officer Nobles was 26-years-old.  The officers were transported to Carolinas Medical Center by responding officers, where both were pronounced dead on arrival.  The suspect was arrested nearby after a brief manhunt involving over 700 officers from various local, state, and federal agencies in North Carolina and South Carolina.  He was later convicted of two counts of first degree murder and sentenced to death. Officer Nobles had been employed with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department for 4 years. He is survived by his parents and two brothers. The city of Charlotte named a park and two streets in honor of Officer Nobles and Officer Burnette. Read more: http://www.odmp.org/officer/554-police-officer-anthony-a-nobles#ixzz20dIL35ea.

End of Watch - July 17, 2002

Sergeant Anthony Scott Futrell

On July 17, 2002, Sergeant Anthony Scott Futrell, a 38-year old Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department pilot, was killed in an aircraft accident in Chowan County in eastern North Carolina. Sergeant Futrell, who piloted the craft, was making a surveillance flight for the Civil Air Patrol as part of a statewide drug eradication program.  There was no apparent cause of the crash.  Richard Edward Ashley, Jr., a Chowan County sheriff's deputy, and Boone police Major Robert Kennedy were also killed in the crash, also.  Approximately 90 minutes into the second flight of the day, the Cessna 172-S experienced problems and crashed.  Witnesses on the ground heard the engine sputter and saw the plane nose dive into the ground.  There were no radio messages from the pilots indicating any problems.  Sergeant Futrell and Major Kennedy, both members of the Civil Air Patrol, were piloting the aircraft and acting as spotters.  Deputy Ashley was directing ground units to locations spotted during the flight for further investigation.  Sergeant Futrell had been employed with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department for 15 years, and is survived by this wife and two teenage children.  Read more: http://www.odmp.org/officer/16322-sergeant-anthony-scott-futrell#ixzz20cnSTgwe

End of Watch - April 1, 2007

Officer Jeff Shelton

Officers Jeff Shelton and Sean Clark were responding to what should have been a routine disturbance call for service at the Timber Ridge Apartments near Milton Road in east Charlotte the night of Saturday, March 31, 2007.  They were both shot in the head around 11:15 p.m. while struggling with a suspect in the apartment complex parking lot. They died at Carolinas Medical Center in the early morning hours of April 1, 2007, but not before officers picked up Demeatrius Montgomery, who later was charged with their murder. The suspect was later arrested and charged with two counts of first-degree murder. The suspect has five prior convictions for resisting arrest and assaulting a government official. On September 30, 2010, he was convicted of two counts of first degree murder and sentenced to life without the possibility of parole. Officer Shelton, 35, was hired February 28, 2001 and graduated in the 136th Recruit Class. Officer Shelton had served with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department for six years and was assigned to the North Tryon Division. He is survived by his wife. Read more: http://www.odmp.org/officer/18830-police-officer-jeff-shelton#ixzz20cZv4LV8

End of Watch - April 1, 2007

Officer Sean Robert Clark

Officers Sean Clark and Jeff Shelton were responding to what should have been a routine disturbance call for service at the Timber Ridge Apartments near Milton Road in east Charlotte the night of Saturday, March 31, 2007.  They were both shot in the head around 11:15 p.m. while struggling with a suspect in the apartment complex parking lot. They died at Carolinas Medical Center in the early morning hours of April 1, 2007, but not before officers picked up Demeatrius Montgomery, who later was charged with their murder. The suspect was later arrested and charged with two counts of first-degree murder. The suspect has five prior convictions for resisting arrest and assaulting a government official. On September 30, 2010, he was convicted of two counts of first degree murder and sentenced to life without the possibility of parole. Officer Clark, 34, was hired January 23, 2006 and graduated in the 148th Recruit Class. He was a 1991 graduate of West Mecklenburg High School and had served in the United States Air Force before joining CMPD. He was married, with a 3-1/2 year old son. He and his wife were awaiting the birth of their second son. Read more: http://www.odmp.org/officer/18829-police-officer-sean-clark#ixzz20cdd4CDY

End of Watch - February 25, 2011

Officer Frederick Alston Thornton

Officer Thornton was critically injured when a flash grenade discharged while he was attempting to render the equipment safe after a SWAT warrant service.  Officer Thornton underwent emergency surgery, but succumbed to his injuries later that evening.  Officer Thornton was a 28 year veteran of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department.  For 23 of those years he served on the SWAT  team and was the longest serving member of the team in the department’s history.  Throughout his career in law enforcement, Officer Thornton received numerous departmental and state awards for his bravery, heroism, and community service.  He was deployed to assist in affected areas after Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and 2006.  He also assisted in flood relief efforts in Indiana in 2008.  Read more: http://www.odmp.org/officer/20765-police-officer-frederick-alston-thornton#ixzz20dQxiLrQ

End of watch .... "we'll take it from here"

"We'll take it from here" is a comment I see quite often among officers who have lost a brother or sister in the line of duty and they're writing a reflection of sympathy. The fallen officer has given the ultimate sacrifice to keep the citizens on their watch safe. For the officer leaving the reflection, I think it is their way of letting the fallen hero know they can rest in peace....and they'll take it from here.

Artwork by Marc Wolfe - used with permission. 

Credit for the historical information in this post goes to the CMPD memorial page and the Officer Down Memorial Page.