May the work that I've done speak for itself
- To the mournful cadence of bagpipes and the salutes of more than 100 Chicago police officers and cadets lining the street, the flag-draped casket bearing the body of Police Officer Thomas Wortham IV was carried into Trinity United Church of Christ on the South Side this morning for funeral services.
Moments before as the hearse moved down Eggleston Avenue, neighbors watched from their front steps and leaned over their fences watching the solemn procession, some wiping away tears. - At the visitation, Wortham's casket was surrounded by flowers sent from police departments as far as New York City. The officer wore his dress police uniform, his cap sitting on top of the coffin. Inscribed in gold letters on his coffin's inner lid were words that close friends and family members said the young patrolman lived by: "May the work that I've done speak for itself."
Final remembrances only in this post.
Labels: officer down
posted by SCC at 9:40 AM
55 Comments:
In the words of the great Irsh proverb, "May the winds always be at his back." Godspeed!!!
MAY YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS FIND COMFORT HERE ON EARTH, AS YOU WILL HAVE COMFORT AND PEACE IN HEAVEN!!! R.I.P..
Heartbreaking. May God bless him and his family.
-cop's wife
I think this is sadly the 20th LOD death since I've been on the job and for whatever reason this one seems particularly sad.
May God bless the family of Officer Wortham and may his soul, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
Thank you for your service to the CPD and the military. God bless your family.
RIP Officer Wortham.
Man, the soldiers from the Army, wow, can they give an eulogy.
So sad, way too young, and will be missed.
God Bless.
---not a cop
What a beautiful soul. Thank you Officer Wortham for your legacy for all of CPD to follow and aspire to. Thank you.
Godspeed my brother.....
Cicero PD
I watched the service on a live feed and I'm glad I did. I would have been crying nonstop if I was in the church. As it is, I was crying nonstop, anyway.
After hearing the eulogies, the comments and the anecdotes, it is evident this young man was an exemplary human being.
My deepest respect goes to his parents and my sincerest sympathy to them, his family and fiancee. What a wrenching loss.
Your TOUR OF DUTY HAS ENDED. You've made a positive impact on so many lives during your TOUR! You've engaged in both physical and verbal battles at home and abroad. You've laughed and cried from the many things you've seen.You stepped up and brought change where there was no hope. You were able to bring a smile to so many "JUST BECAUSE"! Although your time here was short. Your impact has been felt. Now go and rest for your fight will continue through all that you've touched.
RIP brother in Blue!
Rest in Peace Officer Wortham, gone too soon.Respects to the family.
I will keep kicking that fence brother!
RIP
"May the work that I've done speak for itself"
The words of a man I haven't met that I would have liked to have known just based on his words.
I have a mental picture of a gent that all good people would take a liking to immediately.
I hope to meet you on the other side Officer Thomas Wortham IV.
Thank you for all you did.
I'm so sorry for your loss.
R.I.P. Officer Wortham IV
Deepest sympathies to the family of honorable CPD Officer Thomas Wortham. May he rest in peace.
Officer Wortham, you will live on in our hearts. May we never forget. May justice be swift and unflinching.
a Chicago citizen
I'm nowhere near as eloquent as some of the other posters, so I wont attempt to be...I'll just offer this Billy Joel line..."only the good die young."
RIP officer, Godspeed...
Truly a great MAN. If my 3 year old little boy grows up to be one half the man that Thomas Wortham was, I shall consider myself incredibly blessed.
Rest in Peace Officer.
Lt. F. 007.
Officer Wortham,you fought the good fight with honor and courage! You will not be forgotten!
Anonymous said...
I think this is sadly the 20th LOD death since I've been on the job and for whatever reason this one seems particularly sad.
May God bless the family of Officer Wortham and may his soul, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
5/28/2010 11:47:00 AM
45 LOD death since I was appointed to the department. I counted and was surprised it was that many.
Thanks to all the departments and outside agencies who sent flowers or officers to show respect. Much appreciated.
God Bless Officer Wortham IV and thank you Lord for having his Father close by to protect the citizens of Chicago
Officer Wortham,
....the work you did speaks volumes.
Thanks for your service to the city of Chicago & the United States of America.
God Bless you & yours....
Keep a watchful eye on us Tom.
I'm kickin that fence for you brother!
That was the most moving, emotional eulogy I have ever heard...I could not stop crying. God Bless The Wortham family. And Officer Worthman you will Never Be Forgotten.
We will kick that fence and come Home...
God Bless the CPD and Military.
Thanks to all of the Support that came from surrounding Departments... Evergreen Park, Skokie, Joliet, State Police, Markham, Elmwood Park, those are just the few I seen. Also, to the military men and women who showed up to pay their respects. If I missed anyone -Forgive me. I extent my sincere thanks for all those who came to pay their respect for a fine member of the Chicago Police Department.
And finally, Thank You NYPD for sending those beautiful flowers - Stay Safe...
"I pray that our Heavenly Father may assuage the anguish of your bereavement, and leave you only the cherished memory of the loved and lost, and the solemn pride that must be yours to have laid so costly a sacrifice upon the altar of freedom." -Abraham Lincoln.
Despite the fact that this young man was killed on the battlefield known as the streets of Chicago, we as officers MUST follow his example. To lead not follow, to inspire, not deter, to forgive, not hate ... I will work to honor your memory ... Thomas Wortham EOW 19 May 2010
Heartbreaking, none of the murders of our Own get easier. God BLess Officer Wortham. God Bless his family and his Father that defended him to the end to save his sons life.
He is the "perfect example" of what an Officer is. Officer Wortham. The work you have done has spoken for itself. Many Officers will follow your leadership.
Godspeed Brother in Blue.
Tom, you were the epitome of what it means to be an officer and a gentleman, a true hero. your legacy will live on through the people who aspire to be half the man you were. We've got the watch from here brother. RIP Tom.
CPD Class: 07-3
Officer Wortham...with My Deepest Respect as a Fellow Veteran and A CPD Brother...I SALUTE You. See you on the other side my Brother!
I was very proud to be a policeman (woman actually) today. Thank you to all of the outside agencies. We appreciate all of you honoring our brave fallen Officer. God bless Officer Wortham and his courageous family.
Words cannot describe today's funeral. Courage from the family. Strenght from his church and all his fellow law enforcement brother and sisters. As we stood out there today in that beautiful sea of blue, I noticed a small pink dress popping out of all this. I am so proud of whomever that P/O was that brought his daughter. I hope we see a lot more of this at the St. Jude March despite all the naysers. This is what family and dedication is all about. May the family and all friends find strenght from today. God Bless.
To the Wortham family:
I know I speak for a lot of Chicago citizens when I say I'm so sorry for your loss. You raised brave serviceman, a noble police officer, and an even better human being.
If only there were more people like yourselves in this city, it'd be a much better place.
Believe me when I say it's our loss as well...
Lifelong Chicago Resident
"May the perpetual light shine upon you my brother" God Bless you and your family. And a note of special thanks to all the out of state police agencies, our Suburban brothers, CFD, US Army, CPD recruits, and the CPD pipe bands for showing up today. Sincerely,from an officer who worked the cemetary detail.
It is a sad day
What true celebration of life, you can't do anything but be at peace with such an awesome send off!
PO Wortham's parents were courageous and inspiring, and their son was a tremendous person who was a reflection of them.
RIP - your journey was short but your impact on this earth will leave forever.
RIP Officer Wortham.
The way you conducted yourself and the things you accomplished in the 23 years you were with us makes me, a generation older then you, think about how little I have accomplished in comparison.
My deepest sympathies to your familiy who must be remarkable people.
To the Family of the late Officer
Wortham, we pray that his soul has
found rest and peace in God's great
eternal love and his departure has
left a gaping hole in the fabric of
society. God bless you.
Rest In Peace brother!
Don't grieve for me, for now I'm free,
I'm following the path God laid for me.
I took his hand when I heard his call,
I turned my back and left it all.
I could not stay another day,
To laugh, to love, to work, to play.
Tasks left undone must stay that way,
I've found that peace at the end of the day.
If my parting has left a void,
Then fill it with remembered joy.
A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss,
Ah, yes, these things too I will miss.
Be not burdened with times of sorrow,
I wish you the sunshine of tomorrow.
My Life's been full, I savoured much,
Good friends, good times, a loved one' touch.
Perhaps my time seemed all too brief,
Don't lengthen it now with undue grief.
Lift up your heart and share with me,
God wanted me now, He set me free.
To the family of Officer Thomas Wortham IV and to his brethren,
There are no very good words. I hope that you find comfort in each other.
I am so sorry for your loss. It seems like a huge loss to the entire nation. I will not forget his shining example of how to be committed to a better world.
Sincerely,
Ann T. Hathaway.
RIP brother...way too young and way too good
What an exemplar young man.
what exemplary parents.
Proof indeed that the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.
Take your rest Officer Wortham.
God Bless.
R.I.P. Brother.........
SFPD copper here. . . my prayers are with Ofc Wortham's family and all of you in CPD.
I didn't get the chance to meet or know this Officer and Soldier, but from the eulogies I quickly learned he was a great person who was taken from us by UNGODLY people.
May God Bless his family and God relate to Ofc. Wortham IV up in Heaven that his CPD and Army buddies will take over kicking that fence! Your death will not be in vein,RIP.
To all the outside police agencies and fire departments thank you for your support.
CPD Unit 189
On the Joe the Cop page you linked to last week a commenter posted a great quote.
http://www.chicagonow.com/blogs/arresting-tales/2010/05/john-kass-on-daley-guns-and-the-death-of-thomas-wortham-iv.html#comments
"As the days go by I just get angrier about this murder.
It reminds me of a quote and movie title I ran across awhile back.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Went_the_day_well
Opening quote of the film:
Went the day well?
We died and never knew
But, well or ill.
Freedom, we died for you
Went the day well?"
There's an old proverb that seems appropriate:
"Say not in grief, 'He is no more' -- live in thankfulness that he was."
RIP, Officer Wortham.
When Wortham's father said the offender never would have been out murdering people if he, Sgt. Wortham, had raised him, it gave me a whole new appreciation for my own late father. Now I realize he really was the best friend I ever had. Thank God for these men who take their jobs as fathers to heart.
May Officer Wortham rest in peace. It is men and women like him who truly set the example for the rest of us to follow. I'm not a police officer yet but people like him are what I aspire to be.
May him and his family rest in peace.
God Bless the CPD, the Wortham family, and nobody else.
God speed my Brother in Blue
Stone Park PD
God bless young Wortham IV, and his terrific family! You did everything right, as did he. If only more parents out here could raise their children to be productive, honorable contributors to our society, we actually would need less policemen in the field...
Rest in peace buddy, you will NEVER BE FORGOTTEN!! ..007th district has another angel watching over us !
God bless your good soul, God bless your family, and God bless all 007 Rangers during this hard time.
Stay safe.
God Bless you & your family. RIP
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