>> GOOD MORNING, MY NAME IS
BILL.
I'M ONE OF THE PASTORS HERE AT
SOUTHEAST, BUT IT'S ONLY PART OF
THE REASON I'M HERE.
I'M ALSO A VOLUNTEER CHAPLAIN
FOR THE LOUISVILLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT, AND 10 YEARS AGO, I
RETIRED AFTER 30 YEARS OF
SERVING AS A POLICE OFFICER.
MY SON IS ON LMPD, I WORKED WITH
GEORGE RODMAN, MIXED DAD.
MY OTHER SON IS A LITTLE
FIREFIGHTER JUST BEGINNING HIS
CAREER WITH THE LOCAL FIRE
DEPARTMENT, SO IF YOU WILL
SPECIAL BONDED TO THE RODMAN'S,
WHOSE FAMILY IS RICH IN A
TRADITION OF SERVING THE
COMMUNITY.
WE ARE HERE TODAY TO DO THREE
THINGS.
THE FIRST, WE ARE TO PAY HONOR
TO NICK RODMAN.
LOUISVILLE MAYOR GREG FISCHER
WILL REPRESENT THE ENTIRE METRO
GOVERNMENT BY PLAYING TRIBUTE TO
OFFICER RODMAN AND HIS FAMILY
GIVING NICK THE HONOR HIS
DESERVES -- HE DESERVES.
SECONDLY, WE ARE HERE TO COMFORT
FRIENDS AND FAMILY.
AND NEXT BROTHERS IN UNIFORM,
LOCAL POLICE CHIEF STEVE CONRAD
AND METRO POLICE OFFICER NICK
BEAL WILL SPEAK OF NICK'S
PERSONAL LIFE, KNOWING MORE OF
THE MAN THAT HIS FAMILY AND
FRIENDS LOVE AND CHERISH.
WE ARE HERE TO SEE GUIDANCE,
HOPE, AND DIRECTION FOR THE
TRUTH OF GOD'S WORD.
LET'S OPEN WITH A PRAYER.
FATHER, BECOME FILLED WITH
SORROW FOR THE LOSS OF A
HUSBAND, DAD, SON, SON-IN-LAW,
BROTHER, COUSIN, AND A POLICE
OFFICER, WARRIOR, AND POLICE
LATER.
FATHER, WHEN YOU ENABLE THE
TRUTHFUL WORDS SPOKEN TODAY TO
BRING COMFORT TO HIS WIFE,
ASHLEY, HIS FRIENDS, HIS FAMILY,
HIS POLICE FAMILY, WE ASK THIS
IN THE NAME OF JESUS.
AMEN.
MAYOR FISHER.
MAYOR FISHER: NICK RODMAN SWORE
HIS OATH OF OFFICE AND JOINED
THE LOUISVILLE METRO POLICE
DEPARTMENT AT A CEREMONY ON JUNE
6, 2014.
I WAS HONORED TO BE THERE, AND I
KNOW MANY OF YOU WERE THERE TOO.
MAYBE YOU WERE AMONG THE
FAMILIES, AND ENORMOUSLY PROUD
OF YOUR SON OR DAUGHTER.
OR MAYBE YOU WERE ONE OF THE
RECRUITS, PROUD BECAUSE YOU HAD
DONE THE WORK IT TAKES TO GET TO
THE ACADEMY AND LEARN -- EARN
THE BLESSINGS OF INSTRUCTORS
LIKE GEORGE RODMAN, NEXT DAD.
-- NICK'S DAD.
YOU HAD TO BE ESPECIALLY PROUD,
SENIOR OWNS ON STEP ONTO THAT
STAGE AND RAISE HIS RIGHT HAND
AND SWEAR AN OATH TO BE QUOTE
FAITHFUL AND TRUE TO THE
COMMONWEALTH OF KENUCKY, SO
LONG AS I CONTINUE AS A CITIZEN
THEREOF.
AND I WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE TO
THE BEST OF MY ABILITY THE
OFFICE OF LOUISVILLE METRO
POLICE OFFICER ACCORDING TO LAW.
THE O'S ENDS WITH -- THE OATH
ENDS WITH SO HELP ME GOD.
IN HIS TIME WITH LMPD, NICK
BELIEVED THAT UPHOLDING THE LAW
WAS ONLY PART OF HIS JOB,
BECAUSE WHILE THE LAW GOVERNS
OUR ACTIONS, IT'S OUR VALUES
THAT GUIDE US.
AND ONE OF NEXT VALUES WITH
COMPASSION.
-- NICK'S VALUES WITH
COMPASSION.
HE LEARNED IT FROM HIS MOM
LINDA, GEORGE, HIS BROTHER, HIS
SISTER, AND OTHER FELLOW AND
ANTI--- LMPD OFFICERS.
HE PRACTICE COMPASSION THROUGH
LOVE AND DEVOTION HE SHOWED HIS
WIFE AND CHILDREN, WHO CLEARLY
GAVE HIM SUCH JOY.
HE BROUGHT THAT COMPASSION TO
THE JOB FAITHFULLY, EVERY DAY
AND EVERY NIGHT ROUGH LIFE THAT
ARE -- EVERY NIGHT.
RUSS LASSITER SERVED WITH NECK,
AND HE SAID EVEN WHEN NICK WAS
ARRESTING SOMEONE, HE SAID HE
TREATED HIM THE WAY HE WANTED TO
BE TREATED.
HE KEPT TEDDY BEARS IN HIS
PATROL CAR TO GIVE TO KIDS THESE
ON-THE-JOB NEEDED SOME COMFORT.
HE WENT INTO THE STORE AND CAME
OUT WITH A BIG BOX OF POPSICLES
TO GIVE ALL THE KIDS IN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD.
THAT WAS NICK.
THAT'S THE STANDARD THAT HE SET
FOR HIMSELF AS A POLICE OFFICER
AT A PUBLIC SERVANT, AND AS A
HUMAN BEING.
AND HE WAS FAR FROM ALONE.
COMPASSION IS A FUNDAMENTAL PART
OF POLICE WORK.
IT'S WHAT ENABLES THE GOOD MEN
AND WOMEN OF LMPD TO THE SAFETY
OF OTHERS AHEAD OF THEMSELVES.
I WANT TO THANK ALL OF LMPD FOR
THAT, THE TIMES YOU'VE DONE THAT
, AND THE TIMES AHEAD WHEN YOU
WILL.
MY HOPE FOR US IS, AS A
COMMUNITY, THROUGH THIS TRAGEDY,
WITH OUR HEARTS BROKEN OPEN,
PEOPLE SEE POLICE OFFICERS MORE
CLEARLY AS FELLOW HUMAN BEINGS.
PEOPLE WHO LOVE LIKE THEM,
PEOPLE WHO CRY LIKE THEM, AND
MOST OF ALL, PEOPLE WHO DESERVE
THEIR SUPPORT, RESPECT, AND
APPRECIATION.
ACCORDING TO HIS BUDDIES, AND
THE -- NICK WOULD BE FUMBLED AND
A LITTLE BIT EMBARRASSED BY
ANYONE HOLDING HIM UP AS AN
INSPIRATION.
THE CLEARLY, HE WAS.
HIS PASSING HAS SHOWN US ALL
WHAT A BAND OF BROTHERS AND
SISTERS WORKING WITH PURPOSE AND
UNITY LOOKS LIKE.
AS YOUR MAYOR, I KNOW YOUR CITY
IS IN GOOD HANDS, AND I THANK
YOU.
TO THE RODMAN FAMILY, SAYING
THANK YOU ISN'T NEARLY ENOUGH.
WILL YOU GIVE IN, WHEN YOU
SACRIFICE FOR THE PEOPLE OF
LOUISVILLE IS BEYOND ANYTHING
THAT WE CAN MEASURE WILL REPAY.
-- MEASURE OR REPAY.
BUT JUST AS MAY -- NICK SWORE AN
OATH TO THE CITY, I SWEAR TO YOU
AND WE WILL DO EVERYTHING IN OUR
POWER TO HELP ASHLEY, MASON, LE,
AND ALL OF YOU IN THE DAY,
YEARS, AND MONTHS AHEAD.
WE WILL NEVER LET HIS
COMPASSION, SERVICE, THE
FORGOTTEN.
AND WE WILL NEVER FORGET THAT
EACH OF YOU IS SOMEONE'S CHILD,
SOMEONE'S PARENT, SOMEONE'S
BROTHER OR SISTER.
I PROMISE THAT WE WILL CONTINUE
TO HONOR THE COMMITMENT THAT YOU
AND YOUR FAMILIES ARE MAKING TO
OUR CITY.
SO HELP ME GOD.
IN CLOSING, SOME WORDS OF
PRAYER.
ETERNAL REST GRANT UNTO THE
NICK,
AND LET PERPETUAL LIGHT SHINE
UPON HIM.
MAY HE REST IN PEACE.
AMEN.
>> GOOD MORNING.
WE HAVE BEEN BROUGHT TOGETHER
UNDER VERY, VERY TRAGIC
CIRCUMSTANCES, AND I LIKE YOU,
AND STILL REELING FROM THE
EVENTS OF THIS LAST TUESDAY AND
WEDNESDAY.
WHETHER YOU ARE HERE AS NICK
RODMAN'S FRIENDS OR FAMILY,
COWORKERS, OR MEMBERS OF THE
COMMUNITY, WE ALL SHARE A
PROFOUND SENSE OF LOSS.
AS FAR AS IT IS FOR EACH OF US
TO BE HERE, WE DO USE OUR TIME
TOGETHER AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO
HONOR
-- HONOR NICK'S LIFE AND HIS
INCOMPETENCE.
HE BEGAN HIS CAREER AS A POLICE
RECRUIT, ON DECEMBER 9, 2013.
AS THE MAYOR SAID, HE WAS SWORN
IN AS A POLICE OFFICER THE
FOLLOWING JUNE.
HE SERVED HIS COMMUNITY AS A
POLICE OFFICER IN THE FIRST
DIVISION, AND HE PERFORMED ALL
OF HIS DUTIES WITH ENTHUSIASM,
DEDICATION, AND ABOVE ALL, A
GREAT ATTITUDE.
FOR MY VISITS WITH NET FAMILY --
NICK'S FAMILY, AND CONVERSATIONS
WITH COWORKERS AND SUPERVISORS,
HE WILL BE REMEMBERED FOR HIS
GREAT SENSE OF HUMOR, HIS GREAT
SENSE OF HONOR, AND IS A GREAT
MAN.
NICK WAS THE KIND OF FIRST NEW
JUST WANTED TO BE AROUND.
HE WAS THE KIND OF MAN YOU WANT
TO BE ABLE TO CALL YOUR FRIEND.
THE DIVISION COMMANDER, MAJOR
ANDREA BROWN, TOLD ME THAT
NICK WAS INCREDIBLY WITTY, AND
HE WAS FUN TO BE AROUND.
NICK WAS AN ATHLETE.
AND HE TREATED THE MEMBERS OF
HIS SQUAD AS IF THEY WERE ALL
PART OF THE TEAM.
AND CLEARLY NICK WAS A TEAM
PLAYER.
CURTIS LIPSEY TOLD ME THAT NICK
WAS INCREDIBLY DEPENDABLE.
HE WAS ALWAYS THERE TO HELP OUT
WHENEVER AND WHEREVER HE COULD.
AND HE SHOWED US THAT QUALITY
THIS LAST JUNE, WHEN ONE OF THE
MEMBERS OF HIS SQUAD, OFFICER
KYLE CAROL WAS SHOT.
NICK WAS ONE OF THE OFFICERS WHO
HELPED CLEAR THE ROUTE.
HE WAS ONE OF THE OFFICERS WHO
HELPED KERRY KYLE INTO THE
HOSPITAL.
-- CARRY KYLE INTO THE HOSPITAL.
TRAGICALLY, HE WAS CAROL WHO
DROVE BA
NICK TO THE HOSPITAL
AFTER TUESDAY'S COLLISION.
CLEARLY THERE IS AN AMAZING BOND
BETWEEN THE MEN AND WOMEN OF
THAT PLATOON.
TO NICK'S FAMILY, I SHARE MY
CONDOLENCES.
THERE IS NOTHING WE CAN SAY OR
DO TO TAKE ALL YOUR HEARTACHE,
BUT PLEASE KNOW, WE WILL ALWAYS
BE THERE FOR YOU.
PLEASE KNOW THAT NICK SACRIFICE
WILL NEVER, EVER BE FORGOTTEN.
HE WILL BE REMEMBERED FOREVER IS
A TRUE HERO, AND I WANT YOU TO
KNOW THAT IN THE WILL ALWAYS BE
PART OF OUR ROUTINE.
TO THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE
LOUISVILLE METRO POLICE
DEPARTMENT, AND TO THE BROADER
LAW ENFORCEMENT COMMUNITY THAT
IS REPRESENTED HERE TODAY.
I PRAY THAT THROUGH THIS TRAGEDY
, WE BECOME STRONGER AND MORE
RESOLVED IN OUR EFFORTS TO
SUPPORT ONE ANOTHER.
MAKES TRAGEDY -- NICK'S TRAGEDY
AND UNTIMELY PASSING HAS CHANGED
OUR LIVES, WHETHER WE KNEW NICK
PERSONALLY OR NOT.
IT IS IN TIMES LIKE THESE THAT
THE UNIFORMS ALL BECOME THE SAME
COLOR.
THAT THE RANKS DISAPPEAR.
THAT OUR BADGES REFLECT THE SAME
LIGHT TOGETHER, WE WERE EVEN
MORE THAN A TEAM.
WE ARE A FAMILY OF PROTECTORS,
AND OUR SERVICE IS TO OUR
RESPECTIVE COMMUNITIES.
NICK'S LIFE WAS CUT SHORT,
TRAGICALLY SHORT.
TODAY, IN THIS SAD MOMENT, WE
MUST RALLY AROUND HIS FRIENDS
AND FAMILY.
KNOWING THAT THEY NEED US AS
MUCH IS WE NEED THEM.
TODAY, IT'S CRITICALLY IMPORTANT
THAT WE TAKE TIME TO SHARE OUR
RECOLLECTION OF NICK'S DESIRE TO
WORK HARD AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE,
AND TO ANSWER THE CALL OF
SERVICE.
BECAUSE THROUGH SHARED MEMORIES,
AND THE SPOKEN WORDS OF OTHERS,
NO ONE EVER TRULY DIES.
NICK, MAY YOU REST IN PEACE.
IT'S NOW MY HONOR TO INTRODUCE
RICK MEAL.
-- RICK BEALL.
DETECTIVE BEALL: GOOD MORNING.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, ON BEHALF
OF THE RODMAN FAMILY, THEY WOULD
LIKE TO THANK EACH AND EVERYONE
OF YOU, FROM THE BOTTOM OF THEIR
HEARTS, FOR JOINING US HERE
TODAY TO HONOR OFFICER NICK
RODMAN, A MAN AS GOOD AS ANY
THAT GOD HAS TO OFFER.
FIRST OF ALL, I WANT EVERYONE TO
KNOW THAT THE WORDS I'M ABOUT TO
SPEAK COME FROM NICK'S FAMILY,
AND WHEN I SAY FAMILY, NOT ONLY
NEED THE RODMAN FAMILY -- MEAN
THE RODMAN FAMILY, BUT ALSO HIS
BROTHERS AND SISTERS WHO STAND
BEHIND ME TODAY, THE MEMBERS OF
HIS PLATOON.
FORTUNATELY FOR US, WE HAVE THE
DISTINCT PRIVILEGE OF WORKING
WITH NET FOR THE -- NICK FOR THE
LAST FEW YEARS.
NICK WAS LOVED AND RESPECTED BY
EVERYONE OF US.
NOT TOO MANY OF US CAN SAY THEY
ARE LIKED BY EVERYONE THEY COME
INTO CONTACT WITH.
NICK RODMAN CAN SAY THAT,
BECAUSE HE WAS LIKED BY ALL.
AS CHIEF SAID, AND NICK WAS
AN ATHLETE.
HE WAS INVOLVED IN NUMEROUS
SPORTS SINCE HE WAS OLD ENOUGH
TO WALK.
HE WAS A STAR FOOTBALL PLAYER AT
MOUNT CARAMEL, HE ATTENDED HOLY
CROSS HIGH SCHOOL WHERE HE WAS
IN ALL DISTRICT AND ALL REGION
FOOTBALL PLAYER AS WELL AS A
SOCCER STAR.
GRADUATING WITH 4.0 GPA.
HE THEN WENT ON TO PLAY SOCCER
AT GEORGETOWN COLLEGE, WHERE HE
GRADUATED WITH A 3.8 GPA.
AS PROVEN WITH HIS GRADE-POINT
AVERAGE, NICK WAS A VERY
INTELLIGENT MAN.
ANDY, HIS BROTHER, TOLD ME THAT
IT ALWAYS IRRITATED HIM BECAUSE
HE NEVER SAW NICK STUDYING OR
DOING HOMEWORK, BUT HE ALWAYS
MADE STRAIGHT A'S.
GEORGE TOLD ME HE FOUND OUT MANY
YEARS AFTER THAT THE MONEY HE
GAVE NICK FOR HIS COLLEGE BOOKS
WAS A LOT OF TIMES THAT ACTUALLY
SPENT ON BOOKS.
[LAUGHTER]
WE CAN ONLY IMAGINE WHAT IT WAS
SPENT ON.
BUT NICK STILL MADE STRAIGHT
A'S.
NICK HAD AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF
LIFELONG FRIENDS.
FRIENDS FROM HOLY CROSS HIGH
SCHOOL, FRIENDS FROM GEORGETOWN
COLLEGE, AND HIS FIRST ORIGINAL
SQUAD THREE FRIENDS.
NICK WAS A PERSON WHO MEANT THE
WORLD TO HIS COWORKERS, A HARD
WORKER, AND HONEST POLICE
OFFICER, AND FULL OF INTEGRITY.
NICK LED BY EXAMPLE.
WHENEVER A FRIEND WAS IN NEED,
THEY CAN ALWAYS DEPEND ON NICK.
I HAVE HEARD MANY STORIES FROM
HIS FRIENDS, BUT THE BEST
STORIES I HAVE HEARD BY FAR WERE
CENTERED AROUND SIX WITH FOUR
INCH NICK.
IN REALITY, NICK WAS NOT THAT
TALL.
HOWEVER, WHEN NEED BE, 5'9"
INCHES COULD INSTANTLY BECOME
6'4" INCHES NICK.
HE NEVER GAVE THREE QUARTERS
EFFORT, IT WAS ALWAYS 110%.
WHEN IT COMES TO HEART, THERE IS
NOT A RULER OR SCALE BIG ENOUGH
TO MEASURE NICK'S.
NICK LOVED BEING A LITTLE METRO
POLICE OFFICER.
-- A LOUISVILLE METRO POLICE
OFFICER.
HE DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO BE
A TRAINING OFFICER, THE
SERGEANTS WOULD FREQUENTLY PUT A
RECRUIT WITH NICK, AND
FREQUENTLY, HE SERVED AS ACTING
SERGEANT FOR THE SHIFT.
THE REASON HE WAS TRUSTED WITH
THESE POSITIONS IS BECAUSE HE
COULD ALWAYS BE TRUSTED TO MAKE
THE RIGHT DECISIONS.
WHEN THE SHIFT WAS FACED WITH A
BAD SITUATION, AND EVERYONE ELSE
WAS PANICKING, NICK WOULD JUST
STAND THERE WITH THIS THUMBS IN
HIS GUN BELT, WITHOUT ENORMOUS
GRIN ON HIS FACE, AND CALMLY SAY
IT'S OK BOYS, WE GOT THIS, IT'S
ALL GOOD.
OVER THE LAST FEW DAYS, I'VE
HEARD NUMEROUS STORIES ABOUT
NICK.
STORIES THAT ICON MADE EVERYONE
ELSE, WAS TOTALLY UNAWARE OF.
LIKE THE ELDERLY GENTLE MAN WHO
APPROACHED ME AND PORTLAND JUST
A FEW DAYS AGO AND SAID I NEED
OFFICER RODMAN, -- I KNEW
OFFICER RODMAN, HE WAS A GOOD
MAN.
THE GENTLEMAN HAD RUN OUT OF GAS
ON MAIN STREET AND NICK PUSHED
HIS CAR ON THE STREET.
THE MAN OFFERED TO HELP, BUT THE
MAN WAS ELDERLY AND HAD RECENTLY
HAD AN OPERATION, SO NICK WOULD
NOT ALLOW HIM TO HELP.
HE PURCHASED SOME GAS FOR THE
MAN AND HELPED HIM ON HIS WAY.
AND THERE'S THE TIME THAT NICK
FOUND A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VICTIM
WALKING IN THE COLD.
SHE WAS SEVEN MONTHS PREGNANT,
HAD NO MONEY, AND WAS LEFT WITH
NOTHING TO EAT.
IN TRUE NICK FASHION, HE BOUGHT
FOOD FOR THE LADY AND MADE SURE
SHE HAD SHELTER FROM THE COLD.
THERE'S THE MAN WHO WROTE A
LETTER A FEW DAYS AGO, SAYING
THAT NICK HAD ARRESTED HIM.
THE MAN SAID THAT NICK TOOK THE
TIME TO TALK TO HIM AND LISTEN
TO HIS PROBLEMS.
THE MAN WENT ON TO SAY THAT
SINCE THAT NIGHT, HE HAS BEEN
TROUBLE-FREE.
AND BECAUSE OF NICK, HE TURNED
HIS LIFE AROUND.
THE BIGGEST POINT I WOULD LIKE
TO MAKE WITH THESE STORIES IS
THAT NO ONE KNEW ABOUT THESE
GOOD DEEDS UNTIL CITIZENS CAME
FORWARD AND TOLD THEIR STORIES.
NICK PERFORMED THESE ACTS OF
KINDNESS AND NEVER TOLD ANYONE.
OF COURSE, LOOKING BACK, IT
DOESN'T SURPRISE ANY OF US.
IT WAS JUST NICK BEING NICK.
NICK WAS THE GRANDSON OF POP A
DAY OF AND POPPA JOE -- POPPA
DAVE AND POPPA JOE.
HE TEARS TO BOTH MEN AND NEVER
FAILED TO MAKE TIME FOR HIS
GRANDFATHERS.
HE WOULD DRIVE HOME FROM COLLEGE
ONCE A WEEK TO HAVE LUNCH WITH
POPPA DAVE, AND THEN DRIVE BACK.
POPPA DAVE NEVER MISSED A GAME,
AND WAS HEAVILY INVOLVED IN
NICK'S LIFE.
POPPA JOE WOULD TAKE NICK, ANDY,
AND CARLY ON ROAD TRIPS, AND
EVENTUALLY TAUGHT NICK HOW TO
DRIVE.
IT'S EVIDENT THAT BOTH GRANDPAS
HAD A SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP WITH
NICK, THE SAME TYPE OF
RELATIONSHIP THAT I'M SURE THAT
GEORGE WILL SOMETIME HAVE WITH
MASON AND ELLIE.
WHEN IT COMES TO NICK, THE
BROTHER, HE WAS ALWAYS THERE
WHEN ANDY OR CARLY NEEDED HIM.
AND ACCORDING TO DAD, HE NEVER
WORRIED ABOUT THE YOUNGER TWO
WHEN NICK WAS WITH THEM, BECAUSE
EVEN AT AN EARLY AGE, HE COULD
BE TRUSTED TO MAKE THE RIGHT
DECISION AT ALL TIMES.
AND HE TOLD ME THAT NICK WAS NOT
JUST HIS BIG BROTHER, HE WAS
ALSO HIS FRIEND.
HE ALSO SAID THAT SHARING A ROOM
WITH HIS BEST FRIEND DURING HIS
ENTIRE CHILDHOOD IS SOMETHING
THAT CAN'T BE DESCRIBED IN
WORDS.
THEY MADE IT A POINT TO CALL
EACH OTHER EVERY SINGLE NIGHT ON
THEIR WAY TO WORK, JUST TO SAY
HI.
AND THEN THERE'S CARLY, THIS
POOR GIRL NEVER STOOD A CHANCE
WITH NICK AS A BIG BROTHER.
WHENEVER A BOY WOULD COME TO THE
HOUSE TO PICK HER UP, NICK WOULD
CALL HIS DAD WITH THE BOYS
LICENSE PLATE.
[LAUGHTER]
JUST IN CASE DAD WANTED TO
INVESTIGATE.
[LAUGHTER]
AND I'M SURE HE DID.
AND THERE'S THE TIME WHEN ONE OF
NICK'S FRIENDS SAW CARLY ON A
DATE AND CALLED NICK.
NICK AND HIS FRIEND RELATED
MESSAGE TO THE BOY.
A MESSAGE I CAN'T REPEAT IN THIS
BUILDING.
[LAUGHTER]
NEEDLESS TO SAY, I'M SURE
CARLY'S BEHAVED HIMSELF THAT
NIGHT.
ACCORDING TO GEORGE, NICK WAS
THE BIG BROTHER THAT MOM AND DAD
ALWAYS EXPECTED HIM TO BE, AND
HE WILL BE SORELY MISSED BY HIS
BROTHER AND HIS LITTLE SISTER.
NICK THE SON.
BORN IN 1987, GEORGE AND LINDA'S
FIRSTBORN.
AND WHO COULD ASK FOR A BETTER
SON?
HE WAS A DEVOTED HUSBAND AND
FATHER, A BIG BROTHER, A HARD
WORKER AND A LOYAL FRIEND.
AND THE REASON FOR NICK BEING
THIS TYPE OF PERSON IS BECAUSE
HE WAS RAISED BY TWO OF THE BEST
PARENTS GONE HAS TO OFFER.
-- GOD HAS TO OFFER.
IT'S EASY TO TELL JUST HOW MUCH
NICK, ANDY, CARLY, AND MASON AND
ELLIE MEANS TO THESE TWO PEOPLE.
GEORGE WAS NOT JUST A DAD, HE
WAS NICK'S COACH, HIS MENTOR,
AND ALONG WITH LINDA, HIS
TEACHER OF RIGHT FROM WRONG.
NICK FOLLOWED IN THE FOOTSTEPS
OF HIS DAD AND BROTHER, WHICH I
KNOW MADE GEORGE EXTREMELY
PROUD.
I'M TOLD THERE'S A SPECIAL BOND
BETWEEN NICK AND HIS MOM.
NICK WOULD CALL LINDA EVERY
SINGLE DAY TO CHECK IN AND SAY
HE LOVED HER.
GEORGE TOLD ME THAT EVEN THOUGH
NICK AND ANDY ARE ADULTS AND
THEY CARRY A GUN AND BADGE FOR A
LIVING, TO LINDA, THEY WERE
STILL JUST KIDS.
HE SAID THAT LINDA WOULD MEET
THEM IN THE ALLEY BEHIND THE
HOUSE, WALKOUT TO THEIR CAR, AND
GIVE THEM A PACKED LUNCH.
GEORGIA ALWAYS GOT A BIG LAUGH
WE TALKED ABOUT THIS.
NICK SHARED MANY GOOD TIMES WITH
HIS FAMILY, THE FAMILY
VACATIONS, THE TRIPS TO KING
ONCE, THE FAMILY BOWLING TRIPS
ON HOLIDAY EVENINGS.
AND THE TAILGATING AT FOOTBALL
AND BASEBALL GAMES.
EVERYONE KNEW HOW PASSIONATE
NICK WAS WHEN IT CAME TO THE
CARDINALS.
SO MUCH SO, THAT THE LAST TIME
THEY WERE IN THE FINAL FOUR,
NICK DIDN'T SHOWER OR SHAVE, AND
WORE THE SAME CLOSE, INCLUDING
UNDERWEAR AND SOCKS, FOR THE
ENTIRE WEEKEND.
[LAUGHTER]
THE GOOD TIMES AND GOOD MEMORIES
WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN.
ONCE AGAIN, NICK WAS THE SON'S
MOM AND DAD HAD TAUGHT AND
EXPECTED HIM TO BE.
IT WAS AT GEORGETOWN COLLEGE
WHERE NICK MET HIS LIFE ASHLEY,
THE LOVE OF HIS LIFE.
TO EVERYONE WHO KNEW THEM, THEY
WERE THE PERFECT COUPLE.
ANDY TOLD ME THE FIRST TIME
ASHLEY CAME AROUND THE FAMILY,
HE ASKED NICK, SO HOW LONG WILL
THIS WILL BE AROUND?
NICK'S REPLY WAS YOU HAD BETTER
GET USED TO HER.
SHE WILL BE AROUND FOREVER.
I LOVE THIS GIRL AND I'M GOING
TO MARRY HER.
ACCORDING TO GEORGE, NICK
ENJOYED BEING A HUSBAND AND DAD
MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE IN LIFE.
NICK WOULD TAKE MASON TO THE ZOO
ON LONG WALKS, EVEN AFTER HE
WORKED A 12 HOUR SHIFT AND WAS
FACING ANOTHER LONG SHIFT THAT
EVENING.
GOING WITHOUT SLEEP WAS OK, AS
LONG AS HE WAS WITH HIS BABIES.
ALTHOUGH SHE WAS ONLY ONE MONTH
OLD, THEY HAD ALREADY FORMED A
BOND THAT EVERYONE COULD SEE.
IT DID NOT TAKE LONG FOR HER TO
BECOME A DADDY'S GIRL.
NOT A NIGHT WENT BY THAT NICK
DID NOT HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY
ABOUT HIS FAMILY, BECAUSE THEY
MEANT THE WORLD TO HIM.
AS I HAVE ALREADY SAID, NICK
EXCELLED IN ALL CATEGORIES OF
LIFE, BUT IT WAS EVIDENT THAT
ASH, MACE AND ELLIE WERE HIS
NUMBER ONE PRIORITY'S.
BEING A DAD WAS WHAT HE WAS BEST
THAT -- AT.
CONSIDERING WHO HIS PARENTS
WERE, THAT DOES NOT SURPRISE ME
AT ALL.
JUST LIKE NICK THE FRIEND, NICK
THE POLICE OFFICER, AND NICK THE
BIG BROTHER, HE WAS ALSO THE
HUSBAND AND DADDY THAT HIS
MOTHER AND FATHER TAUGHT AND
EXPECTED HIM TO BE.
IT IS NEVER EASY TO SAY GOODBYE
TO SOMEONE WHO MEANS SO MUCH TO
SO MANY.
ESPECIALLY SOMEONE WHO WAS AS
POSITIVE AS NICK WAS IN EVERY
ASPECT OF HIS LIFE.
I HAVE TRIED MY BEST TO EXPRESS
JUST HOW MUCH NICK MEANT TO THIS
WORLD.
IN REALITY, THERE ARE NO WORDS
THAT CAN ACTUALLY DESCRIBE JUST
HOW MUCH HE WAS LOVED BY
EVERYONE WHO WAS INVOLVED IN HIS
LIFE.
OFFICER NICK RODMAN, 123 BAKER,
YOU WILL ALWAYS BE A MEMBER OF
THE GLOBAL METRO POLICE
DEPARTMENT -- LOU
ISVILLE METRO
POLICE DEPARTMENT.
NOW, YOU WILL BE A GUARDIAN FOR
ALL.
YOU WILL BE ONE OF GOD'S SHEEP
DOGS.
OFFICER, REST EASY MY FRIEND.
WE WILL TAKE IT FROM HERE.
[APPLAUSE]
[INAUDIBLE]
♪
>> WHEN YOU CAME TO ME WITH YOUR
BAD DREAMS AND FEELINGS, THE
TEARS I CAN SEE YOU HAVE BEEN
CRYING.
SEEMS LIKE EVERYWHERE YOU TURN,
YOU CAST YOUR FEELINGS.
I PUT ALL OF YOU IN MY ARMS.
I COULD HOLD YOU FOR EVER.
I COULD HOLD YOU IN MY ARMS.
I COULD HOLD YOU FOREVER.
WHEN YOU KISSED MY LIPS, MY
MOUTH SO FULL OF QUESTIONS.
♪
♪
>> NEVER MENTIONS THE WORD
ADDICTION INSERTING COMPANY --
IN CERTAIN COMPANY.
SHE TELLS YOU SHE IS AN ORPHAN
AFTER YOU MEET HER FAMILY.
SHE PAINTS HER EYES BLACK AS
NIGHT TIME.
POLLS THOUGH SHADES DOWN TIGHT.
IF SHE GIVES A SMILE WHEN THE
PAIN COMES, THE PAIN IS GOING TO
MAKE EVERYTHING ALL RIGHT.
THEY CALL HER OUT BY HER NAME.
TALK TO ANGELS.
THEY ARE CALLING HER BY HER
NAME.
HE KEEPS A LOCK OF HAIR IN HER
POCKET -- SHE KEEPS A LOCK OF
HAIR IN HER POCKET.
♪
>> HOW FICKLE MY HEART AND HOW
WOOZY MY EYES.
I STRUGGLED TO FIND ANY TRUTH IN
YOUR LIES.
AND NOW MY HEART STUMBLES ON
THINGS I DON'T KNOW.
MY WEAKNESS I FEEL I MUST
FINALLY SHOW.
LEND ME YOUR HAND AND WE WILL
CONQUER THEM ALL.
LEND ME YOUR HEART AND I WILL
JUST LET YOU FALL.
LEND ME YOUR EYES, I CAN CHANGE
WHAT YOU SEE.
BUT YOUR SOUL YOU MUST KEEP
TOTALLY FREE.
AWAKE MY SOUL.
AWAKE MY SOUL.
HOW FICKLE MY HEART AND HOW
WOOZY MY EYES.
I STRUGGLED TO FIND ANY TRUTH IN
YOUR LIES.
AND NOW MY HEART STUMBLES ON
THINGS I DON'T KNOW.
MY WEAKNESS I FEEL I MUST
FINALLY SHOW.
♪
>> BEGGING FROM HER KNEES.
MAKES YOU THINK SHE NEEDS IT
THIS TIME.
SHE WILL TEAR A HOLE IN YOU
.
ONE YOU CANNOT REPAIR.
BUT I STILL LOVE HER.
I DON'T REALLY CARE.
WHEN WE WERE YOUNG, OH, WHEN IT
GOT COLD, OH, I CANNOT BE TOLD.
I CANNOT BE DONE.
IT IS BETTER TO FEEL PAIN THAN
NOTHING AT ALL. ♪
>> THE POLICE MAN'S PRAYER.
WHEN I START MY TOUR OF DUTY,
GOD, WHEREVER CRIME MAY BE.
AS I WALKED THE DARKENED STREETS
ALONE, LET ME BE CLOSE TO THEE.
GIVE ME UNDERSTANDING TO THE
YOUNG AND OLD.
LET ME NEVER MAKE A JUDGMENT IN
A RASH OR CALLOUS WAY.
LET ME HOLD MY PATIENTS, LET
EACH MAN HAVE HIS SAY.
IF UNDER -- IF ON SOME DARK AND
DREARY NIGHT I MUST GIVE MY
LIFE, LORD, PROTECT MY CHILDREN
AND MY WIFE.
>> OFFICER NICHOLAS RODMAN WAS
BORN TUESDAY, GENDER SET IN
LOUISVILLE -- JANUARY 6 IN
LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY.
HE DIED AT THE AGE OF 30 YEARS
OLD.
HE IS SURVIVED BY HIS WIFE,
ASHLEY, AND HIS 2-YEAR-OLD SON
MASON, AND HIS DAUGHTER ELLIE.
HE IS SURVIVED BY HIS FATHER AND
MOTHER.
HIS BROTHER WHO IS ALSO A
POLICEMAN, AND HIS SISTER,
CARLY.
HIS BROTHER IN LAW, TIM, AND HIS
NEPHEW, JAMISON.
NICK IS ALSO SURVIVED BY ODDS
AND UNCLES AND OTHER LOVING
FAMILY MEMBERS.
HE WAS PRECEDED IN DEATH BY HIS
GRANDPARENTS.
HIS LIFE IS MORE THAN JUST
STATISTICS.
AFTER TALKING WITH FAMILY
MEMBERS AND FRIENDS, LISTENING
TO BE TESTIMONIES TODAY, THREE
WORDS NOW COME TO MIND WHEN I
THINK OF THE NAME NICK RODMAN.
THE FIRST IS FAMILY.
YOU CANNOT TALK TO ANYONE WHO
KNEW THAT AND THAT IS NOT THE
FIRST WORD THAT WOULD,.
NICK AND ASHLEY WERE A NEW
FAMILY.
NICK WAS INSTILLING IN HIS SON
THE FAMILY WAY.
AND I UNDERSTAND THAT ELLIE
ALREADY HAD HER FATHER WRAPPED
AROUND HER FINGER.
I UNDERSTAND FROM LINDA THAT THE
RODMAN'S ALL LIVE WITHIN A FEW
BLOCKS OF EACH OTHER.
IT WAS NOT UNCOMMON FOR ALL OF
THEM TO BE TEXTING IN A
CONTINUOUS CONVERSATION.
THE OTHER WORD I THINK ABOUT IS
COMMITMENT.
YOU HURT HIS PROWESS AT HOLY
CROSS HIGH SCHOOL.
A 4.0 GPA, GEORGETOWN COLLEGE OF
3.8 GPA.
ALL-DISTRICT AND ALL REGION
FOOTBALL AND SOCCER.
THERE IS NOT A THING THAT NICK
DID NOT DO THAT HE DID NOT DO
WITHOUT FULL EXCELLENCE.
I UNDERSTAND THAT BEING A POLICE
OFFICER WAS MORE THAN HIS JOB,
IT WAS HIS CALLING.
HE WAS AN OFFICER TO THE END.
HE WAS COMMITTED TO WHATEVER HE
DID.
THE THIRD WORD I THINK ABOUT IS
GREAT.
NICK WAS RAISED -- IS FAITH.
NICK WAS RAISED IN A HOME AND
EDUCATION SYSTEM THAT TAUGHT HIM
ABOUT GOD.
MOST MEN DO NOT TALK ABOUT THEIR
FAITH OR GOD.
I UNDERSTAND NICK WAS ONE OF
THOSE MEN.
THE REASON I THINK ABOUT FAITH
WHEN I THINK OF NICK ROBIN WAS
BECAUSE OF THE WAY HE LIVED.
YOU HEARD THE STORIES OF HOW
NICK WOULD HELP PEOPLE, AND
NOBODY KNEW ABOUT IT UNTIL JUST
THIS WEEK.
HE PAID MONEY OUT OF HIS OWN
POCKET TO HELP A MAN WITH GAS.
HE HELPED A WOMAN SEVEN MONTHS
PREGNANT WITH GROCERIES.
A PERSON WROTE BACK IN TO SAY
THAT NICK ARRESTED HIM AND THAT
NICK MADE AN IMPACT ON HIS LIFE.
I WAS TOLD THAT NICK WAS THE
GREAT PEACEMAKER OF THE FAMILY.
LET ME REMIND YOU THAT JESUS
SAID BLESSED ARE THE
PEACEMAKERS, BECAUSE THEY ARE
THE CHILDREN OF GOD.
NICK DID NOT TALK ABOUT BEING A
CHRISTIAN.
HE JUST DID IT.
HE DID THINGS THAT JESUS TAUGHT
US TO DO AND NOT JUST TALK
ABOUT.
IT IS BECAUSE OF THIS THAT
NICK'S THAT IS AS MUCH -- DEATH
IS AS MUCH A TRAGEDY AS IT IS
SENSELESS.
NO ONE IN HERE IS COMFORTABLE
ABOUT THIS, AND NO ONE IS AT
PEACE ABOUT HIS DEATH RIGHT NOW.
I HAVE TO BE TOTALLY TRANSPARENT
WITH YOU.
LAST TUESDAY, I WAS CALLED TO
THE HOSPITAL AS A CHAPLAIN.
THAT IS USUALLY NOT GOOD.
WHEN WE ARE CALLED, WE KNOW IT
IS BAD.
THAT FIRST DOCTORS REPORT I
HEARD, IT WAS BLEAK.
I HAD A FEELING THAN THAT THIS
WOULD TAKE A MIRACLE TO SAVE
I ASKED ASHLEY IF I COULD SHARE
WHAT WE HAD HEARD WITH SEVERAL
HUNDRED OFFICERS WHO WERE
WAITING IN THE WAITING ROOM.
I CAME OUT, AND THEY KNEW IT WAS
NOT GOOD NEWS.
AND SO WE PRAYED.
WE PRAYED FOR A MIRACLE THAT
NICK WOULD WALK OUT.
ABOUT TWO HOURS LATER, THE
DOCTOR CAME BACK IN AND SAID, "I
CANNOT EXPLAIN IT, BUT NICK IS
NOT OUT OF THE WOODS YET.
IT IS STILL JUST 50-50, BUT WE
EXPECTED HIM TO BE THIS BAD AND
HE IS ONLY THIS BAD."
THE DOCTOR SAID THEY EXPECTED IT
TO BE WORSE, AND HE WAS VERY
CAREFUL AGAIN, BUT HE SAID, "I
DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT IT IS NOT
WHERE IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN."
I SAT IN THE CORNER OF THAT ROOM
AND I KNEW WHY.
I MADE ANOTHER ANNOUNCEMENT.
I SAID NICK'S CONDITION HAS NOT
IMPROVED, DOCTORS SAY IT IS
50-50, BUT THERE WAS HOPE.
WE LEFT THE HOSPITAL WITH HOPE.
I EVEN HAD A PRAYER THANKING GOD
FOR ANSWERING THE FIRST PRAYER.
WE CONTINUE TO PRAY.
ON THE WAY HOME IN MY CAR, I
SPOKE TO GOD.
I ASKED HIM THAT HE WAS GOING TO
HEAL THIS MAN, AND THAT HE WAS
GOING TO SHOW UP AND SHOW A LOT
OF PEOPLE WHAT HE CAN DO.
I JUST COULD NOT BELIEVE IT.
I WAS SO EXCITED.
THE NEXT MORNING, I STOPPED IN
THE HOSPITAL TO CHECK ON THINGS,
AND I FOUND OUT THAT WHILE NET
CONTINUE TO -- NICK CONTINUED TO
IMPROVE A LITTLE BIT, HE TOOK A
SUDDEN TURN THAT MORNING.
HIS CONDITION WAS NOW WORSE THAN
IT HAD BEEN IN THE BEGINNING.
I SAT AT THE HOSPITAL ALL DAY
WEDNESDAY.
I THOUGHT, "GOD, YOU ARE GOING
TO SHOW UP, RIGHT?"
I WAS CALLED TO THE SECOND FLOOR
AND ASKED TO SPEAK WITH THE
CHIEF OF STAFF, A DOCTOR, AND A
SURGEON WHO WERE GOING TO MAKE
AN ANNOUNCEMENT.
THE SURGEON HAD SAID NICK JUST
PASSED AWAY.
I CANNOT TELL YOU THE IMPACT
THAT HAD ON ME.
I NEVER HAD MET NET, BUT I
CANNOT TELL YOU THE IMPACT THAT
HAD ON ME.
I WAS ANGRY.
I WAS IN DISBELIEF.
I COULD NOT BELIEVE IT.
I HEARD FOR HIS FAMILY -- HURT
FOR HIS FAMILY.
I HURT FOR GEORGE AND HIS ENTIRE
FAMILY AND FOR ASHLEY.
AND WE WERE MAD AT GOD.
WE WENT TO THAT SMALL CHAPEL,
AND IT WAS A VERY EMOTIONAL
SCENE.
THE DOCTOR EVEN BROKE DOWN AND
BECAME EMOTIONAL.
YES ME IF I WOULD PRAY FOR THEM,
AND I WILL BE HONEST -- I WANTED
TO TELL HIM NO.
GOD WAS THE LAST PERSON I WANTED
TO TALK TO AT THAT MOMENT.
BUT I DID BECAUSE THE CHIEF
ASKED ME TO.
WE REPEATED THAT SCENE TWO MORE
TIMES.
IT IS OK TO BE MAD IF IT
PRODUCES GOOD ANGER.
THAT IS NOT THE TYPE OF ANGER I
HAD.
I GOT UP THE NEXT MORNING, AND I
WAS STILL MAD.
I THOUGHT, "BILL, YOU HAVE TO
RESOLVE THIS."
I TOOK MY BIBLE AND A NOTEPAD,
AND I WENT TO STARBUCKS.
THE BIBLE WAS THE LAST THING I
WANT TO READ AT THAT TIME.
I DID NOT KNOW WHAT I WAS GOING
TO READ, OR WHAT I WAS GOING TO
WRITE.
I KNEW IN MY HEART THAT IT WAS
THE RIGHT THING TO DO, BUT I WAS
ALSO SET ON JUST BEING ANGRY.
ENGAGE MY MIND TO READ HEBREWS
11 -- IT CAME TO MY MIND TO READ
HEBREWS 11.
IT IS ABOUT THE HEROES OF OLD.
PEOPLE WHO ARE RENOWNED FOR
THEIR FAITH AND TRUST IN GOT.
I READ IT MANY TIMES, BUT I SAW
SOMETHING I'VE NEVER SEEN
BEFORE.
OR IT AT LEAST IMPRESSED UPON ME
SOMETHING I HAD NEVER SEEN.
MANY OF THESE PATRIARCH, MEN
RENOUNCE -- RENOWNED FOR THEIR
FAITH, THEY ALL SUFFERED
HORRIBLE DEATHS.
HE WRITES, THESE MEN WERE ALL
COMMENDED FOR THEIR FAITH.
REALLY?
AFTER THAT?
SO MUCH SO THAT HE WRITES THE
WORLD WAS NOT WORTHY OF HIM.
THEY DO NOT LOSE THEIR FAITH AND
TRUST IN GOD EVEN THOUGH THEY
HAD TO WALK THROUGH TERRIBLE
CIRCUMSTANCES LIKE THE DEATH OF
GOOD PEOPLE.
HOW DID THEY DO THAT?
SOME THING THAT HAPPENED SEVERAL
THOUSAND YEARS AGO, IS THAT
STILL RELEVANT TODAY?
HOW DO WE REACT TO ALL OF THIS
IN A WAY THAT IS HEALTHY AND
HONORING NICK?
THE ANSWER OF THOSE QUESTIONS
LIES IN THE TRUE DEFINITION OF
FAITH.
THE WRITER OF HEBREWS WRITES
THEY IS WHAT -- FATE IS BEING
CERTAIN OF WHAT YOU DO NOT SEE.
FAITH IS THE EVIDENCE OF THINGS
WE CANNOT SEE.
YOU SEE, FAITH IS NOT BLINDLY
BELIEVING IN SOMETHING THAT YOU
CANNOT EXPLAIN.
THAT IS NOT FAITH.
THAT IS STUPIDITY.
FAITH IS HOPE AND TRUST BASED ON
WHAT WE KNOW.
THIS IS WHAT MOTIVATED THOSE
PEOPLE LONG AGO.
THEIR ACTIONS IN FAITH WAS
MOTIVATED I TRUST BASED ON WHAT
THEY KNEW.
THEY KNEW THAT GOD PROMISED THEM
A MESSIAH, BUT THEY NEVER HAD
MET HIM.
THEY KNEW IT WAS PROMISED, AND
THEY KNEW THAT GOD HAD PROMISED
THERE WAS A BETTER LIFE THAN
JUST THIS ONE.
THAT THERE WAS A HEAVENLY CITY.
THEY WEATHERED THE INJUSTICE OF
LIFE AND THE EVEN DIED BECAUSE
THEY WERE LOOKING FORWARD TO A
CITY WHOSE BUILDER WAS GOD.
NOT ONLY DID THEY KEEP ON GOING,
BUT THEY KEPT ON GOING ON THE
HOPE OF A PROMISED MESSIAH.
IT IS CLEAR IF YOU READ HEBREWS
11, THE PEOPLE HAD NOT YET
RECEIVED WHAT HAD BEEN PROMISED.
BUT THEIR FAITH WAS BASED ON
TRUST, AND THEY WERE MOTIVATED
BY WHAT LITTLE THEY KNEW AS
FACT.
IT IS THE SAME FOR US TODAY.
IN THE SAME SITUATION AS WE SAY
GOODBYE TO OFFICER NICK RODMAN.
THE ME JUST SAY THAT THERE ARE A
LOT OF THINGS IN THIS LIFE THAT
NOT ALL OF US ARE GOING TO
COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND.
FOR INSTANCE, THE DEATH OF A
POLICE OFFICER WHO IS TRYING TO
KEEP HIS FAMILY SAFE.
OR WHY A MAN IS TAKEN FROM HIS
FAMILY AT SUCH A YOUNG AGE.
LISTEN TO WHAT MOSES WROTE.
HE WROTE, "THE LORD, OUR GOD,
HAS SECRETS KNOWN TO NO ONE, AND
WE ARE NOT ACCOUNTABLE TO THEM.
WE AND OUR CHILDREN ARE
ACCOUNTABLE FOR EVER FOR ALL
THAT HE HAS REVEALED TO US."
A SENIOR PASTOR AND A GEORGE --
A BOARD MEMBER OF THE DALLAS THE
LOGICAL SOCIETY PUT IT THIS WAY,
"IF THERE ARE THINGS IN LIFE
THAT HAPPEN THAT YOU DO NOT
UNDERSTAND, IF YOU ARE
PERPLEXED, LEAN TOWARDS WHAT YOU
DO KNOW AND NOT WHAT YOU DO NOT
KNOW."
THAT IS WHAT THESE ANCIENT
HEROES WERE COMMENDED FOR.
THEY LEANED INTO WHAT THEY DID
KNOW NOT WHAT THEY DO NOT KNOW.
WE KNOW SOME OF MORE THAN THEY
DID.
WE NOW KNOW WHO THAT MESSIAH IS.
IT IS JESUS.
WE KNOW THAT GOD SAYS NEVER WILL
I LEAVE OR FORSAKE YOU.
WE KNOW THAT JESUS WAS A MAN WHO
EXPERIENCED SORROW AND WHO
SUFFERED FOR OUR SINS.
WE KNOW HE ROSE FROM THE GRAVE
TO CONQUER DEATH AND GIVE US
HOPE FOR ETERNAL LIFE.
WE KNOW THAT JESUS SAID THAT IN
THIS WORLD YOU WILL HAVE
TROUBLE, BUT TAKE HEART.
WE ALSO KNOW THAT JESUS SAID I
AM WITH YOU ALWAYS EVEN TO THE
END OF THE AGES.
WE CAN LEARN A GREAT DEAL FROM
THESE MEN AND WOMEN OF OLD.
LEAN INTO WHAT YOU DO KNOW AND
NOT WHAT YOU DON'T KNOW.
THAT IS WHY THE WRITER OF
HEBREWS ENDS THAT CHAPTER AND
BEGINS A SECOND ONE TALKING
ABOUT THESE MEN AND WOMEN WITH
THESE WORDS.
"THEREFORE, SINCE WE ARE
SURROUNDED BY A GREAT CROWD OF
WITNESSES, LET US THROW OFF
EVERYTHING THAT HINDERS, AND LET
US RUN WITH PERSEVERANCE THE
RACE MARKED OUT FOR US.
LET US FOCUS ON JESUS, THE
AUTHOR AND PERFECTER OF FAITH,
WHO SUFFERED UPON THE CROSS AND
THEN ROSE TO SIT AT THE RIGHT
HAND OF GOD.
JESUS WHO SUFFERED AT THE HANDS
OF SINFUL MEN SO THAT YOU WILL
NOT LOSE HEART."
ASHLEY, YOU CANNOT LOSE HEART.
YOU NEED TO KEEP ON GOING IN THE
HOPE IN JESUS.
MASON AND ELLIE NEED YOU.
DO NOT KEEP ON GOING.
KEEP ON GOING THROUGH THE HOPE
OF JESUS.
CHRISTIE AND JIM, AND GREG M
LORI AND TIM, DO NOT JUST KEEP
ON GOING, KEEP GOING THROUGH THE
HOPE OF JESUS.
ASHLEY NEEDS YOU NOW MORE THAN
EVER.
YOU MEN AND WOMEN IN LAW
ENFORCEMENT, YOU CANNOT QUIT.
YOU RUN WITH PERSEVERANCE THE
RACE MARKED OUT FOR YOU.
YOUR COMMUNITY NEEDS YOU.
YOU KEEP ON GOING IN THE NAME OF
RIGHTEOUSNESS AND WITH THE HOPE
OF JESUS.
IN DOING SO, YOU WILL HONOR
OFFICER NICK RODMAN AND HELP
CARRY ON HIS LEGACY.
THERE ARE MANY THINGS IN LIFE
THAT WE WILL NEVER UNDERSTAND.
THINGS THAT ARE JUST NOT FAIR.
DO NOT GET CAUGHT UP IN DOUBT.
WE CAN STILL TRUST JESUS.
YOU CAN STILL LEAN ON JESUS.
LEAN IN TO WHAT YOU DO KNOW AND
NOT WHAT YOU DO NOT KNOW.
WHEN MORE THING WE KNOW IS THAT
YOU DO NOT HAVE TO EARN YOUR WAY
FOR THAT LIFE IN ETERNITY WITH
JESUS.
A LOT OF PEOPLE BELIEVE IN
HEAVEN THINK THAT GOD WILL WEIGH
THE GOOD AND BAD DEEDS OF YOUR
LIFE WHEN YOU DIE.
IF AT THE END OF YOUR LIFE THE
GOOD DEEDS OUTWEIGH THE BAD,
THEN YOU ARE GOOD TO GO, BUT
THERE IS NOTHING FOUND IN THAT.
THERE IS NO TRUTH IN THAT.
THAT IS NOT WHAT THE FOLLOWERS
OF JESUS SAID.
LISTEN TO WHAT PAUL SAID.
E REMIND YOU REMIND YOU, PAUL IS
THE GUY WHO USED TO KILL
CHRISTIANS.
HE MET THE RESURRECTED JESUS AND
HE BECAME ONE.
"FOR IT IS BY GRACE YOU HAVE
BEEN SAVED.
IT IS NOT FROM YOURSELF.
IT IS FROM THE GIFT OF GOD.
IT IS NOT BY WORKS, SO NO ONE
CAN BOAST.
GRACE IS SOMETHING YOU RECEIVE
THAT YOU REALLY DO NOT DESERVE.
THAT IS GRACE."
THAT IS GOOD NEWS FOR NICK AND
FOR ALL OF US, BECAUSE NONE OF
US ARE PERFECT, THAT GOD GIVES
GRACE TO THOSE WHO ARE WILLING
TO RECEIVE IT.
A 15TH CENTURY ROMAN CATHOLIC
WHO SERVED AS BISHOP HAD A
FAMOUS STORY THAT TALKED ABOUT
WHAT IT IS LIKE TO DIE.
THIS IS WHAT HE USED TO SAY.
"THERE WAS A TOWN IN THE COUNTRY
, AND A MAN AND A SON WERE GOING
TO WALK INTO TOWN.
THEY HAD TO CROSS A FOOT BRIDGE
OVER A CREEK.
SINCE IT HAD RAINED, THE CREEK
HAD RAISED UP, AND IT WAS
LAPPING UP OVER THE TOP OF THE
FOOT BRIDGE.
THE MAN PICKED UP THE LITTLE
BOY, AND THEY WALKED ACROSS THE
BRIDGE.
THEY WENT INTO TOWN, AND THEY
HAD A GREAT TIME.
THEY SPENT THE ENTIRE DAY IN THE
CITY, AND AS THEY WERE GOING
HOME THE LITTLE BOY STARTED TO
WHIMPER.
THE DAD ASKED HIS SON WHAT HE
WAS CRYING, AND THE SON SAID
THAT THE BRIDGE THEY HAD BARELY
GOTTEN ACROSS, IT IS NOW RAINING
, HOW WILL THEY GET ACROSS IT?
THE FATHER PICKED UP HIS SON,
PATTED HIM ON THE BACK, AND HE
SANG SONGS TO HIM.
THE LITTLE BOY FELL ASLEEP, AND
THE NEXT THING HE KNEW HE WAS IN
HIS OWN BED THE NEXT MORNING
WITH THE SUNSHINE BRIGHTLY
THROUGH HIS WINDOW.
THROUGH THE DOOR OF HIS BEDROOM,
HIS DAD WAS STANDING THERE WITH
A BIG SMILE ON HIS FACE."
THIS IS WHAT DEATH IS LIKE.
THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW IS
NEVER AS SCARY AS IT APPEARS TO
BE WHEN YOU'RE IN YOUR FATHER'S
ARMS.
I BELIEVE THAT IS WHAT NICK
RODMAN EXPERIENCED LAST
WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON.
LEAN INTO WHAT YOU DO KNOW AND
NOT WHAT YOU DON'T KNOW.
WE ARE GOING TO CLOSE WITH A
LOUISVILLE NATIVE AND
SONGWRITER.
HE HAS COMPOSED IN ORIGINAL SONG
AND THE HONOR OF NICK AS A GIFT
TO HIS FAMILY AND THE LMPD AND
OUR COMMUNITY.
WILL YOU LISTEN TO THE WORDS OF
THE SONG?
THEN, I WILL RETURN IN CLOSING
PRAYER.
♪ >> WHEN YOU WAKE NOT KNOWING
IF IT IS YOUR LAST, THAT IS THE
RISK YOU TAKE FOR YOUR CITY.
A WAYS THE FIRST TO RESPOND
BEFORE IT IS NEEDED.
THAT IS THE PLEDGE YOU TAKE WITH
THE BADGE.
WITH LMPD.
RATHER HE IS AN ANGEL IN THE
CLOUDS.
NOT ONLY DID HE GIVE HIS LIFE
FOR HIS FAMILY, BUT TO THIS
LOUISVILLE CITY.
WITH ALL THAT IS GOING WRONG IN
THE WORLD TODAY, WE NEED MORE OF
THEM MAKE A SAY THAT SACRIFICING
ALL WITHOUT EVEN THINKING THIS
IS FOR MY CITY.
OUR BIGGEST HEROES DO NOT WEAR
JUST A CAPE.
IT IS THE UNIFORMS IN THEM THAT
MAKE THEM GREAT.
THEY ARE ALWAYS GIVING TO THIS
LOUISVILLE CITY.
YOU SAY HE HAS FALLEN TO THE
GROUND, BUT RATHER HE IS AN
ANGEL IN THE CLOUDS.
NOT ONLY DID HE GIVE HIS LIFE
FOR HIS FAMILY, BUT TO THIS
LOUISVILLE CITY.
THANKS IS NOT ENOUGH.
WE GIVE YOU ALL OUR LOVE.
YOU ARE IN OUR HEARTS, YOUR
LEGACY CARRIES ON.
YOU SAY HE HAS FALLEN TO THE
GROUND, RATHER HE IS AN ANGEL IN
THE CLOUDS.
NOT ONLY DID HE GIVE HIS LIFE
FOR HIS FAMILY, BUT TO THIS
LOUISVILLE CITY.
THE LMPD.
AND TO THE LOUISVILLE CITY.
WE SING FOR YOU. ♪
THIS IS NICK RODMAN'S CITY. ♪ ♪
>> WHEN YOU PRAY WITH ME?
LORD, THANK YOU FOR THIS GIFT OF
HAVING NICK WALKED THIS EARTH
FOR 30 YEARS.
YOU HAVE TOUCHED SO MANY PEOPLE
THROUGH HIM, BUT THANK YOU FOR
THE GIFT OF YOUR SON JESUS WHO
ALLOWS NICK TO ENTER INTO YOUR
PRESENCE.
WE THANK YOU AND ASK YOUR
BLESSING ON US IN THE NAME OF
JESUS.
AMEN.
I'VE BEEN ASKED TO GIVE YOU THE
FOLLOWING ANNOUNCEMENT.
THE HONOR GUARD WILL COME IN AND
DISMISS YOU.
STAY SEATED UNTIL THEY GIVE YOU
INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO LEAVE THE
SANCTUARY.
FOR THOSE WHO HAVE NEVER
ATTENDED THE POLICE FUNERAL --
THE POLICE FUNERAL, IT IS A
LITTLE DIFFERENT.
NICK WILL GO LAST.
HIS BROTHERS WILL LEAVE HIM
FIRST FOLLOWED BY HIS FAMILY,
CLOSE FAMILY, AND THE NECK.
AS YOU EXIT AND GO TO YOUR CARS,
PLEASE LISTEN TO THE
INSTRUCTIONS GIVEN TO YOU IN THE
PARKING LOT TO THAT YOU KNOW HOW
TO EXIT WHILE HONORING NICK FOR
THE BEST.
THANK YOU.
THIS CONCLUDES OUR SERVICE.
♪
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