The Orlando Sentinel, October 11, 2015 by Tiffany Walden
After a hard-fought battle with breast cancer, longtime Orlando Police officer Karen Long died Saturday with her family by her side.
Long, 41, was diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer in 2007.
"Rest in peace our beloved Karen," the Orlando Police Department wrote on its Twitter page. "Our hearts are heavy. You were a true hero to us all."
Doctors caught the disease early, as it hadn't spread to any other parts of Long's body in 2007. She scheduled a double mastectomy and underwent chemotherapy to fight the disease.
After two years in remission, Long found out that the cancer returned in December 2014.
In a March 2015 article, Long told the Orlando Sentinel she had Stage 4 metastatic breast cancer. The disease had spread to her lungs.
"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't scared sometimes," Long said at the time. "When somebody tells you, 'You are terminal,' you live differently… Yes, I have cancer. Yes, it's Stage 4. But I'm not going to let it define who I am and I'm not going to feel sorry for myself."
On Saturday, family and friends wrote loving messages on Long's personal blog on Facebook, called Turning Up the Heat for Karen.
"As Karen's sister said, "The only thing that died today was cancer," one post said.
Long worked for OPD since 2000. During her tenure, she was a patrol officer, worked on the Special Victims Unit, and a school resource officer. She last worked as a Master Police Officer in OPD's Community Involvement Division.
Chief John Mina issued a statement, saying, "The Orlando Police Department is deeply saddened by the loss of Master Police Officer Karen Long. She was a beautiful person, great mom and wife, and faithful servant and protector of this community. May our warrior rest in peace."
Long is survived by her husband, William, and two children.
[email protected] or 407-420-5620
_________________
The Orlando Sentinel, October 13, 2015 by Jessica Inman
When a Princeton Elementary School student began to lose his temper, Orlando police Officer Karen Long reacted the way she always did: with love. She embraced the boy, who was in fourth grade at the time, in a bear hug, to prevent him from losing control, her family says.
"I'm sure she changed a lot of lives, just being in the school, her positive can-do attitude," said police Chief John Mina, who had been Long's Criminal Investigations Division captain during her service in the Special Victims Unit.
That student has since turned it around, behaviorally and academically. Now, 14, he stayed close to Long, who was a school resource officer at Princeton, her family says — sending copies of his report cards or writing letters.
"Karen was the epitome of a public servant and the epitome of a godly servant," said Janet Herman, her sister. "You always think about others; it was never about her, even when she was going through her battle with cancer."
Karen Long died Saturday of breast cancer. She was 41.
When she began her career with the department, Long drove to work in her red Acura Integra, the Guns N' Roses song "Welcome to the Jungle" up loud. Though she looked forward to each day and each opportunity to offer counsel to others, regardless of the circumstance, her favorite position at OPD was as a school resource officer, working with the kids.
"From what I saw, that was giving the kids love that the kids probably didn't get at home," said her husband, William Long, also with OPD.
She encouraged those around her to answer such questions as: "What can you do to keep pushing yourself? What can you do better for your community, your parents, for God?" her family said.
"Her faith was always an action," said her sister Carolina Wright. "She poured it out. There was always enough to share."
She shared it with her sisters, guiding their journey to baptism. Long coached their middle-school basketball team when she was a high-school junior. Long, always athletic, eventually ran a Marine Corps marathon to honor their brother, who predeceased them. She put her children and family first.
Detective Jennifer Williamson said Long mastered a balance of compassion and strength.
Lt. Michele Smith remembers Long stepping in to help her through her own battle with breast cancer, and Katie Dagenais, media-relations manager with UF Health Cancer Center, described Long as the face of breast-cancer awareness locally.
Smith and Williamson hope to drive the pink patrol car in Long's honor Friday; they want to watch an Alabama football game or see "Les Miserables" in New York, two things Long loved.
In one of her final conversations with Mina, she asked OPD to check in on a young man she'd been mentoring — her focus always on the others she might help.
"She fought to live for her kids and for her family and to bring more people to God," William Long said. "She wanted to proclaim him."
In addition to her husband, William Long of Orlando, sisters Dahlia "Carolina" Wright of Lake Mary and Janet Herman of Akron, Ohio, Karen Long is survived by a son, Samuel; a daughter, Isabella; and parents Jose and Elba Balladares of Sterling, Va.
Baldwin-Fairchild Funeral Home, Ivanhoe Chapel, Orlando, is handling arrangements.
[email protected] or 407-420-5002
After a hard-fought battle with breast cancer, longtime Orlando Police officer Karen Long died Saturday with her family by her side.
Long, 41, was diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer in 2007.
"Rest in peace our beloved Karen," the Orlando Police Department wrote on its Twitter page. "Our hearts are heavy. You were a true hero to us all."
Doctors caught the disease early, as it hadn't spread to any other parts of Long's body in 2007. She scheduled a double mastectomy and underwent chemotherapy to fight the disease.
After two years in remission, Long found out that the cancer returned in December 2014.
In a March 2015 article, Long told the Orlando Sentinel she had Stage 4 metastatic breast cancer. The disease had spread to her lungs.
"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't scared sometimes," Long said at the time. "When somebody tells you, 'You are terminal,' you live differently… Yes, I have cancer. Yes, it's Stage 4. But I'm not going to let it define who I am and I'm not going to feel sorry for myself."
On Saturday, family and friends wrote loving messages on Long's personal blog on Facebook, called Turning Up the Heat for Karen.
"As Karen's sister said, "The only thing that died today was cancer," one post said.
Long worked for OPD since 2000. During her tenure, she was a patrol officer, worked on the Special Victims Unit, and a school resource officer. She last worked as a Master Police Officer in OPD's Community Involvement Division.
Chief John Mina issued a statement, saying, "The Orlando Police Department is deeply saddened by the loss of Master Police Officer Karen Long. She was a beautiful person, great mom and wife, and faithful servant and protector of this community. May our warrior rest in peace."
Long is survived by her husband, William, and two children.
[email protected] or 407-420-5620
_________________
The Orlando Sentinel, October 13, 2015 by Jessica Inman
When a Princeton Elementary School student began to lose his temper, Orlando police Officer Karen Long reacted the way she always did: with love. She embraced the boy, who was in fourth grade at the time, in a bear hug, to prevent him from losing control, her family says.
"I'm sure she changed a lot of lives, just being in the school, her positive can-do attitude," said police Chief John Mina, who had been Long's Criminal Investigations Division captain during her service in the Special Victims Unit.
That student has since turned it around, behaviorally and academically. Now, 14, he stayed close to Long, who was a school resource officer at Princeton, her family says — sending copies of his report cards or writing letters.
"Karen was the epitome of a public servant and the epitome of a godly servant," said Janet Herman, her sister. "You always think about others; it was never about her, even when she was going through her battle with cancer."
Karen Long died Saturday of breast cancer. She was 41.
When she began her career with the department, Long drove to work in her red Acura Integra, the Guns N' Roses song "Welcome to the Jungle" up loud. Though she looked forward to each day and each opportunity to offer counsel to others, regardless of the circumstance, her favorite position at OPD was as a school resource officer, working with the kids.
"From what I saw, that was giving the kids love that the kids probably didn't get at home," said her husband, William Long, also with OPD.
She encouraged those around her to answer such questions as: "What can you do to keep pushing yourself? What can you do better for your community, your parents, for God?" her family said.
"Her faith was always an action," said her sister Carolina Wright. "She poured it out. There was always enough to share."
She shared it with her sisters, guiding their journey to baptism. Long coached their middle-school basketball team when she was a high-school junior. Long, always athletic, eventually ran a Marine Corps marathon to honor their brother, who predeceased them. She put her children and family first.
Detective Jennifer Williamson said Long mastered a balance of compassion and strength.
Lt. Michele Smith remembers Long stepping in to help her through her own battle with breast cancer, and Katie Dagenais, media-relations manager with UF Health Cancer Center, described Long as the face of breast-cancer awareness locally.
Smith and Williamson hope to drive the pink patrol car in Long's honor Friday; they want to watch an Alabama football game or see "Les Miserables" in New York, two things Long loved.
In one of her final conversations with Mina, she asked OPD to check in on a young man she'd been mentoring — her focus always on the others she might help.
"She fought to live for her kids and for her family and to bring more people to God," William Long said. "She wanted to proclaim him."
In addition to her husband, William Long of Orlando, sisters Dahlia "Carolina" Wright of Lake Mary and Janet Herman of Akron, Ohio, Karen Long is survived by a son, Samuel; a daughter, Isabella; and parents Jose and Elba Balladares of Sterling, Va.
Baldwin-Fairchild Funeral Home, Ivanhoe Chapel, Orlando, is handling arrangements.
[email protected] or 407-420-5002
The Orlando Sentinel, October 11, 2015 by Tiffany Walden
After a hard-fought battle with breast cancer, longtime Orlando Police officer Karen Long died Saturday with her family by her side.
Long, 41, was diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer in 2007.
"Rest in peace our beloved Karen," the Orlando Police Department wrote on its Twitter page. "Our hearts are heavy. You were a true hero to us all."
Doctors caught the disease early, as it hadn't spread to any other parts of Long's body in 2007. She scheduled a double mastectomy and underwent chemotherapy to fight the disease.
After two years in remission, Long found out that the cancer returned in December 2014.
In a March 2015 article, Long told the Orlando Sentinel she had Stage 4 metastatic breast cancer. The disease had spread to her lungs.
"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't scared sometimes," Long said at the time. "When somebody tells you, 'You are terminal,' you live differently… Yes, I have cancer. Yes, it's Stage 4. But I'm not going to let it define who I am and I'm not going to feel sorry for myself."
On Saturday, family and friends wrote loving messages on Long's personal blog on Facebook, called Turning Up the Heat for Karen.
"As Karen's sister said, "The only thing that died today was cancer," one post said.
Long worked for OPD since 2000. During her tenure, she was a patrol officer, worked on the Special Victims Unit, and a school resource officer. She last worked as a Master Police Officer in OPD's Community Involvement Division.
Chief John Mina issued a statement, saying, "The Orlando Police Department is deeply saddened by the loss of Master Police Officer Karen Long. She was a beautiful person, great mom and wife, and faithful servant and protector of this community. May our warrior rest in peace."
Long is survived by her husband, William, and two children.
[email protected] or 407-420-5620
_________________
The Orlando Sentinel, October 13, 2015 by Jessica Inman
When a Princeton Elementary School student began to lose his temper, Orlando police Officer Karen Long reacted the way she always did: with love. She embraced the boy, who was in fourth grade at the time, in a bear hug, to prevent him from losing control, her family says.
"I'm sure she changed a lot of lives, just being in the school, her positive can-do attitude," said police Chief John Mina, who had been Long's Criminal Investigations Division captain during her service in the Special Victims Unit.
That student has since turned it around, behaviorally and academically. Now, 14, he stayed close to Long, who was a school resource officer at Princeton, her family says — sending copies of his report cards or writing letters.
"Karen was the epitome of a public servant and the epitome of a godly servant," said Janet Herman, her sister. "You always think about others; it was never about her, even when she was going through her battle with cancer."
Karen Long died Saturday of breast cancer. She was 41.
When she began her career with the department, Long drove to work in her red Acura Integra, the Guns N' Roses song "Welcome to the Jungle" up loud. Though she looked forward to each day and each opportunity to offer counsel to others, regardless of the circumstance, her favorite position at OPD was as a school resource officer, working with the kids.
"From what I saw, that was giving the kids love that the kids probably didn't get at home," said her husband, William Long, also with OPD.
She encouraged those around her to answer such questions as: "What can you do to keep pushing yourself? What can you do better for your community, your parents, for God?" her family said.
"Her faith was always an action," said her sister Carolina Wright. "She poured it out. There was always enough to share."
She shared it with her sisters, guiding their journey to baptism. Long coached their middle-school basketball team when she was a high-school junior. Long, always athletic, eventually ran a Marine Corps marathon to honor their brother, who predeceased them. She put her children and family first.
Detective Jennifer Williamson said Long mastered a balance of compassion and strength.
Lt. Michele Smith remembers Long stepping in to help her through her own battle with breast cancer, and Katie Dagenais, media-relations manager with UF Health Cancer Center, described Long as the face of breast-cancer awareness locally.
Smith and Williamson hope to drive the pink patrol car in Long's honor Friday; they want to watch an Alabama football game or see "Les Miserables" in New York, two things Long loved.
In one of her final conversations with Mina, she asked OPD to check in on a young man she'd been mentoring — her focus always on the others she might help.
"She fought to live for her kids and for her family and to bring more people to God," William Long said. "She wanted to proclaim him."
In addition to her husband, William Long of Orlando, sisters Dahlia "Carolina" Wright of Lake Mary and Janet Herman of Akron, Ohio, Karen Long is survived by a son, Samuel; a daughter, Isabella; and parents Jose and Elba Balladares of Sterling, Va.
Baldwin-Fairchild Funeral Home, Ivanhoe Chapel, Orlando, is handling arrangements.
[email protected] or 407-420-5002
After a hard-fought battle with breast cancer, longtime Orlando Police officer Karen Long died Saturday with her family by her side.
Long, 41, was diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer in 2007.
"Rest in peace our beloved Karen," the Orlando Police Department wrote on its Twitter page. "Our hearts are heavy. You were a true hero to us all."
Doctors caught the disease early, as it hadn't spread to any other parts of Long's body in 2007. She scheduled a double mastectomy and underwent chemotherapy to fight the disease.
After two years in remission, Long found out that the cancer returned in December 2014.
In a March 2015 article, Long told the Orlando Sentinel she had Stage 4 metastatic breast cancer. The disease had spread to her lungs.
"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't scared sometimes," Long said at the time. "When somebody tells you, 'You are terminal,' you live differently… Yes, I have cancer. Yes, it's Stage 4. But I'm not going to let it define who I am and I'm not going to feel sorry for myself."
On Saturday, family and friends wrote loving messages on Long's personal blog on Facebook, called Turning Up the Heat for Karen.
"As Karen's sister said, "The only thing that died today was cancer," one post said.
Long worked for OPD since 2000. During her tenure, she was a patrol officer, worked on the Special Victims Unit, and a school resource officer. She last worked as a Master Police Officer in OPD's Community Involvement Division.
Chief John Mina issued a statement, saying, "The Orlando Police Department is deeply saddened by the loss of Master Police Officer Karen Long. She was a beautiful person, great mom and wife, and faithful servant and protector of this community. May our warrior rest in peace."
Long is survived by her husband, William, and two children.
[email protected] or 407-420-5620
_________________
The Orlando Sentinel, October 13, 2015 by Jessica Inman
When a Princeton Elementary School student began to lose his temper, Orlando police Officer Karen Long reacted the way she always did: with love. She embraced the boy, who was in fourth grade at the time, in a bear hug, to prevent him from losing control, her family says.
"I'm sure she changed a lot of lives, just being in the school, her positive can-do attitude," said police Chief John Mina, who had been Long's Criminal Investigations Division captain during her service in the Special Victims Unit.
That student has since turned it around, behaviorally and academically. Now, 14, he stayed close to Long, who was a school resource officer at Princeton, her family says — sending copies of his report cards or writing letters.
"Karen was the epitome of a public servant and the epitome of a godly servant," said Janet Herman, her sister. "You always think about others; it was never about her, even when she was going through her battle with cancer."
Karen Long died Saturday of breast cancer. She was 41.
When she began her career with the department, Long drove to work in her red Acura Integra, the Guns N' Roses song "Welcome to the Jungle" up loud. Though she looked forward to each day and each opportunity to offer counsel to others, regardless of the circumstance, her favorite position at OPD was as a school resource officer, working with the kids.
"From what I saw, that was giving the kids love that the kids probably didn't get at home," said her husband, William Long, also with OPD.
She encouraged those around her to answer such questions as: "What can you do to keep pushing yourself? What can you do better for your community, your parents, for God?" her family said.
"Her faith was always an action," said her sister Carolina Wright. "She poured it out. There was always enough to share."
She shared it with her sisters, guiding their journey to baptism. Long coached their middle-school basketball team when she was a high-school junior. Long, always athletic, eventually ran a Marine Corps marathon to honor their brother, who predeceased them. She put her children and family first.
Detective Jennifer Williamson said Long mastered a balance of compassion and strength.
Lt. Michele Smith remembers Long stepping in to help her through her own battle with breast cancer, and Katie Dagenais, media-relations manager with UF Health Cancer Center, described Long as the face of breast-cancer awareness locally.
Smith and Williamson hope to drive the pink patrol car in Long's honor Friday; they want to watch an Alabama football game or see "Les Miserables" in New York, two things Long loved.
In one of her final conversations with Mina, she asked OPD to check in on a young man she'd been mentoring — her focus always on the others she might help.
"She fought to live for her kids and for her family and to bring more people to God," William Long said. "She wanted to proclaim him."
In addition to her husband, William Long of Orlando, sisters Dahlia "Carolina" Wright of Lake Mary and Janet Herman of Akron, Ohio, Karen Long is survived by a son, Samuel; a daughter, Isabella; and parents Jose and Elba Balladares of Sterling, Va.
Baldwin-Fairchild Funeral Home, Ivanhoe Chapel, Orlando, is handling arrangements.
[email protected] or 407-420-5002
Inscription
BELOVED WIFE, MOTHER, DAUGHTER
SISTER & FRIEND
YOUR SMILE, LOVE & HEART
WILL BE MISSED
FOREVER
----
"FOR I KNOW THE PLANS I
HAVE FOR YOU,: DECLARES THE LORD,
"PLANS TO PROSPER YOU AND NOT TO
HARM YOU, PLANS TO GIVE YOU HOPE
AND A FUTURE."
JEREMIAH 29:11
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