Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

I never had the honor to know you or meet you, but your service, dedication, honor and intergrity will never be forgotten! God Bless You!

No rank Lana
No relationship

July 25, 2011

Rest in peace brother and thank you for your service.

Gordon Hobbs
NC Game Warden

March 15, 2009

It’s now been 26 years since you gave your life saving the lives of fellow agents. That act of selfless sacrifice is not the only thing that makes you a hero, it how you lived and it’s safe to say that you were a fine man, both on and off the job. I get that feeling from the messages left by your daughter and colleagues. Only 28 at the time of your murder, you never truly had a chance to live, but in that time, I have no doubt you made an impact on those around you.

I have the utmost respect for the ATF and with the highest number of line of duty deaths in Federal Law Enforcement after the Marshal’s service; you have all given more than should ever be asked of any agency. Yet you all still go out there day in, day out.

Nothing can bring you back, but a building named in your honor is a fitting tribute and a reminder of who you were and what you accomplished.

God Bless and may you continue to Rest in Peace, Brother.

Ptl. Jim Leahy, Jr.
Harvard University Police Dept.

December 2, 2008

He will always be "daddy" and I feel such pride when I see the wonderful messages left and how his legacy lives on. He would be so proud of his son, now serving in the military since 2003...he is missed terribly to this day but I am happy he serves as inspiration to graduates of ATF and current agents. love, always....

Eileen
daughter

September 9, 2008

"The Badge"
He starts his shift each day
To respond to calls unknown.
He drives a marked patrol car.
A police officer he is known.
He's paid by the citizens' taxes
To make it safe on the streets.
But he usually has a second job
'Cause a waitress has his salary beat.
Now he doesn't know a holiday
'Cause he works all year round.
And when Thanksgiving and Christmas finally arrive
At his home he cannot be found.
He's cursed and assaulted often,
The one whos blood runs blue.
He seldom ever gets a thanks,
To some he's just a fool.
His friends are always other cops
'Cause people just don't understand
That underneath his badge and gun,
He's just another man.
He knows there might not be a tomorrow
In this world of drugs and crime.
And he gets so mad at the court system
'Cause the crooks don't get any time.
And each day when he leaves for work,
He prays to God above.
Please bring me home after my shift
So I can see the ones I love.
But tonight he stops a speeding car,
He's alone down this ole' highway.
It's just a little traffic infraction.
He does it everyday.
Well, he walks up to the driver's window,
And his badge is shining bright.
He asked the guy for a driver's license,
When a shot rang through the night.
Yes, the bullet hit its mark,
Striking the officer in the chest.
But the Department's budget didn't buy
Each officer a bullet-proof vest.
So he lay on the ground bleeding.
His blood wasn't blue - His blood was red.
And briefly he thought of his loved ones
'Cause in a moment the officer was dead.
In the news they told the story
Of how this officer had died.
And some who listened cared less,
But those who loved him cried.
Well, they buried him in uniform
With his badge pinned on his chest.
He even had his revolver,
He died doing his best.
Written By:
David L. Bell
Sergeant
Richland County Sheriff's Department
Columbia, South Carolina
Used with Special Permission of the Author
Copyright © 1993 - All Rights Reserved
and may not be duplicated without permission

Investigator David L Bell
Richland County Sheriff's Dept., Columbia, SC

March 19, 2008

SA Ariel Rios and family:

My names is James J. Soper. I am a new graduate of the ATF Special Agent Basic Training Class 0801 which graduated on January 10, 2008 at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Glynco, Georgia. I am honored and humbled to say that I was awarded the Ariel Rios Memorial Award for Leadership during graduation ceremonies. I want to say that I will with the best of my ability carry SA Rios's commitment to leadership and positive entuhsiasm through out my career with ATF.

Respectfully,

James J. Soper
Special Agent
Detroit Field Division

Special Agent
ATF-Ariel Rios Memorial Award Recipient

January 11, 2008

You are remembered today and thank you Sir for your service

Pat Van Den Berghe, Manchester, NH
Neighbors for a Better Manchester, NH

December 3, 2007

When the New York office of ATF was requested to detail two Special Agents to the "Presidents Task Force" it was decided to send our best - and we did!!

B.K. Uptagrafft - ARD North Atlantic Reg
Bureau of ATF

September 5, 2006

You are not forgotten............

AZ Narc

June 3, 2006

Undercover takes a truly special person. Your success and dedication will never be forgotten by those of us that knew you.

anonymous

January 27, 2006

I remembered the day Agent Rios was killed, I will never forget his face on the news...I felt very sorry for him and his family, who would of said that 4 years later me and my family were going to go through the same pain, when my husband Officer Emilio Miyares, from Hialeah Pd, Fl was also killed in the line of duty..

To you Agent Rios, to my husband Emilio and all the other brothers and sisters killed in line of duty, we say "Gone but not forgotten"

terry miyares, surviving spouse
Officer Emilio Miyaes, Hialeah PD, Fl 11/6/86

November 2, 2004

UNDERCOVER
No crisp uniform of honor did he wear
Nor golden badge of glory did his chest bear
Only troubling thoughts of money, guns and drugs
Fighting back the tears as he collected his nightly hugs

In this secret life he chose, he clearly was the best
But his uneasy path was much different then the rest
He knelt in prayer with his family at night
Before he quietly went out to carry on his fight

They kept a scrapbook of his many feats
But his true worth is not captured on these sheets
He knew that he was a soldier in a losing war
And his return to those who love him was unsure

His futile fight to save a city block by block
Resulted one night in that tragic knock
His friends sadly called upon his loving wife
With a tearful message of how he lost his life

One last time his brothers gave him praise
But only half way up Old Glory did they raise
And in the end the bugler played his solemn tune
With prayers that his soul will enter soon

God bless you, brave warrior!

Private citizen
U. S. A.

October 17, 2004

The last time I saw you was 4 months before you were murdered. We were out with Alex and other friends during off duty hours while assigned to the Vice Presidents South Florida Joint Task Force in South Florida. You were happy, relaxed and as always, friendly. You were an outstanding undercover investigator. We all miss you Ariel. I honor your memory.

Special Agent Jim Crotty
ATF (SA, Retired)

February 25, 2004