Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

Joey,

This week marks the sixth year that we have been without you. These six years have been extremely hard but knowing that you watch over me makes it easier. I am planning on going to Police Week this year in your honor. Again Sweetheart I will tell you that I am so proud of you. You changed so many peoples lifes including mine. It seems everyone you met somehow you touched their heart. You were truly an angel on earth and I was so blessed to know and love you. I will continue to keep your memory alive. Rest in peace my love.

Dana Perot
Fiancee' of Deputy Rodgers

At the beginning of every shift I supervise, myself and the other officers on shift dedicate the day to the memory of a fallen officer. Tonight, April 9, 2003 we dedicated the shift to the memory of Deputy Joseph Rodgers who died on this date 6 years ago.

When one law enforcement officer falls, we all stumble for a while, but we will carry on.

Deputy Rodger's sacrifice will never be forgotten.

Sgt. Paul Bissonnette
Royal Canadian Mounted Police - Surrey, BC

MAY GOD BLESS DEPUTY ROGERS FAMILY, FRIENDS AND CO-WORKERS. THANKFULLY HIS MURDERER WILL NOT KILL ANY MORE. GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN. REST IN PEACE MY BROTHER. LOOKING FORWARD TO MEETING YOU SOMEDAY.

CHIEF RONNIE WATFORD-RETIRED
JEFFERSON POLICE DEPT,S.C.

March 21, 2003
Joey, thanks for your tremendous sacrifice. After all these years, you
are still loved and missed. May God comfort all those who still mourn.
Has does a Mother ever get over losing her son at 24? I just don't know.

Lynn Kole
Washington State

WE HAVE A N.C. STATUTE QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE THAT WE USE TO LOOK UP PARTICULAR CHARGES. IN THE BACK OF IT IS A LIST OF ALL THE N.C. OFFICERS EVER KILLED IN THE LINE OF DUTY. HOWEVER, ONE OFFICER IS FROM S.C. AND THAT IS DEPUTY RODGERS. I FIRST LEARNED OF THIS WEB-SITE BY READING ABOUT DEP. RODGERS' SENSELESS MURDER. I HOPE THAT HIS SACRIFICE HAS MADE OTHERS AWARE THAT "WE NEVER KNOW" WHAT WE MAY ENCOUNTER. GOD BLESS DEPUTY RODGERS FAMILY!

OFC. G.R.MULLEN
LAUREL PARK POLICE DEPT.

Just thinking about you and wanted you to know. Joey, You are still remembered daily.

Dana

Joey,
Thank you so much for protecting all the people in south Carolina from violence. I would have been your cousin and I miss you so much!!!

Katie Wheeler - 13 yrs old
Future cousin of Joey

Joey,

Just wanted to let you know that you are remembered in our thoughts daily. Rest in peace for you are now in heaven. Please know you will never be forgotten.

Friends and Family

Joey,

I just wanted to speak with you today so I thought by writing you this letter it would help. I still pick up the phone to call you just to hear your voice. I am now living in Myrtle Beach South Carolina and ironically all of your closest friends are as well. It has done so much for me to be able to hang out with them. They bring back so much of you to me. Just to be around them makes me feel better. Joey, your friends loved you so much and they still talk of you as if you were here. I saw Brian last night and I nearly lost it. I just remember hoping that you would walk in the restaurant behind him. He was with the rest of the Lake City boys and they are still having as much fun today as five years ago. They are such nice guys and we were blessed to have them as friends. I just want you to know that even though it has been five years you are still a huge part of all of our lives. We remember you and speak of you as if you are still here with us. I remember laughing with the guys last night about the funny things you would do (TAZMANIAN DEVIL IMPRESSION). Joey, you were an absolute jewel and I was so blessed to have you. When they say God takes the good ones they were certainly right. Everyone talks about how much everyone loved you and of course how good looking you were (DONT FORGET THAT). Sweetheart, I will never forget you and neither will your friends. We will make sure your memory remains. Thank you Joey for the wonderful memories you brought into all of our lives.

Dana and Friends
In Loving Memory of Joey

rest in peace blue angel

S. Yates

Dana,
So glad to see you made it to Police Week. I was there but didn't have contact with you prior to going. Please contact me again. Still same numbers & e-mail. Glad to see that you are still keeping Joey's memory alive as I will Calvin's. Some people don't understand that just because they are taken from us, we never stop loving them.

Denise
Survivor of Calvin E. Taylor 10-3-01

Joey,

I attended Police Week for the fifth time in your honor. I am often asked why I still go and the answer is simple you will always be a part of my life. I try to explain to people that just because you are no longer here with me doesn't mean you're not in my heart. I am so proud of the sacrifice you made for South Carolina. You died doing exactly what you love and now your name rest on a wall with other heros of this country. I do wish you could have made the trip to Police Week. It is something that would have made you extremely proud to be in law enforcement. It is sad to think that we never knew of the memorial until you passed away. I would have loved for us to experience it together. Florence County has done alot to keep your memory alive. There is a golf and fishing tournament every year in your honor. There has also been stickers made for the patrol cars that display IN MEMORY OF JOEY 168. Another great thing that was done is a scholarship fund in honor of you. Everyone loved you so much and we will never let you be forgotten. Joey, you touched everyone's life and we were all so blessed to have you for the time that we did. Rest in peace my love.

Dana

To Dana,
It has been five years since Joey was killed and you still keep his memory alive and in your heart. I know how it feels to move on but to still have that love in your heart for the one that was taken away from you. Last Wednesday was six months since Calvin was killed and I miss him so much still, but you have helped me know that it's OK to have the feelings that I do and to not worry about what other people think, say or do. I'll try to call you tonight but wanted you to know I am thinking about you.
Your friend,
Denise L. Taylor

Denise L. Taylor
NC Highway Patrol

I too did not know officer Rodgers, however after reading the story about him I too am be proud of him. I have heard many stories about Officer Rodgers and know that he was a great man and died doing exactly what he loved to do. I would stand in Officer Rodgers place any day. His sacrifice will never be forgotten. He swore to protect the people of his state and he died doing exactly that. To Dana and Joseph's family, we will never forget. Rest in Peace, my brother.

Trooper David V. Harak #6133
New Jersey State Police

I did not know Deputy Joseph C. Rodgers, but I did have the opportunity to meet his fiance', Dana, last year at Police Week. Like Dana, I am also a survivor. On January 3, 1999, I lost my co-worker and father, Sgt. Arthur L. Hershey of the Pennsylvania State Police, Bedford barracks.

It has been nearly five years since Joseph's untimely death. It has been very encouraging to to see Dana's dedication to maintaining Joey's memory. She has been an inspiration.

To Dana and all of Joseph's family, your loss and sacrifice will not be forgotten. I find comfort in focusing on the life of my Dad, not the way that he died. Always remember that Joey is still with you. God bless.

Tpr. Bradley E. Hershey #7685 - Survivor
PA State Police - Bedford

Dana,
I saw the reflection you sent for Calvin Taylor - State Trooper killed in North Carolina on October 3, 2001. Thanks for remembering his family & friends. Sorry that you know exactly the loss that we feel. Sorry that you never had the chance to be married to Joey. Calvin & I were separated when he got killed but had been married for 8 years. We still loved each other & had talked the night before he was killed about trying to work things out again. I am also one of the telecommunicators that dispatched for him, so I lost my best friend, co-worker & husband that I hoped to be back with again. Do you ever get over the pain of losing him? It seems like I go about things ok for awhile then every few weeks the strong feelings of sorrow come back just like it was last week. My prayers are with you.
Denise L. Taylor

TC Denise L. Taylor
NC Highway Patrol

I did not know Officer Rodgers, but after reading his story, I would be proud to stand in his place any day...He, like many others who have gone before him, died a hero's death. He swore to protect those who could not fend for themselves and did his duty to the very end. Joseph, we will never forget. Rest in peace, brother.

A/PO Randy Ranauro, # 2951
NYPD Highway Patrol Unit 1
Bronx, NY

A/PO Randy Ranauro
New York City Police Highway Patrol Unit 1

Joey,

I attended Police Week this year again in your honor. This will be the fourth year, and its's amazing how I'm not sad anymore. You and all the other officers on the wall have made the ultimate sacrifice and should so proud. I am happy to have known and loved a hero. I will love you always.

Love,
Dana

Dana
Family