Bladenboro Police Department, North Carolina
End of Watch Saturday, May 12, 2001
Reflections for Police Officer Brian Joe Ramey
Whats up Brother Brian. I'm sorry to have missed the anniversity of your passing it's been 7yrs now. I have a hard time still thinking about it. I sure miss you and I talk about you often. We all miss you Mom, Grandma, AJ and myself. In the 18yrs I1ve been in law enforcement I have never found anyone else that I can trust as much as I trusted you. We were the true brothers in blue. We all still talk abot how you call my grandmother, grandma and my mother, mama. Brian since your passing I know you've seen that things just hasn't been the same and I guess it never will. We miss you Brian and Love You. When the day comes for me to come home as soon as I get settled in I'll look you up and we can do some catching up. Love You Brother.
Ptm. Michael Adkins
Chadbourn Police Department
May 17, 2008
Time has not diminished your service or your sacrifice. You are missed.
Your life may not have mattered to the person who killed you, but it
mattered to us. With love from one coast of America to the other.
Lynn Kole
Bellingham, WA
May 12, 2008
Thank You for having served the Carolina Comunity.
Maj M. B. Parlor
USMC / LAPD
May 12, 2008
Officer Ramey, you did not die in vain. It breaks my heart that your life was taken as it was, but God knows how many others were saved in the process. Thank you from all of us whose lives you saved when we didn't even realize we were in danger.
April 7, 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 © 1999 - All Rights Reserved
and may not be duplicated without permission
Investigator David L Bell
Richland County Sheriff's Dept., Columbia, SC
December 26, 2007
As a former Bladenboro Officer, I wish your family and friends to have as good a holiday as they can without you being with us. Thank You for looking after my friends in town. You are not forgotten.
Chief, Jim Boyle
NC DHHS Police, Dorothea Dix Hosp.
December 22, 2006
Deepest sympathy to Jean and the girls. Your son and brother was a true hero and great loss to us all. Because of people like Brian Joe and his father Joe Ramey, the world is a safer place. Thank you.
Lauralee Bauer
cousin
May 27, 2006
While we did not know you, we are truly grateful for your dedication, mourning your death; never forgetting your sacrifice! Not to worry, dear friend, your brothers and sisters in blue will carry on your watch for you ~ rest in peace.
Daniel & LaWanda Ross
Citizen
April 9, 2006
I salute you for your service and honor you for your sacrifice.
A hero never dies....
Rest in peace, hero.
May 19, 2005
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, May 12, 2004 we dedicated the shift to the memory of Police Officer Brian Joe Ramey who died in the line on this date three years ago.
When one law enforcement officer falls, we all stumble for a while, but we will carry on.
Officer Ramey's sacrifice will never be forgotten.
Sgt. Paul Bissonnette
Royal Canadian Mounted Police - Surrey, BC
May 13, 2004
I stop by this website often after the death of two dear friends with the NCSHP (Troopers Calvin Taylor E.O.W. October 3, 2001 and Anthony Cogdill E.O.W. May 30, 2003).
We all grieve over the lives lost in the line of duty. I hope you can find some comfort knowing that there are countless prayers that go out for your family.
These are senseless tragedies that never seem to stop. God Bless the men and women who continue to serve their communities in our great Nation.
...Gone, but never Forgotten....
Marti (EMT-Paramedic)
Haywood Co EMS (NC)
April 5, 2004
Brian I remember the day I met you I worked court in Tabor City you were there wanting to take your turn in front of the judge. When I first talked to you like you didn't have time to be bothered with anyone you were to good. But when I transferred to patrol and started working that end of the county i got to know you and found that you were an unselfish man and would give your life to protect someone else. Brian thats just what you did that night and not even knowing it you gave the ultimate sacrifice. Things happen for a reason and i believe God put you there to give your life to maybe save the life of someone else. Brian God took you home to patrol his streets and keep them safe and I will always remember the talks we used to have at night in Tabor City after you got off from Bladenboro and were on your way home. Briam you were a man of integrety, honor and kindness you will be missed so much. Until we work together again stand proud as I will be to call you a friend.
Deputy Wayne Clanton
Columbus County Sheriff Office
November 7, 2003
Brian ~ You will always be deep in my heart and soul and I pray that you can see this now. I missed you for three years and I guess now I'll miss you for a lifetime. I have thought about you everyday and I hope that you were at peace with yourself, and that you were happy. I'll always remember the great times we had riding the horses on the beach. If I had only known you were in Bladenboro maybe I could have kissed you one last time. Today is memorial day and I have my flag flying for you. And we'll never know what might have been.
Anonymous
Brian,
I can remember when we both were serving in Tabor City. I rememeber the day I met you and was told that I was to train you. Well, I have to say you were one of kind out of all the officers I have ever trained. I just hope that I trained you well. I can also remember March 2000 when you began work with us at the Bladenboro Police Department you were so happy and told me just how happy you were that the two of us were back together again working on the same shift.
Brian, I knew when I was working with you in Tabor City you were a one of a kind person not only did you become my partner and my friend but you became much more than that to me, you became my brother. Your family lived on the west coast so my family took you in as our very own next of kin. You would call my mother "mom" and my grandmother "mal-mal". You would laugh when "mal-mal" would get onto you. And you treated my wife as if she was your own sister-in-law. The times we had in Myrtle Beach and at the baseball games will never ever be lost.
You were a police officer 24hrs a day 7 days a week and holidays. You would work every day you were off at nights come out and work for nothing just so that the officer working that night wouldn't be by himself. It seems funny not hearing at night anymore "405 Bladen I'll be 10-41". I know that your happy that now you and your father can spend father and son time and catching up. My heart is not crying because of what happned my heart is crying because I know your happy and that you left us the way you told me you always wanted to leave. So, I guess I'll see you later and when we see each other again I have a bone to pick with you, you know what I'm talking about.
Your Brother
Michael
Det. Michael Adkins
Bladenboro Police Department
On behalf of all the Police Telecommunicators with Piedmont
Triad International Airport Police Department, our thoughts
and prayers are with the family of this officer, and all the
law enforcement personnel across the United States who have
given their life in serving their communities.
Sincerely,
Ben Bennett - Police Telecommunicator I
Piedmont Triad International Airport Police Dept.
Greensboro, NC
POLICE TELECOMMUNICATOR I
PTIA (AIRPORT) POLICE DEPT. GREENSBORO,N.C.
Brian,
When I read your name here I hoped that it wasn't you. I'm sorry.
North Carolina is a long way from Simi Valley, California. (So is Houston, Texas) And it's been a long time since we just hung-out together, and walked to Mountain View Elementary and Hillside Junior High schools together.
I can't help but recall the "trouble" we got into, like blowing-up the beehive with the black powder in the coffee jar! Do you think your dad ever missed the powder and the trioxane tablets? Don't worry, I think the statute of limitations has expired. Those were good times. We've come a long way since our childhood.
I never knew what happened to you after your family moved away, and I always wondered what happened to you. Yet, I somehow knew you would follow your father's footsteps and become a police officer. On my separate path, I too, became a police officer. I just wish we could have become reaquainted in a different way.
May God bless you, your family, your fellow officers, and your community. Please give my regards to your father.
Good-bye my friend.....
Officer Timothy M. McClelland
METRO Department of Police (Houston, TX)
THE FRIDAY BEFORE BRIAN WAS KILLED HE PULLED UP BESIDE ME AT SCHOOL IN ROBESON CO. I HAD NEVER REALLY TALKED TO HIM BEFORE BUT HE ASKED ME TO HAVE BREAKFAST AND I RELUCTANTLY SAID YES. I WAS LOOKING OVER SOME NOTES FOR MY STATE EXAM THAT DAY. BRIAN WAS FROM CALIFORNIA AND I WAS NOT SO WE WERE TO SAY THE LEAST DIFFERENT. I STILL CANT UNDERSTAND IT ALL BUT BRIAN STARTED TALKING TO ME LIKE AN FTO HE WAS SAYING HOW IT CAN ALL GO SOUTH IN A HURRY AND HOW YOU CAN GET KILLED SO QUICKLY. I DID NOT REALLY LISTEN TO WHAT HE SAID UNTIL HE WAS GONE NOW HE HAS TOLD ME WORDS I WILL NEVER FORGET. I DO NOT KNOW HOW HE KNEW WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN, I REALLY DONT THINK HE KNEW AT THE TIME, BUT HE MUST HAVE HAD A PEACE THAT PASSED ALL UNDERSTANDING. I JUST GOT OUT OF SCHOOL SO I DONT KNOW MUCH BUT I DO KNOW FIRST HAND OF WHAT DUTY REALLY MEANS WHEN IT COMES TO SACRIFICE BECAUSE I SAW SOMEONE GIVE EVERY THING THEY HAD WHEN IT CAME DOWN TO IT. THANK YOU BRIAN.
DEPUTY, DAVID MCDANIEL
BLADEN CO. SHERIFFS DEPT.
I got the call about an hour after you joined the list of the many who gave the ultimate sacrifice. Even though I have never met you, I still felt a sudden loss of a fellow brother. We may not all wear the same uniform, but we all love doing what we do "Protect and Serve". I along with other team members, now have the task of reconstructing this horrible crash. May God Keep You Well My Friend...
Trp. Ardeen Hunt, Jr.
North Carolina State Highway Patrol Collision Reconstruction Unit
"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God."
A fellow officer
NCSU Dept. of Public Safety
Although I did not know Officer Ramey at all, like all police officers, I feel the loss of a fellow law enforcement officer. My heartfelt condolences go out to Officer Ramey's family, friends, and also to his department.
Patrolman Danny Edwards
Mississippi Highway Patrol
May you rest in peace and may God Bless your family.
PO Michael A Baker
Kansas City MO PD
MAY YOU REST IN PEACE BOTHER MY PRAYERS ARE WITH YOUR FAMILY AND YOUR AGENCY, AND ALL YOUR FRIENDS. ITS GETTING HARDER AND HARDER TO LOOK AT THIS SITE.
Chris Vinson/Police Officer
Lanett P.D.
Another brother is lost...sleep well brother, you fought the good fight. Your sacrifice will not be forgotten!
Ofc. Brian Gillaspie
Pacific (MO) Police Department
On behalf of the Fraternal Order of Police, Lodge#1, our deepest sympathy on the loss of Officer Brian Joe Ramey. May God comfort the family and friends during this difficult time.
Officer John D.Sainz,Chaplain
Tucson Police Department
Thank you brother, your heroism will be remembered!
PO J Walton
Blue Springs, Mo.
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