Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

I met Joey when he was in field training with Bill. I remember thinking, "does he ever stop smiling? But yet, what a great smile!". For 3 1/2 years, Joey was a co-worker, an acquaintance, who was always polite, friendly, easy to get along with, and always spoke whenever I saw him. In the past year, I got to know Joey as a FRIEND. I feel very honored to be on his very long list of friends, Joey's friendship touched me a great deal. I don't think I've ever met anyone that positive and upbeat. Even when he had every right not to be, he was positive. Everytime I saw him, he would ask me questions about dispatching so he could understand my job. Joey would always say hi to me when he came in service, no matter where I was dispatching, and he would always tell me good night. That was the extent of the conversation at times but I always knew he was there.
I found out the hard way how much Joey loved chocolate chip cookies when my parents sent home more than a dozen with me one weekend from their restaurant -- I got one, Pia got one, Joey got the rest. The first time I rode in a small plane was with Joey -- I was petrified but he kept me calm and made it fun for me -- even that hard left turn wasn't too bad.
I will NEVER forget that smile, that giggle, or that great attitude. Joey, we know you're always going to be watching over us whether it's at a dispatch console, in a patrol car, or in an airplane -- you are the angel that touched MANY MANY people and I'm glad to be one of those people, you'll always be in our hearts. We miss you.....Michelle

Michelle Greenfeather
Arlington Police Dispatch Services

Most peopel say " you never know what you truly have until its gone" when people die but for Joey there was something about him that I knew what I had when he was still here and now I lost I lost it, I lost Joey". I will always miss our precious Joey but I will never forget him, for he impacted my life like no other. I will always love him.

Anonymous

The irony of this is that Joey would be the person I would run to to make it better...We miss you every day and love you so very much. See you on the P.N. 08.19.01.

Anonymous

I wanted to write here because I don't want to forget the way Joey was a brother to me. I will always treasure the way your family treated me like one of its own. I sincerely wish we had remained as close in our young adulthood as when we were the day we met. I hope your parents know how good a kid you were, and that you only took most of the blame for me, whenever we got caught being kids. I will always love and miss you Joey.

CTM2 Matthew Mason
US Navy

~sMiLe~
I won't pretend it isn't rough,
For that would be a lie.
I can't say there are no moments,
That I crack, and cry.
But I can tell you honestly,
I'm okay for awhile...
It's hard to think about you
And continue not to smile.

Anonymous

Joey, God only takes the best, surely the angels now sing. Rest comrade, a job done with valor, we are proud of you, and America thanks you...

God grant your family peace today and tomorrow...

Scott Parker
Former Harris County Deputy Constable

*IN TRIBUTE TO A LIFE EXCEPTIONALLY LED*
You let so many people live through you...because of this you walk on in so many people, including myself. You left so many wonderful pieces of you here.
You were a big guy, a strong guy...it's tough to believe something stronger than you were took you away. As big as your muscles were, that doesn't matter. Your heart was bigger and your soul was stronger.
Sometimes your family is not just the one you are born into. I'll miss you, my brother, every day. Rites of passage will be hard but I know that when I marry, when my kids are born, every holiday, you'll be there.
You were always there for me, like an angel. Sometimes you were so amazing I could hardly believe you were real. On June 7th the heavens opened up and the very best went in.
You have changed me as a person forever. My life will always be different. I, as a person, will always be better for your memory, and for every day brightened by you.
I've got a lot of living left, and I can only strive to live my life as plentifully and wonderfully as you did, even though I will miss you every step of the way. Like you used to ask, "How many times do you live?" ONCE, so go for it! You certainly made the best of it. God bless you.
You truly are beautiful. If I had known that things would wind up this way, and that my heart would break so severely...I would have been your friend anyway. It was so incredibly worth it. You are amazing.
Many, many years from now, I know you'll wait there for me at the Golden Gates with all others I have lost and will lose. I can't wait for that joyful reunion, that huge hug. (I miss your hugs so much!) The path ahead is long but you made it smooth because you taught me how to live, how to treat people, have fun, stay faithful, and most importantly, love easily.
Thanks for setting the example bro. <3 I love you so very much and miss you with every step. I owe so much to you. :)

Anonymous

Joey,

"As you stand at my grave,
Do not weep,
Do not cry
Beneath your feet
I do not lie,
I am not there
I did not die."

"Blessed be the peacemakers, for they will be called Sons of God." -Matthew 5:9

"You shall miss them, but you shall always be with them..."

Joey, we miss you every day.

We love you...thanks for standing guard.

See you at breakfast in Mexico...Cheerios ready to fly :)

Casey

Joey- I miss you so much. I want you here. I really really really really miss you. I cant stand it. I am afraid of you totally disappearing in the next few years. I am still afraid of that time when it is gonna be final, when the loss has really hit me full speed. I am reassured that
you are gone by the big headlines of my newspaper or the stillness and pictures of you all around at your parents house or seeing your name on a headstone. I love you so much and it is really hard to move on, very hard, but thanks again for letting us meet two very special people to me now, Bill and Holly. I know you put Holly this year on the trip for a very good reason, to start
a friendship and Bill to put another brother here for me. But no brother will be as touching as you, my precious wonderful brother from another mother Joey. I LOVE YOU SO MUCH. Joey, I feel your presence often. your JC. Joey Cushman like Jesus Christ and you truly were a good example of Christ and example to the community and world around you. No one will ever know the great and horrible knife through the heart excruciating pain the loss of you has brought to me nor
will I ever know the pain of others. I hope they know I am here to cry or laugh at stories of you with them or just here to give them a hug and comfort. Brother I will never forget that spark you lit me with and I will try my hardest to go on and to do the right things for you, do things that you would do.

OH GOSH ITS HARD, but I LOVE YOU BROTHER and when we meet again someday, I bet you will spark me that same way you did when we first met. LOVE YOU LOTS, our precious angel brother Joey

Anne ( your little sis) August 8,2001

We went to visit your grave yesterday and there was a woman crying over it. That made me cry because it forced me to remember how you brightened so many lives and affected so many people. By the time we got over there she had left, but there was a heart carved in a patch of dirt by your grave.
I think it says a lot about you, and about every other police officer, that you enter this profession full-knowing you have to be willing to give your life for the greater good. But it's not cool that you went down like this, and every time I see your name in an old newspaper article, on your temporary headstone, or every time I see your picture or hear someone sharing a memory about you, my heart breaks all over again. I can almost hear you telling me to cheer up, a lifetime's not forever, we'll meet again, etc. but I can't seem to stop the steady flow of tears. I never cry at the "right" moments - only at the ones where something completely different is going on. Today, August 7, 2001, marks the 2-month anniversary that you've been gone and I can safely say that the world is a few shades darker without you. Sometimes I feel okay - thinking about the happy times - but I don't understand why God would bless us so abundantly, so unbelievably, so plentifully with you, then rip you out of them without warning? I can remember thinking how lucky I was to know you, so why would God take you away? The rest of my life is a long time, but I try to remind myself that there will come a point that we will meet again. Until then, know that absolutely no words in this world can describe how much we miss your smile and how much we love you, nor are there any sentences that can properly state the inconceivable amounts of joy that you brought to us. You are truly just an outstanding person. We love you so, so, so, so, so, so, so very much and we miss you every day. I know you're up there rooting us on through every little daily trial in our lives. Thank you, sweet Joey, for all that you did and all the lives that you touched. This isn't fair, but we love you, and love is fair.

Casey

Corporal Cushman, your watch is over and our department salutes you and your tour. May you watch over the gates of heaven, as you watched over the citizens of Arlington, Texas.

Deputy J. Allen
Hidalgo County Sheriff's Department, Texas

It's been almost two months now and I still can't believe it. I'm amazed the world has gone on because when I first received the news, I couldn't picture a functioning world without our Joey in it. Joey just kind of had that effect on people where all it took was a handshake or a smile for you to feel permanently attached. I know because I'm an example of this. Though I got to know Joey better and better over the two years we were friends, he had me at his smile. I met him as we were departing for Mexico for a mission trip in the summer of '99. He grinned and introduced himself and we all left for San Antonio in our own cars. Once we arrived in San Antonio, we met up at Applebee's for lunch and I had the excellent fortune to sit next to him. We began talking. I asked him about being a police officer, and he asked me about school and my sister. It took barely two seconds for us to find similarities, but the one stroke of luck I had was that my dad is a big traveler. He even hitchhiked around the world in the 70's. It was because of that, that Joey came to our house regularly to help us plan for vacations, ask questions when he was going to other countries himself (I remember Peru very vividly), show and look at pictures and slides...I also occasionally saw him through mutual friends or talked to him on the phone.
The pain so many of us are in is unnecessary, not to mention excruciating. Every time I visit his grave or talk with his parents or friends, my heart breaks all over again. It seems unreal that God could be this cruel. I am thankful, and aware of my blessings, that I had Joey in my life. I've never met a person who could make me laugh harder. Facing down the next year - his birthday, Christmas, other holidays - without him is like standing at the edge of a cliff and knowing you have to go forward. The irony is that the one person who could have made this all better would have been Joey.
He should not have been taken from us, but we can take comfort knowing he led an exquisite life. The way he treated people paved the way for him to do anything he wanted. Joey was carpe diem in the flesh. I learned so much from him and, though every rite of passage in my life will be even more difficult from now on - birthdays, holidays, wedding, children - I know he will be there in spirit. I truly believe he is watching over us, and he is faithfully sending continuous signs of his being here. We love you and we miss you Joey, and don't ever underestimate how deeply you touched us or how drastically you changed our lives. Till we meet again bro.

Casey (7-31-01)

Joey Cushman, you were the man, you were the man everybody loved, you were the man who served Arlington with pride, you were the man who knew how to laugh, cry, joke. Yep, you were the man, and today there is a great emptiness in so many hearts, you were so liked, nobody really knew what to do, when the news came, but let me say this, you were a GOOD man, a GREAT POLICE OFFICER, and you died in this life, trying make us safer. I cant think of anything more courageous, I pray for your mother, dad, family, friends, and your great group of fellow comrades, they will find ways to go on, and they will do it, with you by their sides, they will carry you always, they will never be able to forget the Joey Cushman they knew, and for that reason you will live on, you may have ended your tour early, but the goodness you left behind cant ever be measured, you were a man people looked up to, and they will let those traits live on forever.

Thank you for the brave service you gave to Arlington, and to your fellow mankind, nobody will ever forget. Rest in Peace amongst Gods chosen "Peacemakers" A job well done son.

Scott Parker
Former Harris County Deputy Constable

Joey,
I miss you so much. It has been over a month now. I can't believe this happened. I can't believe your gone. I will miss you so much in Mexico. I know you'll be there helping us out while we build the family their new house.
I Love You Joey
and
I miss you

Anonymous

Joey, what was it about you
That got me through these days
That kept my tired feet walking
When I wished to fade away?
What aspect of your gentle smile
Flooded my heart with hope,
And what of your lighthearted humor
Lifted me always from a downward slope?
What did you hide inside your hug
That made a bad day worth facing,
And what in your consoling words
Made my mistakes worth erasing?
I can't put my finger on it -
What did you do that inspired us so?
And why did you have to go so soon?
Your million friends will never know.
I guess you used the same thing
That drove a dagger through my heart
When I got in the car with my mom
And she spoke words that tore my world apart.
I've never seen so much pain
All gathered in one place,
Just like I'd never seen so much kindness
As was crowded on your loving face.
One time we prayed above your grave,
Another, we couldn't find strength to speak.
I keep thinking, "What would Joey do?"
I don't remember ever seeing you be weak.
I'm sure you had your moments,
When your world came crashing down,
But you always were so strong for us,
The smiling one in a sea of frowns.
We already have to stare down this pain.
What's there to say in a moment like this?
We have to look at it like it truly was,
And it's so, so hard to see it like it is.
In my mind I keep telling myself,
"Do what Joey would do - forgive,"
But my heart keeps on screaming,
"Resent the gunman as long as you live."
And that's the truth, with all my heart,
Hate is what I want to do,
But I know, deep down inside,
If you saw me resentful, it would disappoint you.
I don't have to like what has happened,
My heart will NEVER open to loving this man.
But I will walk in Joey's footsteps
And find forgiveness for this wrongdoing as much as I can.
Joey, I will miss you more
With every passing day.
It leaves so much emptiness
To watch you leave this way.
It isn't real to me that you aren't around.
I keep expecting you to walk in that door,
Grinning, laughing, smiling like always,
Singing silly songs - I can't stand this anymore.
But Joey, I just want to tip my hat to you
To the short life you so richly lived
And the people you so deeply touched,
And your constant willingness to give.
We can never forget you, Joey,
You will always, ALWAYS be
Something so special, something so much more
Than just a fading memory.
You'd've given the shirt right off your back
If you'd only seen someone in need.
So, as you look eye to eye with Christ,
I can only say Godspeed.
Our worst nightmare has come alive,
But with time your spirit will embrace us.
I can only lift thanks to God
That He had the mercy to let you grace us.
I guess we know God is pretty smart,
It was plain to see you were too good for this place.
So "go walk your beat on Heaven Street,"
And I look forward to, one day again, seeing your
beautiful, earth-angel face.

Joey, we love you so, so much, and we will never forget you. I can hardly wait until the day that I can go running up to you again and have you smile and laugh your great smile, your great laugh. God blessed us with you for a while, and then He called you Home. That's not the way I want it to be but I can imagine what you would tell me now, and it's all that keeps me walking through these days sometimes. I know your love ran deep, your hope wrapped around us all and your faith held you strong and carried you up to a place where you will never feel pain again. I would be proud to be a tenth of the person you so easily were. We'll be missing you.

Casey

What an amazing person. He will be greatly missed. Condolensces to the family.

Anonymous

I was Joey's primary FTO. I referred to him as my little brother. Joey helped me learn to play a guitar and taught me spanish. He let me ride his motorcycle which he kept at my house for a while. Our church went on a mission trip to Mexico last July and we built a house for a needy family there. Joey and I had plans to go this July to build another one with the church. On January 12, 2000 Joey took his first flight with me in an airplane and multiple flights followed leading up to him earning his pilots license. Our last flight together was May 22, 2001 where we flew to Waco, Tx. for some barbeque. I nominated Joey for rookie of the year which he was awarded. This year I recommended Joey for an appointment to Corporal. Joey demonstrated his abilities to train and was promoted to Corporal the day before the accident. I will miss Joey but never forget him. There is a poem by Alfred Lord Tennyson, "In Memoriam", which is a tribute to his best friend whom he lost at an early age. What matters most is how we deal with death is at least as important as how we deal with life. We all loved our Joey with his big handshake and smile. To all of our Joeys friends and family, you can hold your heads high and proud because he was a part of our lives. Till we meet again little bro, your friend always, Bill

CORPORAL BILL HARRIS
ARLINGTON POLICE DEPARTMENT

Joey

Through the sunlight and the rain Joey helped cure some pain.

His jokes and humor that made you smile, he made
everything he did worth while.

He wanted to learn as he grew and as he grew older he flew.

He flew above the stars, he reached some of his goals and learned to fight with his brightening soul.

He was like an angel on an unending flight, he helped brighten the un lit light.

He was a brother a friend a son, every race he ran, you know he won.

He loved his family and his friends, his wanting to give never ends.

He loved life and showed it through his bright and happy eyes, he wanted everyone to have the happiest smiles and not the saddest cries.

He was a leader to all, he was always there for you to call.
He wanted to be there and watch you grow, he is
proud of all you are doing, I hope you know.

And though we are sad that he is gone we will be put back together with his heavenly song.

He will be your guardian angel, he will be a friend, his helping you to grow will never end.

By Anne Hoffman

We will always miss you Joey, but will always be
touched with the pleasant memories that we had with
you. We love you!!

Anne

The last time I had seen Joey was the Tuesday before he was killed. He was a camp advisor for a camp I had attended, and he was such a nice and considerate person. My last memory of him was when he was running with the bus as we left camp. I don't think I will ever forget such a person. His death hit all of us campers pretty hard when we heard of his demise. Joey will be greatly missed.

Cara Walker

As we all work through the tragic loss of Cpl. Joey Cushman, I can reflect on the tragic loss from both sides of the fence. As a police personnel officer, I was present when Joey was hired on the police department. I also conducted the background investigation and observed the hiring process for the officer who accidentally shot him during the training class. Both men are very good police officers.

After being promoted to sergeant, I had the privilege to be the evening shift supervisor for Officer Cushman. His attitude was always positive, pleasant, and he was a very caring individual. I often wished I had a dozen officers like Officer Cushman and my job would have been extremely easy. I thought I would be working for this officer one day because of his attitude, personal drive, and intelligence.

We will all miss Joey around the department. My prayers go out his family and fiancee. May god bless everyone involved in this situation.

Sgt. James Smith, Jr.
Arlington Police Department

Joey touched many lives. Not only his friends and family here he helped and made laugh, Joey also helped families in need in Piedras Negras, Mexico. For the last two years I went to Mexico with Joey and the St. Stephen Presbyterian Church group to build houses for unfortunate people. Joey was always the one to make everyone feel good when we were tired and down. I will never forget all of my crazy memories of Joey being silly. In Mexico when Joey ate too much and got sick. Anne and I had to take him pepto bismal. Joey started waterfights between Anne and I and then turned us against Bill and got him involved. Talking to Joey on the phone when he pretended to be an old lady baking a chicken. Joey saying, "How do you get so dark MM?" Anne replied, "Joey, she's adopted." Joey chasing us in the pool in Mexico. There are many more memories of Joey. I am going to miss Joey so much this year in Mexico, we will be thinking about him.

MM

Tonight I lost a friend, a kind and gentle man
An impish smile with sparkling eyes that looked so deep
He took time to spend with those in need
Houses built in Mexico
Citizens on patrol
A mentor for young students who needed a friend to know
Joey, you touched us all
Your laugh, your wit, your boyish charm
My brothers and sisters you need not be alarmed
Joey bore his burdens well, he'll drive a beat on heaven street where all will be well
I love you, brother

Anonymous
Arlington Police Department

I've lost my share of people - 8 others, to be exact - but when Joey died, I learned what real pain was. We've all spent so many sleepless nights and cried so many tears. It makes me sad every time I have to explain to someone why I am not being myself, why I am being so downcast, and I keep trying to sum everything up so I can just say it all in a sentence. My friend's mother said, "We lost our Joey" - and I think that says it all.

Anonymous

Joey. A smiling face, handsome, smart, funny, caring,
loveable guy. "He was my brother from another mother".
The little saying all started once when we were in
Mexico and talking about our brother/sister relationship
and then he said it, it stuck forever, it was our little thing.
One of my favorite memories is when he started calling
me little sis, I loved it !!!! Every night in Mexico when it
was time for bed he'd say goodnight little sis and I
would say goodnight brother. He would come over
during my slumber parties during my birthday at 12 at
night after work just to thrill me and my friends, he
came and spoke at my career day at school and
wanted it to be perfect and all just for me. I can't go on,
or I would make this way longer than it should be but it
will be hard to accept Joey not being here, and we will
always wonder why it happenned to such a great guy, a
guy who made everyone happy a guy who had an
impact on a person in a pizza parlor or where he got his
hair cut. I selfishly saw him going to my wedding in 10
years or so, us being lifelong buddies, he being a life
long brother. I want to be there for all who suffer from
this loss, if you need a hug or a shoulder to cry on I am
here. It will be hard to go to Mexico this year without
Joey, his humor on the way down there, his playing with
the kids, his talking with the mexican families on the
porches and his hard work and dedication to building
the house for a family who has non. It will be hard to be
at my 15th b-day party this year and not see that white
truck pull up into my drive way. There once was a quote:
"True friends know the song in your heart and can sing
it back to you when you have forgotten the words". Joey
knew everyones song, Joey's our angel!!!
WE LOVE YOU BROTHER JOEY AND WILL MISS YOU
ALWAYS!!!

Anne Hoffman

My thoughts and prayers go to the family of this officer. We are parents who lost a very precious gift on December 4, 2000 and we know the pain and heartache these parents are feeling and our heart aches for them. May God give them the strength, peace and comfort they need in this time of sorrow.

Jean Hill (Mother)
Deputy Barrett T. Hill, EOW 12/4/00