Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

You wil reamin forever in our thoughts, in our hearts and in our prayers. Rest in Peace Brother.

CPD

To the friends and family of Deputy Rutherford:

I'm so sorry to hear about your loss, especially the loss of a father to three young children. Please always keep his memory alive and let his children know what a hero their father was. I hope that you can support each other through these difficult times, and I pray that his partner will be able to recover from his injuries and isn't in too much pain. May God bless and comfort you all!

Anonymous
Mountain View, CO

Rest in peace brother in blue.
The watch is ours now.

God bless your family.

Trooper
Pennsylvania State Police

To Deputy Rutherford family and friends our hearts and prayers go out to you.

God Bless you

Terry Miyares, surviving spouse
Officer Emilio F. Miyares, Hialeah PD, FL, EOW 11/6/86

It is always very sad to hear of another officers death, even though we are so far apart. May god look over you and your family. R.I.P Brother

British Police Officer

It is always very sad to hear of another officers death, even though we are so far apart. May god look over you and your family. R.I.P Brother

Anonymous

I am so saddened to hear of another brave officer dying by a cowardly killer sniping him. He indeed died a hero's death.

I pray for Deputy Rutherford's family, friends and colleagues. The State of Montana lost a great man.

He now patrols the streets of Heaven with St. Michael. God Bless and be safe.

Chief JA Millan

Chief JA Millan
NC Public Schools, Avery Dist. SP

We are truly saddened at Josh's loss.
--------------------------------------
We all recall you gave your best.
You did your job, now you can rest.
Your comrades now can cover your post
as you take your place with the Heavenly Host.

God Bless Our Fallen Brothers & Sisters.
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Our prayers will be with you, your family, and co-workers!

Ptlm. P.K. Harding
Binghamton (NY) PD

May god bless the family of Deputy Rutherford
Rest easy brother, we will continue the fight.

Det Chris Humphries
Chesterfield County PD

REST IN PEACE DEPUTY SHERIFF RUTHERFORD. MY THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS ARE WITH YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS DURING THIS TRAGIC EVENT. MAY YOU CONTINUE YOUR WATCH FROM THE STREETS OF HEAVEN. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME HERE. YOU WILL NOT BE FORGOTTEN BUT HONORED.

GOD BLESS AND REST IN PEACE!

TONYA STEPHENSON
PRIVATE CITIZEN

It is with a heavy heart that I write this... You served our state with excellence and selfless dedication to duty. Although I never met you I hope that you will take time to look down on us from heaven and watch over us down here in the "Big Sky".

Parks Officer
South Dakota Dept. of Game, Fish and Parks

Formerly University of Montana, Missoula

Parks Officer
South Dakota Dept. of Game, Fish & Parks

Dear Deputy Rutherford, GOD bless you and what you stood for. You are truely a hero in your children's eyes. May GOD bless you, your family, and the Blaine County SO. Watch over us brother, you are in a better place now. Once a brother always a brother.......

Chief Steve Guibord, Naples Police, Utah
Inv. Jackie Guibord, Provo Police (SISB), Utah

Chief Steven C. Guibord
Naples Police Department, Utah

My fiance, Dennis McElderry, was the first law enforcement casualty of 2003. It saddens me to know that Dennis was not the first to die in the line of duty, nor will he and Joshua be the be the last to die this way.

Having gone through the pain of losing Dennis I can truly understand and feel the pain that Deputy Rutherford's family, friends, and co-workers must be feeling. My heart goes out to you all. I wish I could give you a few words of wisdom to help you through this tough time, but there isn't anything I can really say or do to make the situation better. Just know that my thoughts are with you.

Please accept my condolences on behalf of the McElderry family and remember that Joshua is part of huge law enforcement family. If you ever need anything any number of them will be there for you (as I've quickly found out!) From reading the many reflections posted here, I am certain Joshua was well respected and well loved. Thank you for a job well done and for helping to make this world a safer place for us all. Please take care of my fiance Dennis.

Peace, Love, Luck, and Happiness!

Jocelyne Brar (Drakesville, IA)
Dennis McElderry's fiancee - E.O.W. (01/03/03)

To the family, friends, coworkers and especially the young children of Deputy Rutherford may you always know what a true HERO he is, and may God be with you in this terrible time of loss. Rest in peace Deputy and continue your watch from above now -- Thank you for a job well done.

Deb Azure
Mother of Deputy Renee Danell Azure, EOW 08/06/2002

May God comfort those you leave behind and show no mercy to your killer. You are a hero, taken too early as so many are. Thank you and you will not be forgotten.

Deputy M. Moore
Warren County S.O. (OH)

God Speed, Brother.

P.O.K. Murphy
Union PD, NJ

Rest now brother, we have the watch from here.

Anonymous

This poem read at the funeral of My friend Mike Hartzell Killed April 29 2003, helped me cope..hope t does the same for you....

THE POLICEMAN'S LAST ROLL CALL ...

THE POLICEMAN STOOD AND FACED HIS GOD, WHICH MUST ALWAYS COME TO PASS. HE
HOPED HIS SHOES WERE SHINING, JUST AS BRIGHTLY AS HIS BRASS. "STEP FORWARD
NOW, POLICEMAN. HOW SHALL I DEAL WITH YOU? HAVE YOU ALWAYS TURNED THE OTHER
CHEEK? TO MY CHURCH HAVE YOU BEEN TRUE?"

THE POLICEMAN SQUARED his shoulders and said, "No, Lord, I guess I ain't.
Because those of us who carry badges can't always be a Saint. I've had to
work most Sundays, and at times my talk was rough, and sometimes I've been
violent because the streets are awfully tough. But I never took a penny that
wasn't mine to keep, though I worked a lot of overtime when the bills just
got to steep. And I never passed a cry for help, though times I shook with
fear. And sometimes, God forgive me, I've wept many unmanly tears. I know I
don't deserve a place among the people here, they never wanted me around
except to calm their fear. If you've a place for me Lord, it needn't be so
grand. I never expected or had too much, but if you don't, I'll understand."



There was silence all around the throne where the Saints had often trod. As
the policeman waited quietly, for the judgement of his God. "Step forward
now, policeman, you've borne your burdens well. Come walk a beat on Heaven's
streets, you've done your time in hell."

Author Unknown

patrolman Youngstown Police Department, Youngstown Ohio

To the family and friends of Deputy Rutherford, words cannot express my extreme sense of loss and sadness. 10 police officers have died in the last 8 days. This has been a really hard month for law enforcement. Please accept my condolences and prayers in this horrible time.

P.O. Campbell
New York City Police Department

To the Family and Co workers Of Dep. Rutherford...My deepest sympathies for your loss, having just suffered thru the Death of my friend and fellow officer Mike Hartzell I truly understand your pain and loss...but know that his loss is felt by all police officers..and we all value The sacrifice made so we all can live in peace and safety....And also I am sure that when the time came, My friend Mike was waiting to show him the way...God bless Dep. Rutherford, and God bless Patrolman Hartzell we miss you all.

Patrolman W.K.Burton
Youngstown Police Department(OHIO)

Montana is proud of you. Thank You. You made the ultimate sacrifice. Now rest in peace.

Anonymous

There are but two persons who protect the sinful human race from destroying itself. One is God's Holy Spirit. The other is the Peace Officer. Without them, we would all perish at each other's hands.

According to Romans 13.1-5...
God ordains the Peace Officer’s profession.
The Peace Officer is sent by God.
The Peace Officer is vested with God's authority to enforce the law.
A Peace Officer's badge is to be honored by us, because it is honored by God.

To the family of Deputy Sheriff Joshua Thomas Rutherford and the Blaine County Sheriff's Office, your extended family of Law Enforcement Officers grieve with you during this time. I pray that God will wrap his loving arms around each of you and comfort you during this most difficult time.

To all my brothers and sisters, please remember the fallen officers we have lost. Remember the men and women who died trying to make this world a safer and better place for us all to live in.
May God be with you every day, please remember, we are a part of the largest family in the world and when one hurts we all hurt.

Though our badges and uniforms may be different, our mission is the same. Rest in peace with our other fallen Brothers and Sisters. We will continue the fight in your honor.

Florida Deputy Sheriff

Rest in peace Brother Joshua, you will never be forgotten.


Son of G. Truman Wortham EOW 7/15/73

Assistant Chief Carl Wortham
Sand Springs PD OK

MAY GOD BLESS DEPUTY RUTHERFORDS FAMILY, FRIENDS AND COWORKERS. A HERO WHO GAVE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE. REST IN PEACE MY BROTHER.

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

We are sorry for your lose. God bless those left behind. Rest in peace blue angel.

Shannon
concerned citizen