Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

Merry Christmas Josh, may you continue to rest in peace and know that we will never forget the sacrifice that you made for all of us. Watch over your mom and family today as they miss you so much, and their hearts continue to hurt.


Deb Azure
Mother of Deputy Renee Danell Azure
EOW 08/06/02
Union County SO, Lake Butler, FL

Deb

December 25, 2011

Josh,

I am sure that you were waiting there with open arms when first Loren and now Pat showed up. It was truly an honor to have known and worked with all of you and to have called you my friends. May you all RIP.

Dispatch Supervisor Jo Russell
Blaine County Sheriff Office

December 16, 2011

Today is Thanksgiving Josh and I was thinking of you and especially your mom so I just wanted to stop by and let you know that you are not forgotten...

Deb Azure
Mother of Deputy Renee Danell Azure
EOW 08/06/02
Union County SO, Lake Butler, FL

Deb

November 24, 2011

Wanted to just post a little note to let you know that I was thinking of you this morning, you are a hero I will never forget. Continue to watch over your mom, who is a very special person to me, and all those left behind to pick up and move forever.

Deb Azure
Mother of Deputy Renee Danell Azure
EOW 08/06/02

Deb

September 14, 2011

Hey Josh.

Bud, we still think about you and your family.
We still practice and talk officer safety. Man I missed doing all that training w/ you and you were supposed to come to Helena to help teach the Jr. Police Academy with us. We carried on, but it was hard. Its nice to know that your family and friends keep up on the reflections. I wish I could have met your family, becuase I wanted to tell them what a great person/officer you were. But anyway, Coleman, Lawrence, Keltner and I still carrying on and trying to pave the way for the next generation of officers. Yes, we named an award after you. It is very special. Coleman and I don't teach anymore at the academy but our hearts are still there. You take care and watch over your family. Thanks Josh for that brave night, it won't be forgotten and we will still continue to remember how dangerous this job is. But remember the word "SHEEP DOG." We are Sheep Dogs, we gotta keep the sheep safe. Officer Tanniehill freind/partner in blue

Master Senior Officer, Roy Tanniehill
Helena Police Helena Montana

June 9, 2011

It's been awhile since I've been on this website. Just an update of our boys. Thomas finished his college basketball season at Ft. Belknap and he improved tremendously throughout his season. We know how much that boy loves basketball. How many balls did we buy for him since he started to sit up as a baby. He plans to spend another yr at Belknap then hopefully he moves on. Please watch over him Josh, he is still so lost w/out you! Teague made the freshman team at Skyview. He tried out w/ 37 players & only 15 were chosen and he made it! Oh I was so proud of him! I know you were watching from above. He is growing your nose & I tease him about it all the time. He is starting to look more like you then Thomas. Anyway, Teague had a great basketball season. He tore ligaments & was out for 3 weeks but worked very hard to get back in the game. He is an amazing boy Josh & you would be so proud to see how he is growing up to be a smart responsible son. He is still struggling w/ losing you & has his moments of anger & frustration w/ the loss of you being here w/ him. Teague just received his driver's permit & is driving me around. I can't believe how fast he is growing up. Both boys still remind me of you daily. They both carry so many of your characteristics. How proud you should be of them.
We have great boys Josh! We did an excellent job creating two wonderful loving boys. It's going to be 8 years and not a day goes by that I don't think of you & miss you much. I'll keep parenting the best I can down here so please keep parenting the best you can from up there. Please watch over your boys, they need you!
Roberta

Roberta

April 7, 2011

Just wanted to stop by and let you know that we have not and will not forget the sacrifice you made for all of us. Your mom is such a special person and I am sure that you are just like her.. Continue to rest in peace Josh and watch over everyone left behind to continue each day without you.

Deb Azure
Mother of Deputy Renee Danell Azure
EOW 08/06/02
Union County SO, Lake Butler, FL

Anonymous

March 13, 2011

Josh, your mom sent me a message a couple of weeks ago asking for my address so she could send a picture of your grandchild to me. I'm very excited to receive it. I hope this great grandchild will help your mother heal. She misses you so. I think about you every single day. It seems we are losing a lot of your brothers and sisters lately. Please welcome them with open arms and continue to watch over us from heaven. When you see my dad up there in heaven, please give him a hug for me and tell him I miss him so much.

melody zuhoski
aunt of deputy joshua t rutherford

February 19, 2011

Was just thinking of you and missing you still and always

dc

February 13, 2011

I just wanted to stop by today to let you and your family know that you have not been forgotten... You are a true hero in all our eyes..

Deb Azure
Mother of Deputy Renee Danell Azure
EOW 08/06/02

Anonymous

February 11, 2011

I miss you so much. Every day it seems harder to endure.

Anonymous

February 8, 2011

Son,

Miss you. I hope you saw Harley drive her barbie jeep. For the longest time all she could was back up. She is the spitting image of you and your sisters at that age. She loved Christmas this year.
Merry Christmas and I love you
Mom

Anonymous

December 25, 2010

There has been another Officer killed in the line of duty. This terrible event has stirred up all the emotins of losing you and all the pain from that night. I cannot believe it has been seven years already. I think of you often and you will always hold a special part of my heart.

Anonymous

December 3, 2010

2 more officer joining you this week.. What is this world coming to? Take care of them josh!!

Anonymous

December 3, 2010

Thinking of you tonight. I miss you everyday

Anonymous

December 1, 2010

Josh,

Wanted to stop by and let you know that you will never be forgotten. You are truly a hero and are missed very much by your family. You mom is a true hero as well, I understand where you got your strength and wisdom from. May you and my little girl have a very happy holiday season, continue to watch over us all.

Deb Azure
Mother of Deputy Renee Danell Azure
EOW 08/06/02

Anonymous

November 28, 2010

Thought about you tonight! I was taking to a friend tonight and he was telling me about a young police officer from Riverside California who will be joining you up there in heaven. You take good care of him Josh, he is going to need some friends, love and support up there to get him through the rough times as well. Even though you are gone you're never forgotten. Happy veterans day tomorrow!!

Anonymous

November 10, 2010

Josh,

Son, you must of seen seen us down Pony Hill. We went to clean your grave and saw the huge eagle flying overhead. I am getting to ready to go to parents retreat. I will honor the parents who helped me so much over the past seven years. I didn't think I could make seven minutes past your passing. Your strength and our family carry me through. Your grand daughter and my great grand daughter Harley is growing leaps and bounds. When she puts her hands on her hips when she is frustrated with me puts joy in my heart.

I know you must have met Lily when she reached you and now Jen's grand mother. I miss you so much

I am one day closer to you
Love, Mom

Anonymous

October 6, 2010

just thinking of you and missing you

Anonymous

October 5, 2010

Josh, I know your mom. She is a remarkable lady. She misses you dearly. I will see her next month. I know you are as proud of her as she is of you. What a great childhood you must have had with a mom like her. Keep watching over your family. You will never be forgotten. Say hi to my son Hal Baird. I hope you have met each other up there in heaven.

Sharon Dickerson

September 28, 2010

Hey bud Im ashamed that has been so long since I have written something on here. I guess I dont think about it much since I talk to you everyday. I love telling people all the wild and funny stories of our whacky adventures. My son Josh is now old enough to listen and understand what an important person, he is named after. He asks me to tell him our stories over and over. Someday he may follow in our footsteps and I know that you will watch over him as well as you watched and continue to watch over me. I love you friend.

Jimmy
Friend and former partner

September 25, 2010

My deepest sympathy to the family of Deputy Rutherford and now the family of Deputy Loren Janis, the other deputy shot in this incident, who recently succumbed to cancer. Some of our deputies attended Josh's funeral. I was unable to.

Becky Warner, dispatcher
Jefferson County Montana

August 29, 2010

hey uncle,

i havent been on here in a longtime, a lot has changed since you left. Sometimes i wish things could be different for the better. I am now a senior and decided where i am going to college. My mom disagrees with it but in the long run it will benefit me. i am pretty excited considering that it is out of state.i love you so much and miss you like crazy. Please watch over mom,sis,my dad and the rest of the family.

all my love, r.r

Anonymous

July 29, 2010

Josh,

Miss you son. Please watch over Matthew and Michael.

Mom

Anonymous

June 8, 2010

Josh another year has gone by. Hard to believe that it has been 7 years since that horrible night. You and Loren are together again. We had his funeral last week and it was well attended and a very nice service. I saw your son Thomas there and gave him my memorial band that I wore in your honor. He is a big man and you would be proud of him. I think he could take you now. LOL Watch over us down here and show Loren the ropes up there. Love ya man your friend "POPS"

Deputy Alan L. Guderjahn
PCSO

May 29, 2010