Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

We just lit a candle at the memorial erected at the site of your murder, Brother. In two days, we'll begin your journey to your final rest, and we'll do you proud.

Worry not about the gang colors and the flowers that "honored" your killer. They have mysteriously disappeared from the hallowed ground where you gave all.

Anonymous

Rest easy brother, we will continue the fight

Detective R.C. Humphries
Chesterfield County PD

Through 27 yrs as a Police Officer, I have had to endure the loss of many of my brothers and sisters. It never gets easier. I knew you not Officer Pocceschi but you are my brother.. I mourn and weep your loss but I do so with my head held high and my shoulders straight. My tears are filled with pride. You held your ground and did your job. I know that you are with GOD in a far better place. My prayers go out to your wife and son.
You will never be forgotten
Lest WE Forget

Semper Fidelis
PO II John A Donahoo, Norfolk Police Department

Off. JA Donahoo PO II
Norfolk Police Department

You gave the ulitmate sacrafice, and for that this city will be forever a little safer. We can now be reassured knowing that you will be protecting us from above. Rest in peace angel in blue. You and your family will forever be in our hearts and prayers.

Deputy Emily Scott
Chesapeake Sheriffs Office

To Mrs. Pocceschi,
As an officer's wife, my daily prayer is that I will never stand in your shoes. Today, I am praying for you and your little boy. A part of every wife will be with on Monday, and every day after that...
knowing that but for the grace of God go I....
God Bless You and yours.

An Officer's Wife
Chesapeake,VA

May God comfort all the family and friends of our Brother Rodney. You are remembered in our prayers.

Sgt. Chris Culler
Sarpy County Sheriff Nebraska

My thoughts and prayers are with Rodney's wife,child and the members of VBPD. God Bless to all of you.

Sgt Rocky Maze
Edmonton Police Service, Edmonton Alberta Canada

Maria - My heart breaks every time I think about the tragic events of Monday morning. I think about my former colleagues with VBPD and I think about Rod. But the tears really flow when I think about you and your nine month old son.

I had the pleasure of working with Rod on midnight shift in Spring 2000 when he finished his FTO phase. We became fast friends and often served as zone partners. He was a hard worker, dedicated officer and tremendous person.

My wife and I have prayed for you every night his week and will continue to do so. As the father of two young boys, this loss hit very close to home. God Bless you Maria and Carson. God speed Rod.

Special Agent P.J. Jurack
FBI

Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this time. Know that you are not alone.

wife of a pa trooper
Pa state police

Dear Officer Pocceschi,
After giving this much thought, the only thing I felt appropriate was THANK YOU--to you, your wife and all her sacrifices--and to your parents, who brought you into this world and raised such an honorable and courageous young man. I pray for all involved in this loss, and am proud to have worked in the same Department as you. I saw this week, in many grown men's and women's faces, pain I hope I will never have to witness again--Please God.

MPO Michael Sager
VBPD

Officer Pocceschi, you will never be forgotten.
Rest in Peace.
Maria, and Carson, May God be with you. You are in my thoughts are prayers.

Wife
VBPD

I knew Rod when he was just beginning his law enforcement career with the Bloomsburg University Police Department. I served with the Town of Bloomsburg Police Department at the time. I hope Rod's family will take comfort in the fact the Rod was chosen by God to remove the scumbag, predatory animal known as the suspect from civilized society! I believe God chose Rod for this task because He knew that Rod was the most capable of performing the job. Rod died a hero...a hero dad, a hero husband, and a hero Cop! Let us never forget the sacrafices that Cops, and their families, make to keep us all safe from the Lekeith Devon Speller's of the world! I believe that God has a special place in Heaven for Cops....I believe Rod is there right now....ready to guide his wife and son through out the rest of their lives. Let us never forget his sacrafice!

Ptlm. Tim Paternostro
Bloomsburg Police Dept

Rest in peace, BROTHER

MPO
VBPD

Maria, my name is William Matos a Detective with the Virginia Beach Police Department, in the years that I have served with your husband at the 4th precinct, I have had nothing but positive experiences with Rod. I can only imagine your grief at this most upseting time in your life. I just wanted to say that I am truly sorry for the loss of your husband and our brother in arms. No words can ever comfort you, but know that Rod will always live in our hearts and minds for ever. When my mother was murdered our family left on her tombstone,
"untill we meet again". I will see him again someday. If there is anything my family can do for you please don't hesitate to ask. I know it isn't much, but I own a lawn service business, I would be more then happy to take care fo those things for you, of course free of charge. If you would like for me to do this for you, you or a family friend can call me. Again, please accept my condolences. Rod and your family will be in our prayers.

Detective W.B. Matos
Virginia Beach Police Department

Every week I come to this site, and every week I am saddened by the growing list of fallen officers in our country. In spite of this, the thin blue line will prevail! Looking at the photograph of Officer Pocceschi, he is all of us. He is the young, courageous kid that one day decided to strap on a gun and pin on a badge and go help the world. Look closely at his eyes...see the pride? See the courage? See the integrity? He IS you and me! I know he will be missed by all who knew him.

"GRIEF IS AN HONOR

Accumulated grief and sorrow, no longer to be held at bay, have swarmed up and blown
the hinges off the gate. Grief and sorrow have flattened me.
After the gate flew open, I learned the most important lessons of my life. I learned that
grief is precisely equivalent to love, and the terrible grief felt after the loss of a person one
has loved deeply is a necessary consequence of that love and represents its survival in
another form. However bitterly, grief is an honor.
I learned that grief universally saturates and enriches our world, for sooner or later loss
of an almost unimaginable order transforms everyone. Parents die, brothers and sisters
die, even children die, and these deaths create irreparable wounds that shrink over time but
never heal. On all sides, tears lie just beneath the surface. The emotion that gives rise to
those tears is a connective tissue extending far, far down into our common humanity and
our individual beings, and in those depths it becomes indistinguishable from joy."

Lt. T. D. Barge
East Point, Ga. Police Department

You helped countless people
As they cried and bled
You saw the worst nightmares
Aren't those in your head

You took on a mission
To protect and serve
Showed kindness to strangers
Some didn't deserve

You saw record hot days
As well as the lows
And alarms that go off
Each time the wind blows

You battled with evil
And fought off dispair
You entertained angels
Were you unaware?

You had many dinners
So rushed and so cold
To be there for others
Through horrors untold

You missed time with family
To answer the call
For the unknown person
You always risked all

You gave us your best years
For not enough pay
Your life was cut too short
We know that today

Your wife saves your shirts
'Til they lose your smell
And we all cling to memories
Will they fade as well?

We cherish each moment
No matter how small
Your smile and your laughter
Were gifts to us all

We take comfort knowing
You now see God's face
Yet beside us is still
This sad, empty space

For a few days at least
The media shows
The grief that engulfs us
The pain as it grows

The public pays homage
To a hero lost
For our safety and lives
We now see the cost

What so many won't see
Past your uniform
Was someone so special
With his heart so warm

People comfort each other
As best as they can
How can we get over
The loss of this man?

Today we say goodbye,
Hero, "Brother in Blue"
You are so loved and missed
We won't forget you!

*************************

I am so sorry to hear of your loss. I hope that you can come together to support each other through this difficult time, and keep the memory of your hero alive. God bless you all!

Anonymous
Mountain View, CO

Words can not express the feelings of sadness and loss of a brother officer. You will be missed by all of your brothers and sisters in blue. Maria and Carson and the entire Pocceschi family will remain in my thoughts and prayers for years to come. The City of Va. Beach, the Va. Beach Police Department and all the citizens of Va. Beach share in your grief. I was truly moved by the outpouring of support at the candle light vigil on tuesday evening. God Bless You.

MPO Patrick Lewis
Virginia Beach Police Department (Retired)

To the family, friends, and co-workers of Officer Pocceschi, our prayers are with you all. May God strengthen your hearts and give you comfort. "Greater love hath no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends" John 15:13.

Gallup Police Administration
Gallup Police Department, Gallup, New Mexico

Rod,
There are some people who, although you only know them for a short time, they have a lasting affect on your life. You are one of those my brother. You will always be 10-8 in our hearts.

MPO Mark Miller
Va. Beach Police Dept.

Rod,

It was my daughters face on the news, that cried at your Candlelight Vigil. She cried not only for your tragic end,but also for your familys' loss. Even in death you helped others. You helped her realize how precious life is, and how everyday should be lived to the fullest.

It was just at inservice that we were making plans about the upcoming football season. Our recievers and defensive backs were going to be the best in the city, under your coaching. But that has all changed...

Your sacrifice will NEVER be forgotten. We will never surrender in the fight. Sleep well Warrior, we have got your zone.

Master Police Officer John Winnett
Virginia Beach Police

I was deeply saddened and disturbed that your life was so cruelly taken on such a lonely stretch of road at such a lonely hour of day, but after attending your candlight vigil, I am at peace. You were and are not alone. The site of your sacrifice is blanketed by flowers, gratitude and condolensces. Officers from all over Tidewater, citizens and your brothers and sisters of the VBPD light your way and hold you in their arms. You are safe and protected Officer Pocceschi, the vigil continues.

God Bless you and Your Family

S. Sager, Wife of VBPD MPO

Rodney, You were taken from us much too soon but you were doing what you had trained and worked so hard to become, a Virginia Beach Police Officer. Because we believe, we know that you are now with God in a better place, you have left behind a wonderful wife Maria, and beautiful young son, Carson. The Pocceshi Family and friends will continue to support and take care of them, and each May on the Sunday before Memorial Day when we host our annual Pocceschi Invitational, that you had become such an integral part of, we will proudly honor your life and contributions, and memorialize your service to family, friends, and fellow citizens, and little Carson will grow up "knowing" his daddy. God grant his peace to Maria, Carson, family, friends, and the Virginia Beach Police Department.

With Love,
Michael and Glenna Pocceschi- Exeter, PA

My heart and prayers go out to the family of Officer Pocceschi. "God Bless"..........

Investigator Vernon Lee White
Chesapeake Sheriff's Office

Rod will be sadly missed by everyone who ever knew him. It was a privledge to been able to work with him. My deepest sympathy goes out to his family. Rod will always have a part of my heart with him. Rest in peace !

MPO S.B. Garrett
VBPD

In the words of Toby Keith and Willy Nelson

Justice is the one thing you should always find.
You got to saddle up your boys, You got to draw a hard line.
When the gunsmoke settles we'll sing a victory tune.
We'll all meet back at the local saloon.
We'll raise up our glasses against evil forces,
Singing "Whiskey for my men, beer for my horses."

My condolences to the family of Pocceschi, and to the members of the Virginia Beach P.D. on the loss of a father, husband and a brother.

Those that remain will carry on the battle , and one day, we will all raise our glasses together. Godspeed.

Constable
Winnipeg Police