Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

"A PART OF AMERICA DIED"
Somebody killed a policeman today
and a part of America Died.
A piece of our country he swore to protect
will be buried with him at his side.
The suspect who shot him will stand up in court
with counsel demanding his rights.
While a young widowed mother must work
for her kids and spend many long and lonely nights.
The beat he walked was a battlefield too,
just as if he had gone off to war.
Though our nations flag wont fly at half mast,
to his name they will add a gold star.
Yep, somebody killed a policeman today,
in your town or mine.
While we slept in comfort behind our locked doors,
A Cop put his LIFE on the line.
Now his ghost walks a beat on a dark city street,
and he stands at each new rookies side.
He answered the call, of himself he gaves His ALL
AND A PART OF AMERICA DIED.

Remember you are thought of warmly and foundly. Keep the faith.

Off J.S. Lisowski
Virginia Beach Police Dept

God Bless you and your family...you will be missed. Within 6 years of my career 4 officers were killed, 3 being in Norfolk. Hopefully there will be no more.

JT Beliveau
Norfolk Police

To the family, friends, and co-workers of officer Pocceschi know that our thoughts and prayers are with you all.

Sam Harvey Auxilary Officer
Newport News P.D.

May this blue angel look over all of this other brothers and sisters during this time of loss and throughout there duty. You will be missed by many and unforgotten by none. Shall your soul be set at ease, and your wife and son always remember the beautiful memories that will be with them forever. God bless, godspeed!

As the wife of a police officer, I can't image the pain you must be feeling. I know that time my husband walks out that door, I pray for a safe return. Your husband took his oath and serviced his city well. We are all very blessed to have such brave men and women who are willing to anything to protect us.

I would like to extend my sincerest condolences to this fine officer's family. His extended family will be praying for them during this difficult time.

Theresa
Wife of police officer and mother of a 6 month old baby

You lived a hero, died a warrior

We have the watch now.........

Rest in peace angel in blue

Police Officer
Virginia Beach Police Department

My thoughts and prayers are with Officer Pocceschi's family during this difficult time. My husband serves in the USN as a master-at-arms and puts his life on the line every day. I have the deepest respect for our men in uniform who put their lives on the line to protect us. Officer Pocceschi was a courageous human being and may he rest in heaven among the angels. He will not be forgotten..God Bless you All.

Anonymous
Virginia Beach Citizen

The Norfolk PD shares a common border with the Va Beach PD,and when an incident like this occurs, we all feel it. The pain of the last several years here in Norfolk was made easier by our friends in Va Beach, and we will be there for them this time. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all.

Police Officer
Norfolk VA Police Department

What a horrific ending to a strange chain of events, ending in the taking of lives. This is an awful reminder of what I was taught in dispatcher school. A traffic stop is one of the most dangerous things a police officer can do, because he doesn't know what he is getting into. As a dispatcher this very tragic event is an awful reminder of that. Our officers are signed out on so many routine traffic stops everyday that they seem to be taken for granted. I for one don't think I will ever be able to forget Officer Pocceschi. Each and every time I sign one of his brothers or sisters out on a traffic stop, I will be sadly reminded of him.
My heart goes out to his wife and baby boy. Only time will help to ease the pain and suffering they are going through. God be with you and bless you during this very trying time. Remember the good times with your husband

Dispatcher - 1125
VB-911 Communications

We would like to express our deepest sympathy to Officer Pocceschi's family and friends and fellow officers. Our hearts are filled with grief for Va. Beaches Fallen Hero. We fill in our hearts that if Officer Pocceschi did not stop this criminal on that early morning. that this felon would be on the streets doing this again. we did not know Officer Pocceschi, but feel he is our HERO.

Ken & Wendy Baum
Baum Masonry, Inc.

Rest In Peace Brother...We Could Alway's Count On You...Thank You.

Officer R. Kinney
Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel Police Department

I've lost close friends in the line of duty and I can say I know what this department is going through - it is never easy .I just want to extend my support and let the officers family know that there is great respect and appreciation for his sacrifice .
God bless his family .

Theresa Liverman
Lewiston ,NC

Being a wife of a police officer and having a nine month old myself, this really hits home. Not often enough do the men and women who put their lives on the line every day get the thanks and praise they deserve - Cherish every moment. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

Lauri
Wife of a Police Officer

Rod, for over three years, you were on the opposite end of the radio call "18-Control". LIttle did i know how much of a good friend and role model you would become in my life. I sit here typing you a memorial, in complete shock and disbelief. With the millionth tear flowing, I ask God why he took you away; away from Maria, Carson and everyone else who loved you so much.

I never told you how much of a big brother you were to me. I pray that you can hear me and to know I credit you with teaching me so much. You, unknowingly, played such a huge part in shaping me into the man I am today. You never judged, never hated and taught me to be tolerant of those who I didn't see eye to eye with. You taught me to accept my faults and the faults of others, for I would be a better person for it, in the end.

I shake my head in disbelief over every article I read and newscast I watch. I see your face on the television and hear the reports of the tragic ending. I can't believe you're gone. You may be gone from the Earth, but you'll never be gone from my heart. What I wouldn't give for one more day just to tell you that you made such a difference in my life. Now I can only hope and pray that your hear me now.

I know Carson will grow up to be the perfect man. Anyone who was lucky enough to have you in their life knows the feeling of what it's like to know an angel. You're a real angel now and I hope you'll watch over us all forever. As for the person responsible, I will not judge or hate. i know if you were here right now, you'd tell me to accept it and believe he is receiving his rightful judgement. You taught me that.

18, I love you like a big brother. I know in time that my tears will stop. The pain will subside, even though the emptiness will remain forever. I pray for your soul. I pray that God will hold you in the palm of his hands and that you will watch over all of us until we meet again. I miss you Rod. When you look down from heaven, please know that so much of what I am today is because of your influence. I was, am and forever will be, proud to be 18 1/2!

God Speed and Rest in Peace, Big Brother. You will forever be remembered, respected and loved.

Jeffrey, 18 1/2

Jeff Kovalchik
Former co-worker

Brother, I will miss you.

Officer Steven G. Shunk
Virginia Beach Police Department

Rod, to say "thank you" for your service and sacrifice seems so lacking. You were a true professional, a decent and caring person who made a difference in the lives of so many people. You cannot be replaced and you will never be forgotten. To Rod's family, I pray every day for you during this time of great loss. Rod you did your duty, you served your community and your God with honor and dedication. Well done, brave warrior! God bless you.

Sergeant
VBPD

Rodney was my friend and I will miss him. He was an extremely dedicated, loyal, and industrious person. Rod gave his all to everything he did from high school football, to his position with the VA Beach police dept., and to his greatest accomplishment, his family. Maria and Carson meant the world to him.

Rod - I hope heaven has a football team. Go # 40!
Maria - My prayers are with you.
Carson - Know that your Daddy LOVES you!

Diane Brody
Friend

From the sister of a fellow Va. Beach officer, thank you for the ultimate sacrifice. Your devotion to the safety of our community will never be forgotten. Your wife and baby boy are in my thoughts and prayers.

Susanne
Va. Beach

Brother in blue, rest in peace.. We've got the streets now.

You will never be forgotten for your sacrifice.

Detective S.R. Schubmehl
VBPD

It was a very bad day here in Virginia Beachthis morning turning on the news and seeing an officer down wounded and then heard the awful news deceased it was a terrible shock.

Being a mother of a Hampton offficer and knowing his job and what all he is doing to keep us safe and this town means an awful lot to me .

My son has two boys 10 and 9 and I know what it would be like if anything happens to him.

My heart and prayers is with the wife and family members and the little boy who will grow up not knowing his father to all the police officer in the station God is with you all at this terrible time and he will give you the strengths to get threw these days.

Thanks for the work you all do and a special thank you and prayers will be with you all.

Sincerely a mother of a policeman in Hampton, Va

Alverna Payne
Hampton, Va 23663

Rod,
You were a friend and a brother, and will be missed. You are now walking a beat with God and looking down protecting us all. Our Community Policing Squad will have great memories to cherrish upon for years to come and allthough you will not be with us at the yearly football games, you will always have a seat. God speed my brother.

MPO Rick Wallace
Virginia Beach Police Department

My thanks and gratitude go out to all who have extended their hearts, sympathies, prayers, and help to our family. Family and friends are what keep us strong and we Pocceschi's have a huge family and a very strong bond. My heart aches terribly for the loss of my brother. He will be sadly missed by my husband, two children, and me. I will remember Rodney with a camera to his eye snapping away at every moment he wanted to cherish. My sympathy is extended to all of Rod's friends down in Virginia Beach. I pray that Rodney is watching over us now and reading and watching all the wonderful things that are being said about him and to see how truly proud we are that he was in our lives and touched us in some way. Life is sometimes shorter than you think so LOVE each day as if it were your last and never stop saying meaningful words to your loved ones! Rest in peace little brother, I will help your wife and little boy through life.
I LOVE YOU RODNEY! ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT!

Gina Pocceschi Boyle
Oldest sister of beloved

I would just like to express my deepest sympathy to not only to the wife of Officer Pocceschi but also to the Virginia Beach Police Department Family. May God Bless you all and for what all you do in making the community a secure and safer place to live. To Mrs. Pocceschi, I can not even imagin the pain and grief that you are experiecing right now. However, I know God provides us with strenghth that is not our own in time of need. May he be with you and bring you comfort.

Mary Piggott
Newport News Community Corrections Division

I want to send my deepest condolences to the family of Officer Rodney Pocceschi
And to let them know that they will be in my prayers and thoughts. Even though I'm not a police officer yet this lose or any lose of an officer hurts.

MM2/SS Daniel Rodriguez
USN

Officer Rodney F. Pocceschi

May God Bless and Comfort your family and fellow officers. I salute and pray for you and your family in making the ultimate sacrifice for our community. You are a TRUE HERO who will be missed dearly by all.

ATC(AW) Joe Garcez
US Navy