Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

rest in Peace...

Police Officer
Syracuse Police Dept,NY

September 18, 2004

Oue deepest condolences to the Family, friends and co-workers of Officer Rittenhouse

Newark NJ PD Auto Theft Task Force

September 18, 2004

Why is it, the older I get, the younger you are, the harder it hurts when we lose you?

With love and sympathy to your family. They are in my prayers. Rest in Peace Matt, safe shift.

a colleague from the UK

September 18, 2004

My sincere condolence to the family of Officer Rittenhouse and to the members of the Harriman Police Department.

Senior Trooper Keith Miller (Ret)
Oregon State Police

September 18, 2004

Rest Easy Brother Matt, the Watch is Ours Now and Yours was with Honor. Our Thoughts and Prayers are
with your Family, Friends and Co-Workers.

APD #128
Altoona Police Dept. Altoona, Pa

September 18, 2004

I would like to extend my condolences to Officer Rittenhouse's family and friends, and to the men and women of the Harriman Police Department. My thoughts and prayers are with you all during this time of tragedy. Rest in peace Officer Rittenhouse, your duty here is done.

Deputy Sheriff
Butte County Sheriff's Office

September 18, 2004

Rest in peace Brother Matt, you are a true hero and will never be forgotten.

Thak you for your service and your courage.

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

September 18, 2004

Officer Rittenhouse,

I am sorry you paid the price at such a young age. You will never be forgotten..My thoughts and prayers are with your family and the Harriman Police Department. Rest in Peace Brother...GODSPEED...

Officer
NC

September 18, 2004

The policeman stood and faced 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 a badge
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 got just too steep.

And I never passed a cry for help,
Though at time I shook with fear.
And sometimes, God forgive me,
I've wept 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 here, Lord,
It needn't be so grand.
I never expected or had too much,
But if you don't I'll understand.

There was a 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 born your burdens well.
Come walk a beat on Heaven's streets,
You've done your time in hell"

GREGG HOUSTON
SOUTH CAROLINA

September 18, 2004

Matt will be greatly missed. I had the honor of working with him for a year before moving to another department. He was a kind person and a great officer. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and brothers in blue.

Deputy Jim Dalton
Loudon County Sheriffs Department

September 18, 2004

Pride Integrity and Guts

Some of you may know my face, but not my name. Most of you have seen me around the city and some have even met me, but not always under the best of circumstances. Some of you have even spoken to me on the phone, when you called me while I was working.

Most of you have an opinion on how my job should be done, but would never take my job if it was the last one on earth. And some of you who don't even know me, hate me because of my job. But when I go to my job, I go to make a difference and so I can fight what everyone else fears.

When most would be running away from danger, my job requires me to run towards it. I do this in the hopes of making a difference for someone else I don't even know. Most people say I make too much money, because my pay is published in the newspaper. But don't think twice about hearing about another sports player sign a 20 million dollar contract for 6 months a year of playing a "game."

Since my job's base pay isn't the best I must work extra to pay the bills. Including working extra shifts on holidays, and pick up side work at construction sites as well on my days off, most still complain thinking I am greedy, but don't they realize that I to must pay taxes, have a mortgage car payments and kids in collage as well?

Don't they understand that I am not paid for what I do, but for what I am willing to do for them? After all how can you properly compensate someone to risk their own life and face danger everyday they go to work?

And when I go to work I am punched, kicked, spit on and called every name in the book for doing my job. And every night I leave my house to go to work I realize I may not come back home in the morning. Because when I go to work I can be stabbed, shot, drown, fall, be electrocuted, or die in a car accident rushing to help you.

My job also requires me to carry special "tools" to help me do my job. Sometimes even while doing my job I have to defend myself from someone attacking me. Although, the newspapers will report to you that I "beat someone down", and not that I defended myself from an attack.

While at work I must also carry a gun to protect you, but should I have to use it, the media reports to you that I "gunned someone down" or that I "shot and killed" somebody, and not that I defended myself. Don't they realize that I shoot to live and never to kill?

Also when I go to work I wrap a protective vest around me to help keep me safe through my shift. I use this vest so that I will be allowed to live to the end of my work day. And hope and pray that should something bad happen that this vest helps keep me alive so that I will be allowed to see my children grow.

When I go to my job, I will see more pain, sorrow, agony, death and destruction in one month than most of you will see in an entire lifetime.


And to the ones who don't know me, I unforunetly will meet most of you at the worst times in your life.

You often will call me to come help you out with a problem. But if you have a really big problem you can get me at a special 3 digit number and me and my coworkers will race to your house, just to help you no questions asked. All you have to do is call and we will be there for you, no matter what time, day, night or holiday, rain shine or blizzard.

Sometimes my job also requires me to deliver lectures, babies and even bad news. I am also the one required to ring your doorbell in the middle of the night, swallow hard and advise you that a loved one will not be coming home tonight, then I spend the rest of my shift wondering why I ever took such a job.

Some people even refer to me as a "pig," but when I hear that word called to me or one of my coworkers I think of Pride, Integrity and Guts, which everyone in my profession needs to do this job.

Me and my coworkers must be able to have muscles of steel, have a sense of humor and put ourselves into dangerous situations and face danger head on all in a days work.

We must act in a second and make a decision in the blink of an eye, and spend the rest of our life hoping we made the right choice in that split second. If not we can be arrested and charged with breaking a law, be sued for violating someone's rights, or end up with even a worse fate.

My job requires me to take an oath to be their and to risk my life to protect you. And it is an oath that me and my fellow coworkers have taken and is one that we will not break.

What, you ask is my job, I am your local police officer. And what do I ask in return of doing all this and risking my life for you, nothing at all because it is my job and my hope, of being the one who makes the difference.

Officer Dave Carroll
Choctaw Oklahoma

September 18, 2004

Again we mourn as another hero is taken from us. My deepest sympathy to the family, friends and co-workers of Officer Rittenhouse. May the Lord give you strength and bless each of you during this time.
Rest in peace for your watch here is over; walk in heavens beat and guide us all to protect and serve others safely.

US Ranger Catroppa
National Park Service Kennesaw GA

September 18, 2004

Whether young or old, whether they have years on the street or just a few months, all law enforcement officers are HEROS and have a passion for helping others. I am sure Officer Rittenhouse was one of those. To the family, friends and fellow officers of Officer Rittenhouse, we grieve with you and hold you close in our hearts during this difficult time.

The family of Dave Grant EOW 5/31/04
Tuolumne Co. Sheriff's Dept.

September 18, 2004

First of all I would like to thank all of you who have left a reflection. Also I would like to tell you all a little about Matt. Matt was a go getter.. Above the standard of pro-active police work. He Worked the "Beat" and did it well. Matt also worked with the Narcotics Unit during the summer.
Ive known Matt for several years, and have had the opportunity to work with him for his entire police career. Matt was a special person, he could change your day with his presence or his better known practical jokes. Matt was a fair and honest officer, he knew law..both civil and crimal as well as most judges. I have had the honor of being a close friend of Matt's and spending time with him outside of work.
This loss hits me personally hard because Matt was one of the guys I considered "bullet proof", He was the first one to back you up, the first one to dive in, the first one to help you up, and the first one to have a shoulder for you to cry on.
I need him now......
Thank you Matt, for being you.
Sincerely, Jason Joseph



HPD 920
9-16-2004

Patrolman Jason Joseph
Harriman Police Department

September 18, 2004

On behalf of the men and women who serve and work for the Georgia Perimeter College Police Department, our thoughts and prayers are with Officer Matt Rittenhouse's family, friends, and co-workers with the Harriman Police Department.

Officer Johns
Georgia Perimeter College Police Department

September 18, 2004

At the beginning of every shift I supervise, myself and the other officers on shift dedicate the day to the memory of a fallen officer.

Tonight, September 17, 2004 we dedicated the shift to the memory of Police Officer Matt Rittenhouse who died in the line of duty just yesterday.

When one law enforcement officer falls, we all stumble for a while, but we will carry on.

Officer Rittenhouse's sacrifice will never be forgotten.

Sgt. Paul Bissonnette
Royal Canadian Mounted Police - Surrey, BC

September 17, 2004

MAY GOD BLESS AND COMFORT THOSE WHO LOVE AND WORK WITH OFFICER RITTENHOUSE. HE IS A HERO FOR SURE. MAY GOD BLESS YOU MY BROTHER. YOU SERVED WELL, NOW REST IN PEACE UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN.

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

September 17, 2004

May GOD bless your family and friends now.My thoughts and prayers go out to them at this time. Rest in peace, Sir.

Shirley Roberts
Aunt of Fallen Officer John Logan EOW-March 14, 2004

September 17, 2004

Brother we were asleep while you were on PATROL PROTECTING US.Thanks for a job well done and looking after us And if you would save us a place in heaven. Your job is finished and you will recive a heavenly home as heaven has a special place for Policeman.

September 17, 2004

Watch over the rest of us still continuing the fight. Thank you and God Bless.

September 17, 2004

Rest in peace Officer Rittenhouse. You will never be forgotten.

Ashley Drury
Clare, Michigan

September 17, 2004

God bless the family, friends and coworkers of Officer Rittenhouse. My heart and prayers are with you all. Rest in peace Officer and continue your watch on much safer streets now where no hurricane can strike again.

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

September 17, 2004

Sleep easy brother, your in our hearts.

Officer M. Bouchard
Bridgeport Park Police, Connnecticut

September 17, 2004

To Officer Rittenhouse family, friends, and the Harriman Police Department. I would like to extend my condolences and deepest sympathy. My thoughts and prays are with you all. Thanks Officer Rittenhouse for a job well done; may your soul rest in peace.

Patrol Officer
Prince George's County, Maryland

September 17, 2004

TO: The family; loved ones; friends and department members: A POLICE OFFICER’S PRAYER:--- O, gentle Lord ! Keep the day/night watch with me. As I begin my tour of duty, I ask your protection from all mental, physical and spiritual harm. Sustain me with the knowledge that I am doing your work, endeavoring to keep peace among your people. Help me to be just as I enforce the law without prejudice or favor to anyone. May I be courageous but not reckless in carrying out my duties. Let me respond to all calls with haste realizing that so many are dependent upon me for life and safety. Support me with your consoling power when I am tempted to think no one really cares and that I am taken for granted. Sustain in me the conviction that so many thousands do care and are grateful for my presence. Grant that I may be loyal to my partner and my fellow officers, and that I may back them up effectively when called upon for assistance. Lord, I ask that I may return safely, after my tour of duty, to my loved ones and those who love me. I pray that I may be a good and honorable police officer; and after my tour of duty is over here on earth, may I enjoy the peace and happiness of heaven that you have promised to those who serve you well. AMEN. *** REST IN PEACE *** Sent to you by the father of Master Officer J.D.Koeppen, Capital City Raleigh North Carolina; Trooper D.C.Koeppen, New Jersey State Police and Cadet Officer A.M.Koeppen, Wilmington North Carolina.

Chief ( retired) Douglas A. Koeppen
Washington New Jersey

September 17, 2004