Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

Taps will sound, but you will never be forgotten. You will never walk alone.

Please watch over us as we continue the watch.

Officer Michael B. Smith
Columbus OH Division of Police

January 12, 2005

"Beyond The Wall"

Lord I ask for courage

Courage to face and
Conquer my own fears...

Courage to take me
Where others will not go...

I ask for strength
Strength of body to protect others
And strength of spirit to lead others...

I ask for dedication
Dedication to my job, to do it well
Dedication to my community
To keep it safe...

Give me Lord, concern
For others who trust me
And compassion for those who need me...

And please Lord
Through it all
Be at my side...

Author Unknown

Manny,
Rest in peace my brother and watch our back from above.

William Thoms, Correctional Peace Office
California Department of Corrections

January 12, 2005

Again we mourn as another hero is taken from us. My deepest sympathy to the family, friends and co-workers of Officer Gonzales. 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 to protect and serve others safely.

US Ranger Catroppa
National Park Service Kennesaw GA

January 12, 2005

Our sincere condolences go out to the family of Officer Gonzales and to all the personnel of the California Department of Corrections who worked with him.

While it is no consolation for your loss, remember that we, and many others in this country, appreciate the sacrifice that he made in his effort to ensure the safety of the public.

God bless.

Southwest Central Dispatch
Palos Heights, IL

January 12, 2005

i would like to say that it saddens me to hear this news and i can appreciate the job that we do everyday our job is dangerous and when we put this uniform on everyday we never know if we will be going home. i would like to express my sorrow for this officers family god bless them.

SGT. ROBERT ARNOLD
LOUISVILLE METRO CORR. DEPT.

January 12, 2005

My heart goes out to the Family and friends of our fallen Brother Manuel, I too served the Department at Corcoran State Prison, though I am not sure if at the same time. But I hope the family can find some sense or reason for this to have taken place. All who wear the badge of Correctional Employees should take a long and hard look at the job they are being ask to do, and do it as a team with caution and great regards to one another.

May God bless and keep the family and friends.

M.L Smith Correctional Officer
NKSP

January 12, 2005

My Brother in Green, my prayers will always be with you. Watch over the rest of us as we walk the toughest beat in the state. Rest in Peace.

Officer C. Wuest
California Department of Corrections

January 12, 2005

My thoughts and prayers are with you.

Deputy
Wisconsin

January 12, 2005

My prayer for the family and those whom Manuel worked with is for comfort and protection from our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Phillippians 1:21
For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

MICHAEL YARBOROUGH
Former Warden(Ret.)
California Correctional Institution
California State Prison, L.A. County
California Department of Corrections

Warden(Ret.)
California Department of Corrections

January 12, 2005

Upon the markers of their graves
Our heroes etched in names we save
For all the life they gave with pride
To keep the peace within life's stride

To honor serve and do their best
To keep us safe through any quest
They gave up what was theirs to share
Their spirits shall be always near

No fear within the hearts and minds
To keep us safe within our times
The glory that is ours to see
Those special hearts of bravery

They have walked where no man dare
Their lives in danger with no care
For they have given all they could
For their courage we have stood

In awe of every one who gave
His life for others who they saved
So we will know their contribution
Their firm resolve and resolution

For those they left with hearts so broken
In every whispered word that's spoken
We bow our heads in confirmation
In every word life's revelation

Those who stand within their shoes
Will follow courage as they choose
And give to all the best they had
They carry on with spirits glad

We will know that they walked through
With colors bright and hearts so true
No Island stands alone they say
For heroes they are born this way

Protecting those with loyalty
A glimpse of so much royalty
Within the years of courage bound
These officers have earned their crown

Upon the earth we shall remember
The special goals and all their thunder
That proves a hero came our way
Who left their hearts on earth to stay.

~ Francine Pucillo ~
(c)Copyright November 16, 2004
In Memory of all those lost in the line
of fire with courage, strength and love.

CHIEF BILLY CUREINGTON
WISNER POLICE DEPT. WISNER,LOUISIANA

January 12, 2005

It sickens me to see how cruel this world can be. Heros die and cowards live on. However, they will get what is coming...if not here on earth then on their judgement day.
Thank you for your sevice.

Marion, Ohio

January 11, 2005

WHAT IS A COP?

Cops are human ( believe it or not) just like the rest of us. They come in both sexes but mostly male. They also come in various sizes. This sometimes depends on whether you are looking for one or trying to hide something. However, they are mostly big.

Cops are found everywhere-on land, on the sea, in the air, on horses, in cars, sometimes in your hair. In spite of the fact that " you can't find one when you want one", they are usually there when it counts most. The best way to get one is to pick up the phone.

Cops deliver lectures, babies, and bad news. They are required to have the wisdom of solomon, the disposition of a lamb and muscles of steel and are often accused of having a heart to match. He's the one who rings the door-bell, swallows hard and announces the passing of a loved one; then spends the rest of the day wondering why he ever took such a "crummy" job.

On TV, a cop is an oaf who couldn't find a bull fiddle in a telephone booth. In real life he's expected to find a little blond boy " about so high" in a crowd of a half million people. In fiction, he gets help from private eyes, reporters, and who-dun-it fans." In real life, mostly all he gets from the public is " I didn't see nuttin'."

When he serves a summons, he's a monster. If he lets you go, he's a doll. To little kids, he's either a friend or a bogeyman, depending on how the parents feel about it. He works " around the clock", split shifts, Sundays and holidays, and it always kills him when a joker says. " Hey tomorrow is Election Day, I'm off, let's go fishing" ( that's the day he works 20 hours).

A cop is like the little girl, who, when she was good, was very, very good, but, when she was bad, was horrid. When a cop is good, " he's getting paid for it." When he makes a mistake, " he's a grafter, and that goes for the rest of them too." When he shoots a stick-up man he's a hero, except when the stick-up man is " only a kid, anybody coulda seen that."

Lots of them have homes, some of them covered with ivy, but most of them covered with mortgages. If he drives a big car, he's a chiseler; a little car, "who's he kidding?" His credit is good; this is very helpful, because his salary isn't. Cops raise lots of kids; most of them belong to other people.

A cop sees more misery, bloodshed, trouble, and sunrises than the average person. Like the postman, cops must also be out in all kinds of weather. His uniform changes with the climate, but his outlook on life remains about the same: mostly a blank, but hoping for a better world.

Cops like days off, vacations, and coffee. They don't like auto horns, family fights, and anonymous letter writers. They have unions, but they can't strike. They must be impartial, courteous, and always remember the slogan " At your service." This is sometimes hard, especially when a character reminds him, " I'm a taxpayer, I pay your salary."

Cops get medals for saving lives, stopping runaway horses, and shooting it out with the bandits ( once in a while his widow gets the medal). But sometimes, the most rewarding moment comes when, after some small kindness to an older person, he feels the warm hand clasp, looks into grateful eyes and hears, " Thank you and God bless you, son."

Officer David Carroll
Choctaw Oklahoma

January 11, 2005

Lord watch over he family of Correctional Officer M. Gonzalez.
He will be missed.
He is safe in your care.
Amen

Parole Agent I, Mark A. Valdez
California Department of Corrections

January 11, 2005

My sympathies to your family and friend Officer Gonzales. May God bless you and yours for all eternity. Another sensless assasination of someone who did served others.

SFC William L. Farrell
US Army Military Police, Ret

January 11, 2005

My sympathies to your family and friend Officer Gonzales. May God bless you and yours for all eternity. Another sensless assasination of someone who did served others.

SFC William L. Farrell
US Army Military Police, Ret

January 11, 2005

My sympathies to your family and friend Officer Gonzales. May God bless you and yours for all eternity. Another sensless assasination of someone who did served others.

SFC William L. Farrell
US Army Military Police, Ret

January 11, 2005

GONZO....you fought the good fight to ensure the safety of all. Much love goes out to all my brothers and sisters of the profession. We lost a great one. You will not be forgotten my brother.

Steve Webber Parole Agent
California Depat of Corrections

January 11, 2005

Manny my bro, I did not know you personally but I am left with an empty place in my heart for I have lost a brother. Being on that tier alone with nothing but a baton, some pepper spray and your training to battle a monster is something none of us ever want to experience but we know everyday walking through those gates that it can. I wish I could have been there to help you, I would have given my life to save yours so your family would not have to go through this. All I can say is your in a better place now bro rest easy. To the Gonzalez family my prayers go out to you, Manny will never be forgotten and we all pray to god that something good comes from this tragedy. Staff shortages are at an all time high, inmate assaults are at an all time high. Manny would want change because we all know that changes need to be made before another Officer and his family pay the ultimate price.

Keith Reynolds

Correctional Officer
California Department Of Corrections

January 11, 2005

Thank you Officer Gonzales for keeping us safe from bad. God bless you.

Renny Kassel
California Citizen

January 11, 2005

My fiance, Dennis McElderry, was the first law enforcement casualty of 2003. Dennis was a Deputy Sheriff with the Davis County Sheriff's Office in southeast Iowa. Dennis died doing a job he loved, just as I'm sure Manuel did. It saddens me to know that Dennis was not the first to die in the line of duty, nor will he and Manuel be the last to die this way.

Having gone through the pain of losing Dennis I can truly understand and feel the pain that Officer Gonzales' family, friends, and co-workers must be feeling. My heart goes out to you all, especially to his wife. No one can truly understand the pain of our loss until they've walked in our shoes. 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 Manuel 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 Manuel was well respected and well loved.

Thank you Officer Gonzales for a job well done and for helping to make this world a safer place for us all. Please say "hello" to my fiance Dennis for me.

Peace, Love, Luck, and Happiness!

Jocelyne Brar (Winnipeg, MB Canada)
Fiancee of Deputy Sheriff Dennis Ray McElderry - EOW (01/03/03)

January 11, 2005

Manuel, Your memory will not be forgotten by your brothers who work in the institutions and those who work in the streets. We will not forget the price you and yours have paid to keep the citizens of California safe. Rest in peace.

James Symington parole agent II
CDC/P&CSD

January 11, 2005

To the family of Officer Gonzales:
I am proud to have worn the same uniform as Manuel. I am proud to be called his brother and, therefore, a member of your family.
Please know that you will all be in my prayers.
Manuel, we miss you and are better people for having known you. There are many good people to greet you on your new post. You're on the best tier now, my brother.

Fred Fuentes
CDC

January 11, 2005

I know all too well how dangerous working with inmates can be. My sincere condolences go out to CO Gonzales wife, children, family, and co-workers. God bless and rest in peace my brother.

Deputy U.S. Marshal
United States Marshals Service

January 11, 2005

My family would like to send our heartfelt sympathies to the family, friends, & fellow co-workers of Corrections Officer Manuel Gonzales.
You're in our thoughts and prayers. May God watch over all the brave men and women in law
enforcement who put their lives on the line everyday as they serve & protect their communitites.
Your job is a difficult one and we truly appreciate all you do. God bless each & everyone of you.

Gail M Pabst
Aunt of fallen Detroit P.O. Jennifer Fettig eow 2-16-04

January 11, 2005

They don't call it "The World's Toughest Beat" for nothing. Correctional Officers face the same if not double the dangers we do out on the street. C/O Gonzales was doing a commendable job, that is also as thankless as mine. You WON'T be forgotten.

Deputy Sheriff
Sutter County S.O.

January 11, 2005