Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

It's true...
A C/O's beat is the toughest. To be "fair, firm, and consistant" while being spit on, assaulted, insulted, and berated. It's not an easy balance to keep. Still, we perservere, continue on, walk the beat with our heads held high. We know what we are doing is right. We know that we can wear that heavy badge with HONOR, VALOR, and COURAGE. We know the risks we take when that door slams sut behind us. And we are so greatful when we can open that door again after our watch ends for the day. That's not to say we hate our jobs. We just respect the mortality that hides in every inmate's hand, pocket, or anywhere else he can hide a weapon. When that door opens at the end of the day's watch, we can go home to our families. But each day holds a new danger as we walk our beat. Every C/O has the same tiny thought at the back of their minds: "Will I be walking out that door at the end of my watch?". The answer is uncertain, of course. But whenever a C/O asks himself that question, the answer is, "I don't know, but I'm going to try my hardest to make sure I do!".
I'm sure that C/O Gonzalez made every effort humanly possible to fight back his cowardly attacker. He understood the risk and danger inherant in this honorable profession. Tragically, he made the ultimate sacrifice.
To his family: All I can say is Manuel is a man of honor and valor, and will never be forgotten.
To Manuel: Your watch is over, brother. The burden of the badge has been lifted. The door is unlocked and you have stepped through. Please, don't shut it. We'll all walk through that door to stand at attention with you. Just not now. Rest at peace with honor. We've got the watch now.

Corrections Officer
Snohomish County Corrections (WA)

November 21, 2005

As the wife of an LEO and Corrections Officer in PA, I offer any services that any of my family (my personal family or my PWO family) can provide to you at any time. I thank you for sharing Officer Gonzalaz to protect and serve his community. It is not easy to give of a family member whether it is on the street or in a facility and you unfortunately paid the ultimate price for sharing your loved one. But know that you did not pay in vein. And that he is watching over you and his fellow brothers always. Your family will be in our thoughts and prayers each and every day.
~Kat

Kat Morrow Officer's Wife/PWO Sister
HUGS Sister~PWO~MCCF~BPD~MCEOC

October 30, 2005

My thoughts and prayers go to your family. God Bless and and as a fellow C/O please accept my sincere condolences.

Correctional Officer J.H.Hood
Correctional Service Canada

October 24, 2005

We lost our dad on August 9, 2005. He worked with the Tennessee Department of Corrections. We were looking at the CPO Foundation magazine today and read the article about Officer Gonzalez. Your whole family will be in our prayers. May God give us the strength to cope with what has been taken from us. God Bless.

East Tennessee

October 17, 2005

May God be with you,and your family always. Good Bye Brother.

Officer S. Gober
Ca. Dept. Of Corr.-SVSP

October 13, 2005

Thanks for your service and sacrifice brother. May you rest in peace and May peace be with your family. You will always be remembered and loved by all of those who have worn Blue.

Officer Kieffer

September 27, 2005

All that stands between Society and Chaos - Correction Officers.

God Bless you for yor service, and God Bless all of those you leave behind.

Correction Officer Rich Taylor
NYS Department of Corrections

September 23, 2005

Officer Gonzalez,

Because of your death The Department Of Corrections Have made many changes in the the past Months. It is very sad that we had to lose a Officer for the Department to see that we need the safety equipment that would keep us out of harms way. I thank You for the ultimate sacrifice so we could live to see our family. We miss you very much and feel your presence with us everyday as we walk the toughest beat.

Correctional Officer
California Department Of Corrctions

September 17, 2005

I COME TO THIS SITE OFTEN TO READ ABOUT OUR FALLEN HERO'S. IT IS JUST SO HEARTBREAKING TO READ ABOUT THESE OFFICERS FROM THEIR LOVED ONES. TO THE FAMILY OF OFFICER GONZALEZ, WORDS COULD NEVER EXPRESS THE SORROW I FEEL FOR YOU. I HOPE YOU DO FIND SOME COMFORT IN THE FACT THAT YOUR LOVED ONE IS A TRUE HERO IN EVERY SENSE OF THE WORD. WE WILL NEVER FORGET WHAT HE GAVE. YOU ARE ALL IN MY PRAYERS.

OHIO
Pray for our troops. The ones overseas, and the ones here who keep us safe everyday.

August 26, 2005

Jail Officer's are a big part in keeping this Country safe by supervising some of the most dangerous people and you gave your life for that my family and I thank you

Ofc Nathan A. Fike
Butler Police

July 16, 2005

Officer Gonzalez,

I did not know you, but you died a hero one day after my brother in law who also was a fallen officer. I have so much respect for law enforcement and believe you were made special by God to protect us all.

I pray for your family and that the Lord gives them peace until the day you see each other again in heaven.

God bless your family,
Krisy

KRISY SEXTON

July 13, 2005

IT IS VERY UNFORTUNATE THAT YOU AND JERRY HAD TO BE TAKEN FROM YOUR FAMILY,DUE TO AWFUL PEOPLE THAT CONTINUE TO MULTIPLY BY THE DAY.EVERYONE PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT.TO JERRY AND MANUEL ALOT OF PEOPLE WILL BE HERE TO SUPPORT YOUR FAMILY.SO REST PEACEFULLY.WE LOVE YOU GUYS.GOD BLESS THE ORTIZ AND GONZALEZ FAMILY,I KNOW THAT IS NOT CONFORTING TO YOU BUT WE ALL MEAN IT. GOD BLESS

WIFE OF L.A DEPUTY

July 12, 2005

This is a prime example of how dangerous our jobs are, and how we take for granted our (for the most part) safer lives on the "outside" because of this brave Officer. He gave his life to a noble cause...to keep our streets and families a little safer each night, my condolences to his family.

Randy Laderoute Correctional Officer 2
Ontario Ministry Of Correctional Services

July 6, 2005

MY DEEPEST SYMPATHY IS WITH THIS OFFICER'S FAMILY. ONLY A FEW CAN UNDERSTAND THE WORK WE DO. GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY

OFFICER JOSEPH COSTA
HUDSON COUNTY CORRECTIONS DEPT.

June 28, 2005

May you and Jerry rest in peace and keep an eye on the gates of heaven. Both of you will never be forgotten.

Deputy
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department

June 28, 2005

God bless you and your family.

DE
St. Louis City Police

June 28, 2005

MAY GOD GIVE YOU PEACE DURING THIS TIME.

OFC S. LUCAS
WAKE COUNTY SHERIFF OFFICE

June 25, 2005

I wanted to express my deepest sympathy to the family, friends and co-workers of C.O. Manuel Gonzalez. His death was yet another example of a good man performing a difficult job to keep us all safer, and who unjustly lost his life in the process. I was a C.O. for a few years in the 70's at San Quentin and know what a hard and stressful job it can be. I also understand the family's pain and loss as my youngest son, Officer Larry Lasater of the Pittsburg Police Dept., was killed in April by gunfire. Our family is enduring the same grief as yours and it is at times overwhelming, and only made bearable with God's help, and support of our friends, especially our law enforcement family. May you be comforted by that same circle of love.
This reflection is sent with the utmost respect for you and your fallen hero.
Phyllis Loya

Phyllis Loya, mother of fallen officer

June 22, 2005

please accept my sorrow for this brave person. officer alex karas#262

c.o. alex karas 120 hooper ave.
ocean county jail,toms river,n.j.08754

June 13, 2005

I am the wife of a fallen Hero too, it has been almost 5 months...it seems like yesterday. You died a day after Howie. I did not watch the news after 1/9/2005. My home was filled will family and friends an hour after Howie was killed and continued that way until we laid him to rest. I am so very sorry that I could not say that Howie was the last. Howie would have wanted it that way. I wish I could change what happened to you Officer Gonzalez. I pray daily that no other Officers anywhere have to pay such a high price for all of us to be safe. You will never be forgotten and will always and forever be in perfect love with God. Our prayers will be that your family will be safe and that they know that we will be praying for them. Thank you...to the family I know how you feel and may you always know that you have our family here for you too. wife of fallen officer SGT. HOWARD STEVENSON

wife of SGT. Howard Stevenson
Cerse police dept.

June 6, 2005

Making the ultimate sacrifice, you are a true hero and a warrior Manuel. May God Bless you and your family.

Lieutenant
Kansas Department of Corrections

June 1, 2005

I just want to thank all of you for taking the time pray for my family and mefrom the bottom of my heart id like to thank all of you

STEVEN GONZALEZ

May 21, 2005

YOU WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN!

A/D SMALL

May 16, 2005

To the family, friends and co-workers that Officer Gonzalez, my prayers are with you. May God grant Manuel rest and eternal peace.

Sometimes we are forgotten by society and we do not get the recognition for how dangerous our profession can be. To be sure, Manuel was more than a "guard" as some people might think. He was a law enforcement officer and a very brave person to have been able to walk that line everyday inside.

Rest in Peace and may the peace of the Lord be with his family.

Officer Frank Finch
Federal Bureau of Prisons

May 11, 2005

I have never seen whats goes on "behind the wall" but i'am sure you have done your part in the world. I give my greatest condolences to you and your family. god bless you, rest in peace. "You Will NOT Be Forgotten"

son of fellow officer

April 15, 2005