Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

"The Badge"

He starts his shift each day
To respond to calls unknown.
He drives a marked patrol car.
A police officer he is known.

He's paid by the citizens' taxes
To make it safe on the streets.
But he usually has a second job
'Cause a waitress has his salary beat.

Now he doesn't know a holiday
'Cause he works all year round.
And when Thanksgiving and Christmas finally arrive
At his home he cannot be found.

He's cursed and assaulted often,
The one whos blood runs blue.
He seldom ever gets a thanks,
To some he's just a fool.

His friends are always other cops
'Cause people just don't understand
That underneath his badge and gun,
He's just another man.

He knows there might not be a tomorrow
In this world of drugs and crime.
And he gets so mad at the court system
'Cause the crooks don't get any time.

And each day when he leaves for work,
He prays to God above.
Please bring me home after my shift
So I can see the ones I love.

But tonight he stops a speeding car,
He's alone down this ole' highway.
It's just a little traffic infraction.
He does it everyday.

Well, he walks up to the driver's window,
And his badge is shining bright.
He asked the guy for a driver's license,
When a shot rang through the night.

Yes, the bullet hit its mark,
Striking the officer in the chest.
But the Department's budget didn't buy
Each officer a bullet-proof vest.

So he lay on the ground bleeding.
His blood wasn't blue - His blood was red.
And briefly he thought of his loved ones
'Cause in a moment the officer was dead.

In the news they told the story
Of how this officer had died.
And some who listened cared less,
But those who loved him cried.

Well, they buried him in uniform
With his badge pinned on his chest.
He even had his revolver,
He died doing his best.

Written By:
David L. Bell
Sergeant
Richland County Sheriff's Department
Columbia, South Carolina
Used with Special Permission of the Author
Copyright © 1999 - All Rights Reserved
and may not be duplicated without permission

Investigator David L Bell
Richland County Sheriff's Dept., Columbia, SC

December 26, 2007

We all still miss you Mitch. I think of you often. I wish I had been there for you brother. Rest In Heaven.

Officer
Still in Carolina

December 16, 2007

It is coming up on the 3 year anniversary of your death. I left law enforcement full time shortly after your death but came back this year. I returned to Boiling Spring Lakes. I had a hard time dealilng with your death since I was the last one to see you alive. Recently, 2 other officers and I were about to view a surveillance video from a local convienence store. When media player came up, I heard "1180 CCOMM, 10-61" The transmission continued with the tag and location of the stop. There is a radio right next to the computer, so I instictively jumped up and ran out of the office thinking someone was trying to be funny. I called CCOMM on the phone and they did not hear the traffic. This was the recording from the stop the night you were killed, still on the office computer. No one had ever removed it, and no one had ever played anything else on it. I told both officers, who were fairly new, that I could not listen to it. I did tell them it was something they want to hear just to put it in perspective how quick things can go bad.

I recently ran across the case file. This was a difficult read but knowing the case was closed and the coward who did this is awaiting his turn to face the music, it was easier. The showing of support in cards received was unbelievable. I find peace every day I work knowing that you are with God and you gave your life doing what you loved. You will never be forgotten, Mitch. Thank you for all the laughs.

BSL Police Officer/ Former BCSO Deputy

December 3, 2007

You the Prince Family are in my thoughts and prayers today and every day. I hope you are a little more peaceful now. I hope instead of reliving his death, you now can remember his smiles and joys that was his life. May God bless and keep you always!

#2

September 17, 2007

Mitch,
You are not forgotten, your memory lives strong.
Our thoughts and prayers remain with your family.
Always

The Jordans

Jordan family
Wife of LEO

August 27, 2007

From a former Long Beach N.C. Police Officer and Brunswick County Sheriffs Deputy may you rest in Eternal Peace Blue Blood and may your treasured family have the peace and blessings they deserve. Thank You....

A Blue Blood Brother

Det. Larry Calhoun
Naugatuck Police Dept.

January 23, 2007

May you rest in peace and may Our Lord bless your loved ones.

January 18, 2007

To the family of officer Prince:
You are all in my prayers on the second anniversary of your death.
To Officer Prince:
You died doing what you loved and for that you are a true hero. I wish there was a day when only the criminals died but until that happens we will continue to lose great men and women.

Melissa
wife of a LEO

January 18, 2007

REST IN PEACE....YOU ARE NOT FORGOTTEN!

BRUNSWICK COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE

January 18, 2007

You dedication and sacrifice are remembered and honored on this second anniversary of your end of watch and your family remains in our prayers.

Linda Lamm - LEO wife and sister of
Jay Balchunas EOW 11.05.04

January 18, 2007

Two years have passed and you have not been forgotten. Your loved ones have thought of you every hour of every day for the past two years. Keep watch over your loved ones. You will never be forgotten.

Bob Gordon
Father of Fallen Officer: Michael P. Gordon, EOW: 8/8/04

January 17, 2007

Almost 2 years have come and gone and it's still painful knowing what you went through that night. I'll always remember our phone conversation the last hour before the Lord took you home. The children are doing great, God has healed their hearts. Kyle wears a small replica of your badge. I miss you . It doesn't seem real, but it is and I will overcome this with the Lord helping me.
Love Pam

Spouse

January 13, 2007

NEVER forgotten.

Joanie
Mother, daughter, sister, and granddau. of LEOs

January 8, 2007

Rest in peace, Sir! You are not forgotten.

Police Officer

December 5, 2006

You have been in heaven for a while now brother, but the coward who took your life still sits in a cell. We are supposed to keep the straight face in times and situations like this, but brother when GOD brings judgement down on the POS that did this to you, make sure to tell GOD" He don't have a seat here". Cause is far below you my brother, and maybe if he's lucky he won't make it to your feet. Rest in peace!

Detective Brian Jackson
Pooler Police Department- Pooler Georgia

October 29, 2006

Mitch, I just wanted to let you know that you are still on my mind and will forever live on in my heart and in the hearts of many.

May you rest in peace.

Holly

October 10, 2006

I still think of you often Mitch. I will never forget you my old friend. I look forward to seeing you again soon. I am thankful to have known you.

an old friend
a fellow officer

October 4, 2006

Rest in peace my baby brother.You served your time in hell. Keep watch over our mama and daddy until we can all meet again. I have always loved you and cant wait untill we fish and hunt together again.Too all police officers,THANK YOU AND BE CAREFULL.There is no such thing as routine when you ware a badge

Larry Wayne Prince
Brother

August 26, 2006

my heart goes out to the family. maybe he would be alive today if brunswick county had more officers working together. ronald hewett is not a very good sheriff anymore.At one time he was the best but he let drugs take over our county.Officer Prince was trying to keep the residents safe the night. We need more officers like him. the ones we now have cannot even pass the PT test due to being so out of shape.WE need a new sheriff too.

james
friend

August 22, 2006

This officer is a hero. I just wanted his family and brother and sister officers to know that officer Prince was remembered today and he was prayed for. I know he is wathing over his family and fellow officers. Thank God for hero officers like Officer Prince. God Bless you officer Prince and THANK YOU.

Former Indiana Deputy Sheriff

Former Indiana Deputy Sheriff

July 22, 2006

We will be in Washington with honor and respect to hear your name read.

Linda Rittenhouse, Matt's Mom
Matthew Rittenhouse EOW 9/16/04

Llinda Rittenhouse

May 2, 2006

~~~~~The Broken Chain~~~~~

We little knew that morning that God was going to call your name.~~In life we loved you dearly, in death we do the same.~~It broke our hearts to lose you, you did not go alone; for part of us went with you, the day God called you home.~~You left us peaceful memories, your love is still our guide; and though we cannot see you, you are always at our side.~~Our family chain is broken, and nothing seems the same; but as God calls us one by one, the Chain will link again.

April 10, 2006

Although we have never met, I have followed your death and trial of the coward who took your life. I feel that justice will be served the moment he takes his last breath. This is bitter sweet. Maness will get to say good-bye to his family and friends over the years that he will sit in prison waiting to die. It is so unfair that you were not given that opportunity before your life was stolen from you and your family. I do realize, however, that this is a civilized society that deals with uncivilized people in a humane manner and we must let our judicial system run its course.

Mrs. Prince, may God be with you and your kids at this time and always. I know that Mitch will guide your footsteps and wipe your tears from Heaven.

Christy B. Ward
2189 Paramedic

April 5, 2006

Mitch....Rest in peace...the jury just sentenced your murderer to death.

Police Officer

April 4, 2006

Darrell Wayne Maness was found guilty Friday afternoon of first-degree murder for the 2005 shooting death of Boiling Spring Lakes police officer James Mitchell "Mitch" Prince after about two hours of jury deliberations at the Brunswick County Courthouse.

Maness, 20, hung his head and cried as the verdict was read finding him guilty of first-degree murder for Prince's killing with the officer's own gun in the early hours of Jan. 18, 2005, during a routine traffic stop on Highway 87, in addition to a charge of robbery with a firearm against Prince.

Maness was also found guilty of two additional counts of attempted first-degree murder, two counts of assault with a deadly weapon with the intent to kill and two counts of assault with a firearm on a law enforcement officer against Southport police officer Mike Szendrey and Oak Island police Sgt. Carl Pearson as events unfolded that morning following Prince's shooting.

Maness was found not guilty on the same three charges against Caswell Beach police officer David Felts in connection with a subsequent shoot-out that morning behind the Port Motel off Long Beach Road.

BROTHER IN BLUE
NC LEO

April 4, 2006