Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

Burbank officer Righi-Barnard, of Crestwood, was killed early Thanksgiving morning while he was helping a stranded motorist on Interstate 55 near downstate Lexington. He was on his way to celebrate the holiday with his family in Tremont, Ill.

Righi-Barnard, who was off-duty at the time, is the first police officer from Burbank killed while active with the department. He had been with the department for about 10 months and had worked for the Markham Police Department for about six years.

February 22, 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."

Officer David Carroll
Choctaw Oklahoma

February 22, 2005

My heart and prayers are with the family, friends and coworkers of Officer Righi-Barnard. These truly brave heros will not be forgotten.

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

February 22, 2005

My prayers are with this young officer's family and especially his fiancee. There are no words that can take away the pain and heartache that you all feel. All I can tell you to do is to take things one day at a time and to pray! The Lord will lift you up and will use this experience in your lives to help others. Please know that none of you are alone. There is a group board for significant others that can be found online. It has been wonderful so far. I will keep you all in my prayers, as I am still walking down this long road that qualifies me as a "survivor." God bless you all.

Jessi Garger
Fiancee of P.O. Cole Martin E.O.W. 4/25/03

February 22, 2005

My family would like to send our heartfelt sympathies to the family, friends, & fellow co-workers of P.O. Patrick Righi-Barnard.
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

February 22, 2005

Again we mourn as another hero is taken from us. My deepest sympathy to the family, friends and co-workers of Officer Righi-Barnard. 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

February 22, 2005

Pat,
When I heard the news I was devistated. I had just spoken with you a while before this incident. We talked about "getting together" of course we knew there was plenty of time. We were so wrong!!!
Pat, I remember the day I completed your background investigation for Markham. We spoke on the phone and I asked you to come in to the PD. You did,
With your family (Mom)(also police survivor). I will never ever forget the look on your face beaming with pride, success and apprehension. I met your mom, and she was a mix of emotions.I feel she was proud and honored yet extremely afraid of the risk to you.It was then I learned that your biological father was a police officer killed in the line of duty. We assured your mom you would be ok. Well Rest IN PEACE. You were a real up and coming officer, an asset to our profession.
We miss you, and watch over us. May God Bless you and your family. I keep them in my prayers.

Sgt. Kevin Wright
Orland Hills/ Markham PD Illinois

February 22, 2005

God be with the family and the co-workers, we may never know what possess a person to make that choice but may he pay the ultimate sacrfice for his crime. A community and a greatful nation will be forever in your debt.

Cpl Gary E Mintz, Traffic Enf Director
Henderson County Sheriff's Office, North Carolina

February 22, 2005

“When God made Peace Officers….”

When the lord was creating Peace Officers, he was into his sixth day of overtime when an angel appeared and said, “You’re doing a lot of fiddling around on this one.”

And the Lord said, Have you read the spec on this order? A Peace Officer has to be able to run five miles through alleys in the dark, scale walls, enter homes the health inspector wouldn’t touch, and not wrinkle their uniform.

They have to be able to sit in an undercover car all day on a stakeout, cover a homicide scene that night, canvass the neighborhood for witnesses, and testify in court the next day.

They have to be in top physical condition at all times, running on black coffee and half- eaten meals. And they have to have six pairs of hands.

The angel shook her head slowly and said, “Six pairs of hands….No Way.”

“It’s not the hands that are causing me the problems,” said the Lord, “It’s the three pairs of eyes an officer has to have.”

That’s on the standard model? asked the angel.

The Lord nodded. One pair that sees through a bulge in a pocket before he asks, “May I see what’s in there sir?” (When they already know and wishes they had taken that accounting job.) Another pair here in the side of their head for their partners’ safety. And another pair of eyes here in front that can look reassuringly at a bleeding victim and say, “ You’ll be alright ma’am, when they know it isn’t so.”

“Lord,” said the angel, touching his sleeve,” rest and work tomorrow.”

“I can’t,” said the Lord, “I already have a model that can talk a 250 pound drunk into a patrol car without incident and feed a family of five on civil service paycheck.”

The angel circled the model of the Peace Officer very slowly, “Can it think?” she asked.

“You bet,” said the Lord, “It can tell you elements of a hundred crimes, recite Miranda warnings in it’s sleep; detain, investigate, search, and arrest a gang member on the street in less time than it takes five judges to debate the legality of the stop…and still it keeps it’s sense of humor.

This officer also has phenomenal personal control. They can deal with crime scenes painted in HELL, coax a confession from a child abuser, comfort a murder victim’s family’ and then read in the daily paper how Law Enforcement isn’t sensitive to the rights of criminal suspects.

Finally, the angel bent over and ran her finger across the cheek of the Peace Officer. “There’s a leak,” she pronounced. “I told you that you were trying to put too much into this model.”

“That’s not a leak,” said the Lord, “It’s a tear.”

“What’s the tear for?” asked the angel.

“It’s for bottled-up emotions, for fallen comrades, for commitment to that funny piece of cloth called the American flag, and for justice.”

“You’re a genius,” said the angel.

The Lord looked sober. “I didn’t put it there,” he said.


Anonymous

Senior Instructor
Federal Law Enforcement Training Center

February 22, 2005

God Speed, Brother.

P.O. K.Murphy
Union PD, NJ

February 22, 2005

Rest well sir, your dedication and sacrafice will never be forgotten.

Tpr. D McGuckin
Michigan State Police

February 22, 2005

May GOD bless your family and friends. Thank you for serving and protecting, Sir. Rest in peace.

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

February 22, 2005

We won't let you be forgotten. Rest in peace, my brother.

Peace Officer's Memorial Foundation of Cook County Illinois

February 22, 2005

Pat, we'll never forget you, nor your sacrifice. We miss you!

PJN
Cook County Sheriff's

February 22, 2005

“REMEMBER ME”
Law enforcement officers are, indeed, a special breed of people. Ask anyone on the street and they will tell you that they would not have our jobs for anything in the world. It takes something special to do what we do and at the same time be able to even contemplate retirement. We try to be optimists. Unfortunately, there are a few of us who will never make that date with retirement. By the very nature of our job, we are at risk everyday of losing our lives, either at the hand of some deranged individual or in some other situation that we, by virtue of our occupation, may be unable to avoid. Some people have recognized the hazardous duties we involve ourselves in, the risks we take, and the pride we take in accomplishing that job. There is National Law Enforcement Week, dedicated to us who gladly accept the responsibility of protecting the citizens in our respective jurisdictions. National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Day is dedicated to those who gave their lives in the line of duty. These are but a two examples of remembrances specifically for law enforcement personnel. Remembrances that come but once a year. We should remind fellow officers of another type of remembrance, one that will last a lifetime. Sooner or later, a doctor will pronounce us dead. It is inevitable. Regardless of whatever happens, death is the end we will all have to face.
“IT IS IN DEATH THAT WE CAN LIVE FOREVER”
Author Unknown

Jim Moore
New Orleans P.D., Retired

February 21, 2005

Officer Righi-Barnard,
I would like to say thank you for your service to the citizens of Burbank.

R.I.P.
Anonymous

February 21, 2005

To the family, friends and co-workers my prayers are with you. The one thing I kept telling myself during our nightmare, was that I knew Clint loved being a police officer. The last time I seen Clint he had told me he had his dream job, he was so happy. Little did we know what was to come. Even so I don't think we could have changed his mind about being an officer.
Officer Righi-Barnard your family will miss you every day, but we will never forget you.
Look Clint up for me tell him his mother misses him all the time.

Connie Barker
Mother of Clint Walker E.O.W. 1-14-04

February 21, 2005

To Officer Righi-Barnard family and friends our hearts and prayers go out to you

God Bless you

terry miyares, surviving spouse
officer Emilio Miyares, Hialeah PD, Fl 11/6/86

February 21, 2005

Rest in peace Brother Patrick, you are a true hero and will never be forgotten for your courage and service,

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

Assistant Chief Carl Wortham Retired
Sand Springs Okla Police Department

February 21, 2005

Rest Easy Brother Patrick, 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

February 21, 2005

I want to express my deepest sympathy to the Barnard Family and the officers and staff of the Burbank Police Department over the tragic loss of Ofcr. Michael Righi-Barnard. Once again a coward has taken the life of another brother officer from the thin blue line. May God bless the Barnard Family and the officers and staff of the Burbank Police Department during this sad time. May our brother Patrick rest in peace. Patrick will now patrol the streets of Heaven with St. Michael and his angels. Never forget the fallen hero!

Ofcr. Dan Winger
LBCCPD, Ret.

February 21, 2005