Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

You were a great friendand always stood for what was right. Watch over us all.

edmundo delacerda
friendswood pd, friendswood texas /former college team mate, friend

October 13, 2006

TO SENIOR AGENT JIM B. MATKIN'S FAMILY;
I AM A DETECTIVE WITH THE METUCHEN POLICE DEPT. IN NEW JERSEY I BELONG TO THE POLICE UNITY TOUR. WE RIDE BICYCLES FROM GROUND ZERO IN NEW YORK TO THE WALL IN WASHINGTON D.C. THIS YEAR I'M HONORED TO BE RIDING IN THE MEMBER OF JIM MATKIN WHO HAS MADE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE FOR OUR COUNTRY AND OUR SAFETY. I WILL BE THINKING OF HIM AND HIS FAMILY THE WHOLE WAY. PLEASE REACH OUT TO ME IF YOU OR ANYONE FROM HIS DEPT. IS GOING I WOULD BE HONORED TO GIVE YOU A BRACELET I WILL BE WEARING IN HIS HONOR. MY CELL PHONE NUMBER IS 732-841-5169. I AM LEAVING TOMORROW MORNING 5/9 FROM FLOHAM PARK NJ TO GROUND ZERO N.Y AND THEN TO WOODBRIDGE NJ. ON 5/10 WE WILL RIDE FROM WOODBRIDGE NEWJERSEY TO DELAWARE ON 5/11 FROM DELAWARE TO ANNAPLOLS MD . 5/12 WE WILL ARRIVE IN DC AT THE WALL. YOU MUST BE VERY PROUD OF THIS HERO AND I'M HONORED TO DO THIS FOR HIM GOD BLESS ARTHUR FLAHERTY SR

DETECTIVE ARTHUR M. FLAHERTY SR
METUCHEN POLICE DEPT.

May 8, 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

Linda Rittenhouse

May 2, 2006

My thoughts and prayers are with the family, friends and co-workers of Senior Agent Matkin as you all mark the one year anniversary of his death. His service and sacrifice are not forgotten.

May God bless you, Agent Matkin, and may you continue to rest in eternal peace, safe in the arms of the angels.

Carin E. Sollman, surviving spouse
Officer Jesse E. Sollman, EOW 3/25/05

March 2, 2006

Rest in Peace.

March 2, 2006

My thughts and prayers are with the family of Senior Agent Matkin as their journey of grief leads them to the first anniversary of his death. Agent Matkin, you are not forgotten. May you rest in peace in the loving arms of the Creator.

Mary Kay Balchunas
Mother of Jay Balchunas, EOW 11/5/04

March 1, 2006

It will be the first anniversary since you were called away. I know the pain still runs deep in the broken hearts of all those that love you. You have not been forgotten and are a true hero. Keep watch over your family, wrap your wings around them in an effort to ease some of their pain. You will never be forgotten Jim.

Bob Gordon, father of fallen officer Michael P. Gordon, EOW: 8/8/04

Bob Gordon

February 27, 2006

Officer Matkin,

Thank you for serving the common cause we all strive to preserve. You will not be forgotton. Our thoughts and prayers are with your family.

Officer Jerrod Alley
Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources

November 29, 2005

HOLIDAY:

We think of you and your family during these holidays, and offer thoughts and prayers as you celebrate without your loved one. Cherish the memories of the past and be open to new ones with your loved ones and friends. Your loved one will never be forgotten and always honored for their sacrifice.

Alissa Scott
Widow of Wayne Scott
E.O.W. 09-10-02

Lisa Schultz
Widow of Don Schultz
E.O.W. 05-12-03

Co-Founders of Survivor Help Network
www.survivorhelpnetwork.org

November 29, 2005

S/A Matkin, Rest in Peace.

Brad Fleenor
National Marine Fisheries Service

November 19, 2005

Jim, thanks for your service and our prayers are with your family.

Cpl John Miller
Lafayette PD

September 14, 2005

I pray that God will continue to comfort and Bless this family, I know the grief is tremendous and only the hands of God can touch such pain, I pray for his hands to always be on this family. God Bless you and keep you.

Pat Carruth

Pat Carruth

August 27, 2005

To the family and friends of Senior Agent and his fellow officers: I wanted to extend my deepest condolences on behalf of my family for the grievous loss you sustained when Jim was tragically killed. You are in my thoughts and prayers. May you be comforted and embraced by the circle of love and support you will receive from the law enforcement community, and other police survivors. This reflection is sent with the utmost respect for the service Jim gave to his community and the citizens of Louisiana, and for the supreme sacrifice he and his family made in the line of duty. His dedication to his work will be forever remembered and his memory honored. How tragic he had to die at such a young age.

Phyllis L. Loya, mother of fallen officer Larry Lasater of Pittsburg, CA PD eow 4/24/05

August 23, 2005

Thank you for your service, Sir. May God Bless you and your family. Because of the work of you and your comrades we are allowed to enjoy "The Sportsman's Paradise." R.I.P., Warden.

The Dixon / Weimer Families
Acme, LA

August 18, 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

God be with the family and friends of a hero, Jim Matkin, who gave the ultimate sacrifice doing a job he loved.

Officer Shawn Eckhart
Dep of the Army Police

June 6, 2005

Jim, you'll always have a special place in my heart. I won't forget you.

Leah Spurgeon
Leesville, Louisiana

April 6, 2005

Jim,
You were the best brother in the whole world and I miss you so much. I miss having to reach up to hug you and I miss your voice. You were a great person with a great heart. This world lost something very special when it lost you. I love you little brother. God bless you, see you in Heaven,
Your big sister,
Bridge

April 6, 2005

From everyone at Troop-F in Monroe, LA, our thoughts and prayers are with you, your family and co-workers. God Bless You and Thank You for your service...

Tpr Joel V. Heard
Louisiana State Police Troop-F

April 6, 2005

Thanks for keeping the woods and waters safe for me and my children. R.I.P

Russell Craig
Louisiana Hunter and Fisherman

April 5, 2005

May you rest in peace. Thank you for your service and dedication to Louisiana.

Detective
New Orleans Police Department, LA

April 3, 2005

God Bless Senior Agent Matkin,his families and the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries!You will be missed by ALL and forgotten by NONE!My Thoughts and Prayers are with Senior Agent Matkin,His families,and this Department!Thank you Brother for Service well done,Rest In Peace now until we see you again in Heaven!

Deputy Sheriff
Jefferson County Sheriff's Office , Louisville Kentucky

April 1, 2005

I hope that they let you boil crawfish in heaven. R.I.P., brother for you are among heros now. Thank you for your service.

Special Agent
U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement, Louisiana

March 31, 2005

HAPPY EASTER JIM

March 27, 2005

Thank you for your service.

Ofc. S.L. Coffman #15174
California Highway Patrol

March 23, 2005

JIM,
FOR THIS IS GOD,.. HE WILL BE OUR GUIDE EVEN TO DEATH. EVEN THOUGH I WALK THROUGH THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH, I WILL FEAR NO EVIL; FOR YOU ARE WITH ME. I AM CONTINUALLY WITH YOU; YOU HOLD ME BY MY RIGHT HAND. YOU WILL GUIDE ME WITH YOUR COUNSEL, AND AFTERWARD RECEIVE ME TO GLORY. WHOM HAVE I IN HEAVEN BUT YOU? AND THERE IS NONE UPON EARTH THAT I DESIRE BESIDES YOU. MY FLESH AND MY HEART FAIL; BUT GOD IS THE STRENGTH OF MY HEART AND MY PORTION FOREVER.

My prayers stay with you and your family. I will never forget you; Rest in peace my fellow brother in arms.

SR. AGENT ARON HASTINGS
LOUISIANA DEPT. OF WILDLIFE & FISHERIES

March 12, 2005