Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

Deepest heartfelt sympathies to the Jose Rivera family and to the staff members who remain at USP Atwater. May our Great God embrace you as you go through this darkest hour. Our heart is torn. The Largent Family.

S.O.S. Brent L. Largent
F.C.I. Bastrop

June 24, 2008

I am so sorry about what happened. Thank you for serving our country!

Adam Caselles
County Probation

June 24, 2008

"Any man's death diminishes me because I am involved in mankind." --John Donne

This one more so than others because I have walked where Jose walked. A part of us all is now gone. To his family: No words can ease your pain, but please know I am with you in your grief and you're in my thoughts and prayers. God bless.

Chaplain Jon Cooper
BOP, FCC Victorville

June 24, 2008

May God be with you, your family and co-workers at this very difficult time. Rest easy brother, your watch is over now. The line stands even thinner today, but we know that you will keep a watchful eye over us all. Rest in peace my brother.

"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God" Matthew 5:9

"Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends" John 15:13

Officer James H. Belcher II
Radford University Police Department, Virginia

June 24, 2008

I would like to express my deepest sympathy to Officer Rivera’s loved ones. My thoughts and prayers are with you. May God be with each and everyone of you. May he keep you safe and see you through this terrible tragedy. From reading Jose’s bio, he has sacrificed his entire life. Now, he has made the ultimate sacrifice: giving his life so that others may stay safe. He is a hero in every sense of the word. Please know that he will not be forgotten.

Richard Spotts
FCI Allenwood

June 24, 2008

Jose, may your sacrifice unite us and inspire positive change throughout our agency. I pray that your life and death can motivate all of us to work together with compassion and unity. Thank you for your selfless service.

Jeff Foster, IMS
BOP- FCC Victorville, Ca

June 24, 2008

God Bless the Rivera family! Your son, our brother and yours not only served his nation within the walls of the Bureau of Prisons honorably but also as a proud Navy man. You must be very sad today. I am hopeful that you are equally proud of him and his lifes work. I, like Jose, served in the United States Navy until my retirement in 1994. I too, now serve within the walls of the Bureau of Prisons. I know Jose will be sorely missed by each of you. Be comforted in knowing, Jose will never be forgotten by us who remain on watch within the agency. He is and will always be a reminder to us all of the dangers we face in this environment. Thank you Jose! Thank you also to the Rivera family for sharing Jose with us but only for a short time! We will never forget Jose and the ultimate sacrifice he made. May God forgive those that took his precious life.

VT Inst. Donald S. Brocksmith
BOP

June 24, 2008

My prayers have been with Officer Rivera and his family, although I didn't know him, but I was so saddened by the news of his loss. We could never thank him enough for his service to our agency and the Navy. My prayers go out to his family, friends and may he rest in peace. You will never be forgotten. God Bless.

Julie A. Munoz GS7-10
bop

June 24, 2008

Thank you so vey much for your dedication to our country. I know you are now in the glory of God and watching over your love ones. God bless you and your loved ones.

SCBPO Carrillo
U.S. Customs & Border Protection

June 24, 2008

Many of you know I lost a friend Boyd Spikerman to inmates and Officer Rivera's death hurts just as much. Thank you for your time in the Bureau Mr. Rivera, you will remain in our thoughts.

Retired BOP Lt. Jeff Hartman
Federal Prison

June 24, 2008

Officer Rivera, You are a brave young man and your duty to this country will never be forgotten. I know you are in the loving hands of God, son, rest in peace.

Robyn A. Marootian
United States Probation Officer

June 24, 2008

Officer Rivera you are a hero to all. Your dedication and ultimate sacrifice will not be forgotten. Your assailants will be held accountable. GOD BLESS you and your family, give them strength LORD.

DHO
BOP

June 24, 2008

Our sincere condolences to Officer Rivera, his family, and the staff at Atwater. You are all in our thoughts and prayers.

ICE Staff
Lompoc, CA.

SDDO Steven Finn
ICE

June 24, 2008

Our thoughts and prayers are with Officer Rivera's family and friends. Thank you for serving your country in both the military and the Federal Prison System. May God bless you and ease your families pain.

Brother Officer and NAvy Vet

June 24, 2008

WHEN GOD MADE CORRECTION OFFICERS
When the Lord was creating CORRECTION 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 specs on this order?"

A CORRECTION OFFICER must always bear in mind that rehabilitation is based on self-respect. In the event of rebellious actions or disparaging remarks towards them by inmates they must always maintain a quite firm demeanor.

A CORRECTIONAL OFFICER has to be able to tolerate the ignorance of some, without losing hope.

A CORRECTIONAL OFFICER must also be prepared to cover a life-threatening situation, canvass the institution for witnesses, and testify the next day.

A CORRECTIONAL OFFICER has to be in top physical condition at all times, running on black coffee and half-eaten meals when it is necessary.

A CORRECTIONAL OFFICER has 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 problems," said the Lord, "it's the three pairs of eyes an Officer has to have."

"Is that on the standard model?" asked the angel.

The Lord nodded and said, "One pair that sees through a bulge in a pocket before the Officer asks, "May I see what's in there, sir?" (When the Officer already knows and wishes he'd taken that accounting job.) "the second pair, here in the side of his head for his fellow Officers safety and the third pair of eyes here in front that can look reassuringly at a bleeding victim and say, "You'll be all right, when the Officer knows it isn't so."

"Lord," said the angel, touching his sleeve, "rest and work on this tomorrow."

"I can't," said the Lord, "I already have a model that can talk a 250 pound inmate out of a rebellious intention without incident and feed a family of five on a civil service paycheck."

The angel circled the model of the CORRECTIONAL OFFICER very slowly, "Can it think?" the angel asked.

The Lord said "Can it think! A CORRECTIONAL OFFICER can recite departmental rules in its sleep; detain, investigate, search, and arrest a gang member on a tier in less time than it takes five learned judges to debate the legality of a traffic stop... and still it keeps its sense of humor. "This CORRECTIONAL OFFICER also has phenomenal personal control.

A CORRECTIONAL OFFICER can deal with crime scenes painted in hell, professionally watch over a child abuser not allowing emotions to stand in the way of helping a inmate better himself, comfort a fellow Officers family with a loss, and then read in the daily paper how the department and its Officers are not sensitive to the rights of criminals.

Finally, the angel bent over and ran her finger across the cheek of the CORRECTION OFFICER. "There's a leak," the angel pronounced. "I told you that you were trying to put too much into this model!" the angel exclaimed.

"That's not a leak," said the Lord, "it's a tear"

"What's the tear from?" asked the angel.

"It's for bottled-up emotions, for fallen comrades, for commitment to that tattered piece of cloth called the American flag, and for lady justice."

"You're a genius," said the angel.

The Lord looked somber and said "I didn't put that tear there."

Landry
FCC Beaumont

June 24, 2008

I did not know Jose, but I am deeply saddened by his senseless death. May the Lord be with you and your loved ones.

Automotive Supervisor Roger Hejl
FPC Yankton, SD.

June 24, 2008

My deepest condolences to your family, loved ones, and friends. May God Bless your family.

Captain Secretary, LouAna Akina
FDC Honolulu

June 24, 2008

Rest easy brother your watch has ended we have it from here

Correctional Officer Tony Curtis
FBOP FCC Forrest City

June 24, 2008

My deepest condolences to your family, loved ones, and friends. May God Bless your family.

Captain Secretary, LouAna Akina
FDC Honolulu

June 24, 2008

You are in my thoughts and prayers brother.

"Now may the Lord of peace Himself continually grant you peace in every circumstance. The Lord be with you all!"

2 Thessalonians 3:16

FBOP - FCC Victorville, CA

June 24, 2008

My condolences to the family, friends and co-workers of Officer Rivera. Amidst the anguish of this horrendous deed, it is heartwarming to see the kind reflections from so many brothers in arms. It brings comfort to know the numbers of good people that will rise up to counter the sort of evil responsible for this senseless act.

Kevin Spry
FBOP - Retired

June 24, 2008

We are deeply sorry for your loss. Prayers are with you.

FPC Yankton Employee

June 24, 2008

May God,in his infinite mercy, bless the family and friends of Officer Jose Rivera during their time of need.

VTInstructor Lisa Rae Johnson

June 24, 2008

Mr. Jose Rivera, I have a great respect for you and know your place is now with the Eternal Father. I will pray for those left behind nad pray for your safe journey to heaven. Your life will not be forgotten with the Brothers of the BOP and know you will be remembered by all those you left behind, God bless you my Brother........

Unicor FPI Larry B. Kiel
fci Greenville

June 24, 2008

To the family of Officer Rivera and those that loved him, you are in my families thoughts and prayers. May God comfort you in this time of great loss. Their is no greater sacrafice and Officer Rivera will NOT be forgotten.
God Bless!

Barbara Fleming, Senior Officer
FCI Pekin

June 24, 2008