Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family of Officer Jose Rivera. This is a great loss to our family. Officer Jose Rivera is the 24th staff member within the Bureau that has lost his life at the hands of inmates. CORRECTIONAL OFFICER JOSE RIVERA, END OF WATCH: 06-20-2008. God bless this officer and his family.

The Corrections Officer's Creed
I walk through the gate of wrought iron,
under arbors of razor wire.
The clanging shut of all the gates,
is the start of my day.
Wondering some where deep in my mind
if I will walk out the same way.
Voices raised in anger, are the first words of my day,
garbage flying down from the tiers reign upon my head.
Words of hate and ridicule are their daily song.
Why you here boss man?
What did you do wrong?
Not a blessed thing
Human rights are a funny thing,
guaranteed to us at birth.
But as a guard within these walls,
I am sorely hurt,
I am spit upon, and cursed out loud.
Have urine thrown upon me.
All of this is by the ones,
the government says should not be free.
I guard the lowest of earth's scum,
the guilty and the judged.
Who have more rights than me.
I spend my life as a free man,
yet behind these walls of concrete and steel
is where I am condemned to be.
And all for the simple reason
the inmates can not be freed.
The bleeding hearts and liberal officials.
Value the convict more than me.
I am not a police officer,
and often held with distaste.
I go to work everyday,
never a prayer is said.
You don't hear the wishes of
please be safe.
No one ever remembers me.
As long as no inmate dies,
as long as none escapes.
Don't admit that they exist.
You can safely sleep.
I am there when you least care.
To serve and to protect.
I don't where the badge so bold,
or carry a gun at my side.
I only have my wits with me,
to help me to survive.
So when you hear of a corrections officer
don't look upon us with disdain.
We are not just security guards.
We are the ones that keep this land
from going totally insane.

The Correctional Officer's Prayer
Lord, when it's time to go inside,
That place of steel and stone.
I pray that you will keep me safe,
So I won't walk alone.
Help me to do my duty,
Please watch me on my rounds.
Amongst those perilous places
And slamming steel door sounds.
God, Keep my fellow Officers
Well and free from harm.
Let them know I'll be there too,
Whenever there's alarm.
Above all when I walk my beat,
No matter where I roam.
Let me go back whence I came,
To family and home.
By Lt. Larry Peoples - Florida Department of Corrections

Meeting Thy God
The Corrections Officer stood and faced his God, which must always come to pass. He hoped his shoes were shining, just as brightly as his brass.
"Step forward now, Corrections Officer. How shall I deal with you? Have you always turned the other check? To my church have you been true?"
The Corrections Officer squared his shoulders and said, "No, Lord I guess I ain't, because those of us who carry badges can't always be a Saint.
I've had to work most Sundays, and at times my work was rough, and sometimes I've been violent. Because inside the walls are awful tough.
But I never took a penny, that wasn't mine to keep, I worked a lot of overtime, when the bills just got too steep.
And I never passed a cry for help, though at times I shook with fear, and sometimes, God forgive me, I wept unmanly tears.
I know I don't deserve a place among the people here. They never wanted me around except to calm their fears.
If you've a place for me here, Lord, it needn't be so grand. I never expected or had too much, but if you don't I will understand."
There was silence all around the Throne, where the Saints often trod. As the Corrections Officer waited quietly for the judgment of his God.
"Step forward now, Corrections Officer, you've borne your burdens well. Come walk a beat on Heaven's streets, you've done your time in Hell."
Unknown Author

S.O.S. R. W. Woods
FCI Fort Dix

June 24, 2008

As I sit here on my duty post and wipe away the tears and fight back the ones that I haven't shed,I pray for your soul and your family.I keep the senseless act that happened to you in the back of my head,so I will not forget what kind of danger we face day in and day out.I do hope that the fellow officers who read this keep and extra eye out for there coworkers and themselves.
I have to get back out there on my post and wipe the last tear away, but your bravery and honor will never be forgotten Jose.I will continue to pray for your family. To:USP Atwater.
FCC Beaumont is thinking about you and we feel your pain .Be safe!

S.O.S
FBOP Beaumont

June 24, 2008

For such a young man to give his life for the safety and dignity of the human race, a hero and a fallen brother in blue. May you rest in peace Sir and thank you for your brief but honorable loyal service to God and our Country. Im so sorry for your loss at the U.S. Department of Justice. May God Bless each of you and keep you safe.

Sgt. Mike Szempruch
Bossier City Police Dept. Bossier City Louisiana

June 24, 2008

God Bless you and your family.

Mike Rossignol
BOP

June 24, 2008

Rest easy in the arms of angels, brother! My condolences to your family friends and co-workers.

TAF
US Probation

June 24, 2008

My heart and prayers go out to the family of Mr. Rivera. When you hear a fellow officer has been killed your aches, I consider everyone who works in corrections a part of my family. God Bless and be safe.

Myshell Massey, Religious Services Assis
FBOP- FCC Beaumont Medium

June 24, 2008

My heart and prayers are with you Rivera family. I work at USP-1 Coleman, Fl. May God bless you and give you the strenght to deal with this situation. May God bless Officer Jose Rivera. He will not be forgotten.

S.O.S Maria Franco
BOP

June 24, 2008

We are very saddened over the loss of our fellow BOP brother. Our prayers go out to him and his family. "GOD BE WITH EACH OF YOU" during this trying time.

M. Vigil
FCI La Tuna

June 24, 2008

Know That your name will never be forgotten

I.S.O. M. Barajas
DOJ/BOP

June 24, 2008

Rest in peace brother, you tour of duty has ended, now you can go home.

Lieutenant J.S.
MCC SAN DIEGO

June 24, 2008

I Never Dreamed it Would Be Me
(By Sgt. George Hahn, LAPD, Ret., engraved on the Peace Officer Memorial in CA, across from the west steps of the Capitol Building.)

I never dreamed it would be me,
My name for all eternity,
Recorded here at this hallowed place,
Alas my name, no more my face.
"In the line of duty," I hear them say;
My family now the price will pay.
My folded flag stained with their tears;
We only had those few short years.
The badge no longer on my chest,
I sleep now in eternal rest
My sword I pass to those behind,
And pray they keep this thought in mind.
I never dreamed it would be me,
And with heavy heart and bended knee;
I ask for all here from the past,
Dear God, let my name be the last.

Rest in Peace Brother

FCI Pekin
FBOP Pekin, Illinios

June 24, 2008

Thank you for you service, Rest in peace, and God bless your family

Correctional Officer E. Rodas
United States Department of Justice - Federal Bureau of Prisons

June 24, 2008

Rivera, I love you bro. We served together for years on the Nassau and you were one of the best. I'm sad and crying because the good always die young; you had the heart of an Angel. I'll never forget are time served together. God be with you and your family as I know you watch down on us. Boatswainsmates 4 ever.

BM2 Holloway
U.S. Navy

June 24, 2008

Correctional Officer Rivera GOD BLESS you and your loved ones. Jose you are a great man and a leader who served your country and the Bureau of Prisons. Jose you will always be in our prayers. God Bless You Jose, you will be missed.

Ricardo Martinez
Warden
FCC Allenwood

Ricardo Martinez, Warden
Federal Bureau of Prisons

June 24, 2008

Our prayers are with the family, friends, and co-workers in this time of loss.

Deb Broders, Business Administrator
FPC Yankton

June 24, 2008

God bless you for your service and our thoughts and prayers are with your family now. You may be gone, but will never be forgotten.

Michele & Tony Kunkel, DTS & Whse Spec
FPC Yankton

June 24, 2008

Rest in Peace Fallen Brother.

Fort Dix Recreation Dept.
Federal Bureau of Prison

June 24, 2008

We all know it can happen,
When we put our Colors on.
It only takes an instant,
Then one of us is gone.

Day to day we walk our beat,
In God we put our faith.
'Cause we're the law inside the wall,
We keep the Public safe.

You've done the job that few can do,
Your shift is at an end.
Farewell my Brother, Rest in peace,
On you we could depend.

Supervisory Deputy Marshal Manny Puri
U.S. Marshals Service

June 24, 2008

Our heart and prayers go out to Jose Rivera's family in this time of need. May God surround each and everyone of you with his love and give you the strenght to get thru this tradgedy.

Life is but a stopping place,
A pause in what's to be,
A resting place along the road,
to sweet eternity.
We all have different journeys,
Different paths along the way,
We all were meant to learn some things,
but never meant to stay...
Our destination is a place,
Far greater than we know.
For some the journey's quicker,
For some the journey's slow.
And when the journey finally ends,
We'll claim a great reward,
And find an everlasting peace,
Together with the lord

Author unknown

Steven & Denise Klapp
Correctional Officers at FCC Allenwood

June 24, 2008

Our thoughts and prayers go out to your family & to your BOP family at USP Atwater. Your sacrifice will not be forgotten. It is a great tragedy that a young life was cut so short, doing a job that most civilians cannot fathom. May you rest in peace.

Craig & Shaney Yarger
BOP FCC ALLENWOOD

June 24, 2008

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God. Matthew 5:9

T. Harrison
B.O.P.

June 24, 2008

God bless Officer Rivera and his family. He served our country and died protecting our citizens. Individuals like him are who make our country what it is.

Material Handler, R. Thomas
USP Hazelton

June 24, 2008

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE, REST IN PEACE.

N.J. TROOPER
NEW JERSEY STATE POLICE

June 24, 2008

Rest in Peace Brother You Are not Forgotten!

S.O. D.Schramm
Usp-2 Coleman

June 24, 2008

To those who loved Officer Rivera I offer my sincerest, heartfelt condolences. I lost a commrade at CIM-CHINO in Jan.'05. These tragic events focus on how dangerous these jobs really are. To all those who want to make this their career: Look. Listen.Learn. This is NOT a job for everybody.I spent twenty-five years in the system, and have seen much. I was fortunate.Going home everynight was never guaranteed.RIP.

John Schick, CC-I
CDCR CIM (Retired)

June 24, 2008