Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

My prayers go out to Officer Rivera and his family. I am sorry for your loss. Every day we strive hard to make sure we all go home safe at the end of our watch. It makes me sad to know that this is the reality of our career. God Bless and Thank You Officer Rivera.

Correctional Officer Romero
Imperial County Sheriff's Department

June 21, 2008

My sincerest sympathy to the family and friends of Correctional Officer Jose Rivera as well as to the United States Department of Justice - Federal Bureau of Prisons. Rest in peace Officer Rivera, you are gone but will not be forgotten...

Dispatcher Sue Rusch, CTO
Punta Gorda PD, Punta Gorda FL

June 21, 2008

Although your service was short my brother, it was still just as honorable. Thank you from the bottom of a fellow brother's heart for your sacrafice. Know that your efforts were not in vain. Rest peaefully my brother.

Patrolman Charles Canham
Biloxi Police Department, Mississippi

June 21, 2008

My thoughts and prayers for the family of this young hero, you will not be forgotten, each and everyday I walk in the gates, you will be in my memory, may God shine peace on the staff at USP Atwater and officer Rivera's family.

Senior Officer J. Sherman
BOP

June 21, 2008

Rest In Peace, Officer Rivera.

Lt T Carr
NYPD

June 21, 2008

Rest in peace brother, you will not be forgotten.

Corrections Officer Romstadt
Monroe County Sheriffs Office

June 21, 2008

Rest In Peace CO. My condolences to your family and the US D of J.

PO Fred Nordt
Lake Success PD, Long Island, NY

June 21, 2008

Our deepest sympathy to the family of Officer Rivera. God Bless him for his service to the Federal Bureau of Prisons. Rest in Peace Sir, you will not be forgotten.

Sgt. Jim May (ret)
CMPD Charlotte, NC

June 21, 2008

Be safe my fallen brother. You may have fallen but your cause continues.

Deputy 332
COLORADO Shreiffs Office

June 21, 2008

Officer Rivera,
I am very sorry to hear about this tragedy. You are a true hero in every sense of the word and your community and this nation is forever in your debt. Rest in peace brother, you will never be forgotten. We'll take it from here.

Sgt Nyce
Broward Sheriff's Office

June 21, 2008

May you always rest in peace and know that you will never be forgotten.

Cpl/1 Steven Rizzo
Delaware State Police

June 21, 2008

Rest in Peace Brother! My thoughts and prayers are with your family. Life isn't safe, especially behind bars, and you my Brother, paid the ultimate sacrifce. Sometimes us in Corrections and Detention are often forgotten about. After seeing a local Brother officer being laid to rest today, that puts it in mind even more. My wife says that she feels safer with me working in Detention, but I tell her that is a false sense of security, it could have been me just as easy. You will not be forgotten.

Lt. David Bishop-Detention
Buncombe County Sheriff's Office Asheville NC

June 21, 2008

OUR DEEPEST CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY, FRIENDS AND COWORKERS OF OFFICER RIVERA. MAY GOD BLESS EACH OF YOU WITH HIS LOVE AND PEACE DURING THIS TRAGIC EVENT IN YOUR LIVES. OFFICER RIVERA, YOU HAVE SERVED WELL. MAY GOD BLESS YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND SACRIFICE. A HERO FOR SURE. MAY YOU REST IN PEACE.

CHIEF RONNIE WATFORD-RET.
JEFFERSON POLICE DEPT,S.C.

June 21, 2008

This seems to be happening all too often. Each time it breaks
my heart to know that a family weeps. May your memories
bring you comfort. May god bring you peace. May the courts
bring you justice.

Mother Of A Police officer

June 21, 2008

Jose...God bless your soul
your wife
your family
and your co-worker and their family's
may god gave us all the strength to accept this great loss
knowing you are resting in peace with our lord

Adel Mettry

June 21, 2008

May God watch over you and keep you close. My heart and tears go out to your family. I pray you all will be protected and held close during this horiffic time. My prayers are with you Brother Jose and your famiy.

John Davidson Sr.
Retired Ca. Parole Agent I

June 21, 2008

My sincere condolences to all the family and friends of Officer Rivera. May you find peace at the end of your watch.

Retired Officer Conni Flowers
Retired FCI EL Reno, Oklahoma

June 21, 2008

"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

Richland County Sheriff's Department
Columbia, South Carolina
Used with Special Permission of the Author
Copyright © 1993 - All Rights Reserved
and may not be duplicated without permission

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

June 21, 2008

The Correctional Officer's Prayer



Lord, I ask for courage...
Courage to face and conquer my own fears.
Courage to take me where others will not go.

I ask for strength...
Strength of body to protect others
Strength of spirit to lead others.

I ask for dedication...
Dedication to my job, to do it well.
Dedication to my community, to keep it safe.

Give me, Lord, concern
for all those who trust me
and compassion for those who need me.

And please, Lord, through it all .....
be at my side.

Fellow Correctional Officer
Federal Correctional Institution Danbury

June 21, 2008

To all the officers in the FBOP I send my deepest simpathy and regret. This is a sorrow filled day. To Officer Rivera you made the ultimate sacrafice that no one should have to make. You are a true hero, that I only wish I had the opportunity to meet. I am sure we will run into one another someday. To your family, I can not nor will I ever be able to comprehend your pain. I only hope that you find comfort in all the reflections that are left. We may not have known Jose, but he is a brother FOREVER!

Corrections Officer
Pennsylvania Dept. of Corrections

June 21, 2008

Thankyou for your service and sacrifice, you are a hero to us all to look up too. God bless your family during these tragic times. Rest in peace with all heros that have gone before you, you will be in great company, watching over us as we carry on in your name.

POLICE OFFICER
PHILA PA

June 21, 2008

Rest In Peace.

#2959
U.S. Marshals

June 21, 2008

Officer Rivera,
You have made the ultimate sacrifice, your watch has ended, now go in peace. Some gave all; you never expected that to protect society it would cost you a life so young and full of promise with so much left to live and give. May your family find solace and comfort in your memory. You are a hero who selflessly and valiantly protected your brethren in a profession sadly overlooked, understaffed and unheralded. God bless you.

SGT. LETITIA M. GREEN
NJ DEPT OF CORRECTIONS

June 21, 2008

R.I.P. officer. May your families, friends and fellow officers experience God's peace, during this time of bereavement; even after such a senseless act as this.

Senior Officer Specialist R. Southard
Federal Bureau of Prisons

June 21, 2008

I SEND MY CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE - FEDERAL BUREAU OF PRISONS REGARDING THE DEMISE OF CORRECTIONAL OFFICER JOSE RIVERA. I PRAY EVERYONE WHO KNEW THIS HONORABLE MAN WILL CONTINUE TO REMEMBER HIS BRAVERY, COURAGE, AND THE LEGACY IN WHICH HE LEFT.

CORRECTIONAL OFFICIER JOSE RIVERA YOUR SHIFT IS OVER NOW, WE WILL TAKE IT FROM HERE, REST IN PEACE, BROTHER...

DEPUTY SHERIFF JAMES E. BRADFORD JR.
BRALDEY COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT

June 21, 2008