Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

Please know that you are in our thoughts and prayers at this time. We will pray that your family and department make it through this time with the help of Indiana C.O.P.S. and the community. You will not be forgotten.

Gena Bennett
Shelbyville PD

January 11, 2010

Cpl James Szuba and partner Ricky, we thank you and are grateful for you dedication and courage, your willingness to respond. Words fail us at this time. We will never forget you or your sacrifice. God's speed and blessings.

Chaplain Mary Dobbs
Chaplain Lyons Fire Protection District

January 11, 2010

May You And Your K9 "Ricky" Rest In Heavenly Peace. You Will Both Be In My Thoughts And Prayers...And I Pray That Our Heavenly Father Will Ease The Pain Of Your Loved Ones And Help Them Through This Terrible And Painful Time.
Rest Now My Brother, Run With Ricky In The Green Fields Of Heaven, Allow Him To Be A Dog While You Rest And Watch Him Play...Your Watch Is Over My Brother, We Will Take It From Here.
R.I.P.

Deputy Sheriff Alan M. Lazarus #10229
Cook County Sheriff's Dept. Cook County, IL.

January 11, 2010

You were a good man and a proud father. I will always remember you and how much you loved your family. It was an honor to know you and work with you. I know that Tom, Bryan and Jerry were all there to greet you. I will continue to pray for your wife and children, along with your brothers in blue. God bless you and thank you for being such a fine officer.

Tracie Bowerman

January 11, 2010

While those of us here on Earth still try to make sense of this tragedy, I believe God had a higher calling for you and Ricky, the ultimate calling. Go rest high on that much deserved mountain and watch down on your family, your brothers and sisters in blue, and the community you so bravely protected. Our loss is Heaven's gain and we will never forget your sacrifice. Godspeed Cpl. James Szuba and K-9 Officer Ricky!

Dan Schaefer, Dispatcher
South Bend Police Department

January 11, 2010

May you and you K-9 partner rest in peace. God bless you sir.

K. McGee
MPD, TX

January 11, 2010

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Szuba family not only for the loss of their husband and father, but also their beloved pet and partner.

Deepest sympathy to the Mishawaka Police Dept. also.

Det. Kris and Ofc. Elizabeth Seymore
Elkhart PD/Notre Dame Security Police

January 11, 2010

My deepest condolences to the family and friends of Corporal James Szuba and his partner “Ricky” at this most tragic time. Brother Szuba and “Ricky” you both made the ultimate sacrifice and you both are “Heroes“. Corporal Szuba and “Ricky” thank you both for your Dedication to your job and to your Community in keeping it safe. “May you both rest in peace”. “You will never be forgotten.” God will take care of you now. “God Bless you and your Family”.

Deputy John Williamson, Arno K-9 unit
Fairfield County Sheriff's Office, Ohio

January 11, 2010

RIP Bro. Szuba, I did not know you, but you are a Brother on the thin blue line. You will be missed.

Officer Jason Batistig K-9 Handler
Cit yof Hagerstown Maryland

January 11, 2010

Rest In Peace.

#2959
U.S. Marshals

January 11, 2010

Rest in peace my brothers, Officer Szuba and Ricky. Thank you for your service and the ultimate sacrifice you gave. You shall not be forgotten. Our thoughts and prayers are with your family sir.

Captain Greg Pennell
New Albany Police Dept., Indiana

January 11, 2010

Rest in peace

Anonymous

January 11, 2010

My thoughts and prayers.are with the Szuba and police family. I am so sorry for everyones loss. You will be missed and NEVER forgotton. RIP and God Speed

erin m burcham
daughter of mishawaka police officer

January 11, 2010

Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of Corporal Szuba as well as the brotherhood at Mishawaka Police Department. May you rest in God's eternal peace our brother!

Detective Mark Techmanski
City of Syracuse (NY) Police Department

January 11, 2010

Thank you, Corporal Szuba and Ricky, for your service.

Barb

January 11, 2010

For Corporal James Szuba:

Our duty as law officers takes on many risks. One of the highest is when operatiing a vehicle during pursuits on public highways. When persons pursued are affected by drugs or alcohol, the high-risk is intensified with careless, and even intentional actions, towards pursuing law officers.

That our brother Jim's life was taken during such a pursuit is a clear illustration that what has occurred previously continues to occur, and with reckless abandon. Each of these situations high-lights the need for increased caution and even more intense training in the operation of vehicles at high-speed. We hope that such training is abundant for patrol officers everywhere.

We pray for Jim's family, friends, co-workers and all who care about him. May they reach-out to one another at the appropriate moment to bring the comfort that is required. May each of them remember Jim for the best of the moments he had contact with them in their respective lives.

I am proud to render to Corporal James Szuba a final salute.

Cpl. Ralph D. Fiorenza (Ret.)
Pennsylvania State Police

January 11, 2010

In Honor of your Sacrifice and for your family and friends, I salute you as a HERO!

"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

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

January 11, 2010

My thoughts are with you, your family and co-workers. Also to the the K-9 Officers, who are such a close group, I am so sorry! What a terrible loss! Julie and Tessa (retired K9)

Officer Julie D. Schmidt
Louisville Metro Police Department

January 11, 2010

God bless you and your partner may you find each other and keep the streets of heaven safe for us.

Inv. Sorensen K-9 Cheeto
Racine PD WI

January 11, 2010

Corporal Szuba and your K9 Partner Ricky,

May you both rest in peace.

Detective Dave Howell
Plano,Texas Police Dept-Auto Theft

January 11, 2010

The Kentland Police Department would like to express our deepest sympathy to the Mishawaka police department,family and friends of Cpl. Szuba and Ricky.

Vince Lowe, Marshal
Kentland Police Department (IN)

January 11, 2010

Corporal Szuba and your partner Ricky, may you both rest in peace. God Bless

Chief George Yaccich
Rochester Township Police, Pennsylvania

January 11, 2010

thank-you for your brave service. Rest in peace.

Lt. Stephen A. Joy #980
Prince George's County Police, Maryland

January 11, 2010

May God lay his healing hand upon the family and friends of Corporal Szuba and may they know he will never be forgotten. Thank you Corporal Szuba for your dedicated service to the people of Indiana and the United States.

James Sheppard
Father of Sgt. Jason L. Sheppard EOW 12/7/06

January 11, 2010

I AM TRULY SORRY FOR THE LOSS OF YOUR FATHER AND HUSBAND AS WELL AS HIS BELOVED K-9 PARTNER. KNOW THAT YOUR DADDY AND HUSBAND AS WELL AS HIS PARTNERS WERE AMERICAN HEROS THAT DID A JOB MOST ARE SCARED TO DO. YOU WILL SEE HIM AGAIN IN TIME BUT KNOW HE IS IN PARADISE WAITING AND WATCHING OVER YOU. GOD SPEED.

TROOPER D OSBORNE
TENNESSEE HIGHWAY PATROL

January 11, 2010