Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

My heart and prayers go out to your family.

C/O D. Cleaveland
Florida State Prison

March 19, 2012

RIP Sarge we will take over watch now.

CKnight CO
Mayo CI

March 19, 2012

Prayers for Correctional Officers

The Keepers of This Town

They finally caught the killer and the key has been thrown away.
You can erase him from the headlines and go on about your day.

I hope you feel safer and I hope you get more sleep
I'll take it from here as this killer I will keep.

I'll leave my gun outside the door and holster up my wits
I'll step into a town of hate and knives and balled up fists.
I'll bust the drugs and stop the hit and keep the weak from rape
I'll call the day a good one if we all go home after eight.

I walk alone amongst the criminals, sometimes twenty-two hundred strong
No doors to separate us...just a radio to make a call.
They see the car I drive to work, they know my name and face
And some of us are hunted down when we leave this place.

I do a job that most can't do and some quit out of fear
And I take pride as I serve and protect the ones that you hold dear
To get to you they have to go through me and I will not lie down
So spare a thought or prayer for us, the keepers of this town...

Sgt. T. Yacovoni
Florida Department of Corrections

March 19, 2012

Prayers for Correctional Officers

The Keepers of This Town

They finally caught the killer and the key has been thrown away.
You can erase him from the headlines and go on about your day.

I hope you feel safer and I hope you get more sleep
I'll take it from here as this killer I will keep.

I'll leave my gun outside the door and holster up my wits
I'll step into a town of hate and knives and balled up fists.
I'll bust the drugs and stop the hit and keep the weak from rape
I'll call the day a good one if we all go home after eight.

I walk alone amongst the criminals, sometimes twenty-two hundred strong
No doors to separate us...just a radio to make a call.
They see the car I drive to work, they know my name and face
And some of us are hunted down when we leave this place.

I do a job that most can't do and some quit out of fear
And I take pride as I serve and protect the ones that you hold dear
To get to you they have to go through me and I will not lie down
So spare a thought or prayer for us, the keepers of this town...

God Bless You Sgt. Thomas....YOU ARE A HERO......prayers to your family and co-workers.....Rest in the arms of the Lord....you have done your job well....we will take it from here!

Sgt. T. Yacovoni
Florida Department of Corrections

March 19, 2012

Such a young accomplished life Sgt Thomas had lived,this is a tragedy for all involved. I was a former inmate, not at Columbia but being so I feel a great respect for officers, not everyone who is in prison are bad people they just made bad decisions. But there are truely evil people as well and the courage of this young man to guard against dangerous violent offenders who in many cases have nothing to lose or live for May God bless him and his family and for the perpetrator of this senseless act may God have mercy on his soul. Sgt Thomas and his family will be in our prayers and I give thanks to him for his service to our community that he will not be forgotten.

Joshua Loiselle
Church

March 19, 2012

On behalf of the Forgotten Victims of Attica, we send our deepest condolences. Rest in peace and Godspeed Sgt. Ruben Thomas.

Dee Quinn Miller, Director FVOA
daughter of slain CO William E. Quinn, Attica Riot 1971

March 19, 2012

My thoughts and prayers to the family, friends and co-workers of Sergeant Ruben Thomas. Another Hero taken too soon. May God comfort you and your family as you go and touch the face of God.
Your service and sacrifice and bravery to the citizens of Florida will not be forgotten. God Speed and God Bless. Rest in Peace Sir.


May the daughter of Sergeant Thomas, know that her Daddy is a HERO who we will not forget and will forever be in his debt for all he has done for us. Sergent Thomas. Thank You sir for your service and protection to us all, may you rest in peace. God bless you and your family.

VIPS 750 Jeff Claybern
Alexandria Kentucky Police Department

March 19, 2012

To Ruben and his Family, (Which we would respectively like to belong). Sending Sincere Condolences from England. Nothing we can say or do, will take away your pain. Rest in Peace, Ruben and may your loved one's know, that your sacrifice, is not just known in America, but known world-wide, courtesy of the C.O.B.! We are a unique family! Animal, EnglandXXX

Senior Offiicer Paul Dyer
Her Majesty's Prison Service, England

March 19, 2012

To the Ruben family you are in our thoughts and prays.

Deidra Pettis
sister of fallen officer Colonel Greg Malloy EOW 2/2/11

March 19, 2012

RIP Sgt. Thomas. Every day we walk through those gates and never know what we will face during our shift. Your loss is felt across the country and we will honor you with our commitment to keeping the people of Florida safe from the kind of men that took your life too soon.

Sgt. Shreves
Florida Department of Corrections Polk Correctional Insitution.

March 19, 2012

my thoughts go out to this brave officer and his family.He gave his life for what he believed in. May god take good care of him and his family. He's in a better place now.

CORRECTIONS OFFICER
IOWA DEPARTMENT OF CORRRECTIONS

March 19, 2012

R.I.P. BROTHER Thomas!!!

Nebraska Police Officer

March 19, 2012

My condolences to family, friends, and department.

CSO
FEDERAL BUREAU OF PRISONS

March 19, 2012

Rest in peace brother , We have the watch from here your service and your life will never be forgotten. May we watch over his family as he watched over ours, God bless

Master Corrections Officer, Kent Bazan
Orange County Corrections ,Orlando Fl,

March 19, 2012

be a correction officer is a very high risk, i am a correction officer and everyday before i go to work i pray to be safe. i respect Sgt Thomas for his courage. for me is like loosing a brother. i pray for his little girl to have courage, someday she well be so pride of her daddy. now his in a better world.

Thank you SGT Thomas Ruben

Bernadette Murillo
SUTTER COUNTY SHERIFF DEPT

March 19, 2012

So saddened to hear the news.

May you rest in peace after having served those around you. My thoughts are with you, your family, fellow officers and friends.

Reserve Officer G. Krystof
Los Angeles Police Department

March 19, 2012

Rest in Peace, your family and loved ones will be in my prayers.

Officer Burns
Bureau of prisons

March 19, 2012

My heart is heavy for your loss. I am so very, very, sorry.
My daughter is a Police Officer in Philadelphia and I cannot imagine your pain.

I will pray that he will rest in Peace and know that he was a hero. God Bless you all !
Deborah Doyle, Phila.

Doyle, Deborah, Mom of PO
Cops Mom

March 19, 2012

Much love and prayers to the family and friends of Sgt. Ruben Thomas. I thank Sgt Thomas for the sacrafice he made to keep us on the outside safe.

Cindy Hurley
Mother of 2 COs at Sumter CI

March 19, 2012

To the family - God bless you may God keep you in this time of trouble...... Rest easy sir - Your watch is over -

God Bless & Thank you for your service.

Law Enforcement Recruit J CLEMENT

March 19, 2012

Another fine young man has paid the price to keep me and those I love safe. Godspeed

Karen Fregeau citizen

March 19, 2012

In Honor of your Sacrifice and for your family and friends, I salute you as a HERO! May God
Give the family and friends the strength and faith to deal with this tragic loss. Words can not express my sorrow!

"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

This may be re-posted in the Honor of his death and the death of any Law Enforcement Officer!

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

March 19, 2012

The Correctional 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, Correctional Officer. How shall I deal with you? Have you always turned the other cheek? To my church have you been true?"



The Correctional 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. Inside the fences 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'll understand."

There was silence all around the Throne, where the Saints often trod. As the Correctional
Officer waited quietly for the judgment of his God.

"Step forward now, Correctional Officer, you've borne your burdens well. Come walk a beat on Heaven's streets, you've done your time in Hell."

Officer G Fesselmeyer
Orange County Corrections

March 19, 2012

Rest in peace Sergeant Thomas. May many wonderful memories comfort your family and friends.

Captain Debra Nelson
Minnesota Department of Corrections

March 19, 2012

OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS ARE WITH THE FAMILY AND FELLOW CORRECTIONAL STAFF MEMBERS.THIS IS A TRAGEDY FOR ALL OF US NATIONWIDE.PLEASE ANYBODY AT THAT INSTITUTION GIVE US A CONTACT PERSON SO WE CAN SEND MONEY OR HELP IN SOME WAY
or contact me
Correctional Sergeant Gilbert Polanco
San Quentin State Prison Carson Section Third Watch

Correctional Sergeant G.POLANCO
SAN QUENTIN STATE PRISON

March 19, 2012