Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

May the good lord welcome you with open arms, for you have done your job well.

Douglas J. Maykowski Reserve Deputy
Macomb County Sheriff Mt. Clemens Michigan

November 21, 2013

For Trooper Ross M. Riley:

The duties of the law-officer, especially one assigned to a specialized capacity, more often requires strenuous and continual training. The EMT assignment coupled with law-enforcement is a position of great responsibility, hence the emphasis on training can also be as dangerous as it is rigorous. Serious injury or death is always a risk, even during routine practice. We regret that Ross would be the next law-officer to sacrifice his life during in-service training focused on keeping others safe.
We pray for Ross's family, friends, co-workers and all who care about him. May they be ready to reach-out to one another during this time.
We are proud to render Trooper Ross M. Riley, a soldier-of-the-law, a final salute.

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

November 21, 2013

I worked with Trooper Riley on several occasions over the last couple of years. He was an extremely confident, intelligent, and hard working officer. When people talk about the best of the best, that was Ross. Everybody liked the guy and he always brought some humor wherever he went. I am proud to have worked and known Ross and will never forget this Top Notched Trooper. RIP fellow officer, I will see you again sometime

John Kennedy Ranger 1
NYSDEC Rangers

November 21, 2013

CONDOLENCES TO THE RILEY FAMILY
R.I.P. TROOPER RILEY

MICHAEL LONG NYSP RETIRED

MICHAEL LONG
NY STATE POLICE RETIRED

November 21, 2013

God bless you and your family.
Rest in peace brother.

Sgt. Paul Schanno Honor Guard member
State of MN Dept. of Corrections MCF-Stillwater

November 21, 2013

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

November 21, 2013

RIP Trooper Riley. Thank you for your service to country and citizens of New York State. Prayers for your family.

Senior Officer J. Ruhlen
Bureau of Prisons

November 21, 2013

REST IN PEACE BROTHER. YOU ARE A TRUE HERO.

Deputy J.D.Davis
Pittsylvania County Sheriff's office

November 21, 2013

Blessed are the peacemakers...RIP brother.

SA 4975
ATF

November 21, 2013

Rest in Peace Trooper Riley - 10-42. God bless his family and brother Troopers.

Det. JP McGrath(retired)
Schenectady Police Dept., NY

November 21, 2013

My prayers are with you and your family.. May you Rest in Peace my brother.

Investigator
NYSP

November 21, 2013

“Marines”

You can have your Army Kakiis,
And your Navy Blues,
But here’s a different fighting man,
I’ll introduce to you.
His uniform is unlike,
Any you’ve ever seen,
The Germans called him “Devil Dog”,
His title is “Marine”.

He was trained in Parris Island,
The place that God forgot,
The sand was fourteen inches deep,
The sun was blazing hot.
He awakened up one morning,
In front of his rack he’ll stand,
And in through the doorway walked,
A giant of a man.

He turned and faced this young Marine,
With eyes as cold as steel,
He said, “I am your DI,
And this is for real.
I’ll make your life as miserable,
As miserable as I can,
And when you finally leave this place,
You’ll be a fighting man.
You’ll be a rifle expert,
You’ll know your weapon well,
And when you encounter the Viet Cong,
You’ll send their souls to Hell.

Now gather around you young Marines,
And lend me all your ears,
And I’ll tell you of a few things,
We’ve conquered through the years,
We fought at Iwo Jima,
The land of fire and Hell,
We killed all those Japanese,
And took their land as well.

Now you can tell your ladies,
And this my Lad is true,
To get herself a young “Marine”,
There is nothing he can’t do.
He’s peeled a million onions,
And twice as many spuds,
Then you’ll find him in the slop chutes,
A soaking up the suds.

And when he gets to Heaven,
St.Peter he will tell,
Another “Marine” reporting Sir.
I’ve served my time in Hell.

Written and copyright by: David Lee Bell
1968
USMC 1968-1971
Used with Special Permission of the Author
Copyright © 1968 - All Rights Reserved
and may not be duplicated without permission

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

November 21, 2013

This poem was written after getting my wife’s 19 years perspective of being a police officer’s wife.


“He Does it For You!”

He doesn’t do it for the money,
Cause surely there’s something better to do,
He says, “Someone has to do it!”
So really, he does it for you.

His eight to twelve hours is from call to call,
From a murder to a cat in a tree,
You say he’s never around when you really need him,
But without him, where would you be?

You curse him when you get a speeding ticket,
And scream there’s something better he could do,
But have you looked at how many deaths there are on the highways,
So really, he’s doing it for you.

He’s always seeing so much bad in the world,
He really doesn’t know what to do,
He wonders sometimes if it’s even worth it,
But he knows he has to do it for you.

Each day when he leaves for work,
And I always kiss him good-bye,
I don’t know if I’ll see him again,
Cause the day might be the day he dies.

So many times he comes home from work,
And I see a small tear in his eyes,
I ask him what is the problem dear?
And he says another innocent person has died.

You always say a cop isn’t human,
Cause at a tragedy he’s cool from the start,
But you don’t have to live with him,
And watch his mind and heart break apart.

I remember one hot June night at work,
His supervisor came, “Your husband’s been hurt!”, he said,
It was such a long ride to the hospital,
They wouldn’t say if he was alive or dead.

Crime is always on the increase,
The streets a battle ground,
And when one in “Blue” is slain,
At the funeral-taps will sound.

He’ll lay in a flagged draped coffin,
An honor for those who die for this land,
Just like the Army, Navy and Marines,
He died by the enemies hands.

Most ordinary citizens won’t be at the funeral,
But you’ll see plenty of people wearing blue,
You’ll see dozens of marked patrol cars,
Honoring the one who died for you.


Written by David L Bell Copyright © 1991
Retired Deputy Sheriff after over 38 years
Richland County Sheriff’s Dept
Columbia, SC

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

November 21, 2013

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

November 21, 2013

I said a little prayer today for New York State Trooper Ross Riley and his family. He may be gone but never forgotten. He will always be a New York HERO.

Robyn Wilkes

November 21, 2013

RIP Brother

Deputy Anita Price
Bexar County Sheriff's Office, San Antonio, Texas

November 21, 2013

What a tragedy... All my thoughts fly to his family. Rest In peace brother. A colleague in blue from Belgium

Prinicpal inspector Eric Remience
LIEGE POLICE

November 21, 2013

Christ have mercy, Lord have mercy

S. I. Drake, Lt/IPD (Ret)
Indianapolis Police

November 21, 2013

Praying for his family and co workers at this time of loss. His dedication to his community is obvious by the type of training he was going through to be able to help others. GOD be with his family through this difficult time and Thank you Trooper Riley for your service.

Retired Sgt. Charles Carty
Benton AR. Police Dept.

November 21, 2013

Thank you for your service Officer Riley. Rest in peace.

Jecika
citizen

November 21, 2013

On behalf of the SP Rochester barracks, I would like to extend our heartfelt condolances to Heidi and her family in this difficult time. We know that no words can help ease the pain and loss that you are feeling right now. You are in our prayers.

Sgt Alan Horst
New York State Police Rochester

November 21, 2013

God Speed Brother and Semper Fi. RIP.

Sr Trooper Ken Andrus Ret.
Oregon State Police

November 21, 2013

Thank you for your time of service. I salute you and your Family.

Randalyn Benson
Survivor Daughter of Chief James Leonard Speer

November 21, 2013

Rest In Peace Troop. Thank you for your service.

TFC
Maryland State Police

November 21, 2013

Thank you for your service Trooper Riley. You will never be forgotten. Rest in peace...

Chief Joseph A. Edwards
Columbia Police Department, IL

November 21, 2013