Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

Ritchie, as we called him, was my nephew, He is and was a wonderful soul, may he rest in peace, Love Aunt Terry

Terry Champion Caudill
Aunt

December 16, 2014

Thank you for your service and sacrifice. Rest In Peace Officer Champion. Our deepest heartfelt condolences to all of your family, friends, and brothers and sisters at Perryopolis Borough Police Department.

Postal Inspector Scott Horne
U.S. Postal Inspection Service

December 16, 2014

May God grant you eternal peace Officer Champion. You work down here is done. Rest with the Angels now.

Marshal B. Tindle
City Of Killeen Marshals Office/Former Shreveport PD

December 16, 2014

Our thoughts and prayers are with your family, friends and coworkers during this difficult time. Your service and ultimate sacrifice will never be forgotten.

Supervisory FAM, Thomas Kelly Jr.
Federal Air Marshal Service

December 16, 2014

Rest in peace brother.

Officer Kyle Groose
Laramie PD, Wyoming

December 16, 2014

Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, love leaves a memory no one can steal.

Rest in peace.

Michelle - wife of US Marshal

December 16, 2014

Such a sad story and another loss of life for the good guys. Being so close to the holidays especially I can imagine this hurts more than normal, if possible. Godspeed Brother, you are a hero, walking the golden beat of heaven...

POII K. Jarrell
HPPD

December 16, 2014

Sincerest regards.
God bless.
Rest in peace brother.

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

December 16, 2014

Thank-you for your brave service. Rest in Peace.

1st Lt. Stephen A. Joy #980
Prince George's County Police Maryland

December 16, 2014

Thank you hero. I pray that your family and you, will find peace.

Senior Federal Air Marshal . .
U.S. Federal Air Marshal Service

December 16, 2014

Thank you Officer Champion for your service. My sympathy to your family, friends and department. Your beat is through, fly high and R.I.P. brother!

D. Shank
PA Dept. of Corrections

December 15, 2014

I attended the academy with Officer Champion. One of the best men I've ever had the pleasure of meeting and calling a friend. Always had a smile on his face, and genuinely wanted to help everyone in any way he could. He loved and cared for his family so much. This is truly a tragic loss to his family, his friends, and all of his brothers and sisters in blue. RIP my friend

Patrolman Ken Burke
Ligonier Borough Police Department

December 15, 2014

IN MEMORY OF POLICE OFFICER RICHARD ANTHONY CHAMPION

To the family, friends, and colleagues of Police Officer Richard Anthony Champion:

From the beginning of time after Cain killed his brother, Abel, there has been a need for law enforcement officers to protect the weak and to bring evildoers to justice. This work is necessary in a sinful world and is dangerous. In modern times, some eight hundred and thirty-five law enforcement officers have sacrificed their lives to protect the citizens of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Today, we honor the sacrifice of Police Officer Richard Anthony Champion, of the Perryopolis Borough, Pennsylvania, Police Department; who was killed in the line-of-duty on Sunday, December 14, 2014, in a vehicle collision while pursuing a vehicle, which was refusing to stop, on Pittsburgh Road in Perry Township, Pennsylvania.

“Lord God, we are grateful for the life of Police Officer Richard Anthony Champion. He died serving us. Help us never to forget. Help us celebrate the life of Police Officer Richard Anthony Champion and honor his sacrifice. Be with the family, friends, and colleagues of this fallen hero. Comfort them and give them your strength. Guide those who seek to take care of the family of this hero. May those empowered to do so, care for them with integrity. In commemorating the death of this hero, help those who mourn to remember that death is not the end. Death does not have the final say, but is simply the transition to the glorious life to come. They should look forward to that life to come with joy and thanksgiving.

As for the citizens of Perryopolis Borough, Pennsylvania, help them to faithfully equip their law enforcement agents with the best tools to protect their borough. May their training be adequate to the task. Help the citizens of Perryopolis Borough, Pennsylvania, to remember to pay their law enforcement officers fairly and treat them with respect. Help the citizens of Perryopolis Borough, Pennsylvania, to obey the law and treat each other with dignity so as not to add to the burden of crime and pain to their borough.

The time for mourning will soon pass. We have now remembered and celebrated the life lost in this great tragedy. As the family, friends, and colleagues of Police Officer Richard Anthony Champion go forward, they must celebrate the good things in their lives; and to celebrate life itself!

Finally, Lord God, we pray for the families, friends, and colleagues of all the law enforcement officers who have been killed in the line-of-duty and we thank you for their sacrifices. Bless the lives of their families, friends, and colleagues so they might find healing. Help their law enforcement organizations support the families of these fallen heroes. Even though their deaths might have been senseless, make something good come out of these situations so that their law enforcement organizations and the communities in which they lived and served might be stronger because of their lives and their deaths. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.”

Now, Police Officer Richard Anthony Champion, may the Lord bless you, and keep you: the Lord make His face to shine upon you, and be gracious unto you: the Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace.

In His Service,

Chaplain Steven R. Closs
Retired Captain of Police, Nashua NH Police Department
Police Chaplain, Merrimack NH Police Department
The Peacemakers Prayer Ministry

Chaplain Steven R. Closs
Retired Captain of Police, Nashua NH Police Department

December 15, 2014

Thank you for your service and sacrifice. My condolences to your family, friends and coworkers of the Perryopolis Police Department. May you rest in peace.

Ptlm. William F. Shields
Federal Reserve Police/Philadelphia - Retired/Haverford Police

December 15, 2014

Rest in Peace brother we got you covered

Deputy Constable Billy Barnett
Denton county Constable pct 3

December 15, 2014

May your family be comforted. You gave all protecting others.

Therapist. P.C.832. Retired Victoria Ker
San Bernardino County Probation

December 15, 2014

Our family is so sorry to hear of your loss of your husband and father. He was willing to put himself in harms way, only the strongest, the bravest can do that. He is gone but not forgotten, thank you Officer Champion for your honor and service.

Anna K

December 15, 2014

God bless these individuals that serve so faithfully. Be with their family as they mourn the loss of a hero.

Firefighter/Police officer 1986-2005 ret
Ridgefield police department retired

December 15, 2014

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 BMI © 1993 - All Rights Reserved

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

December 15, 2014

So sad. Hugs to his family. Too young.

I am the daughter of a CHP officer, the
CDCR

December 15, 2014

Very sad, Cleveland, Ohio police sends condolences and prayers for the family, and the Department.

patrol officer
Cleveland Police

December 15, 2014

By recognizing the heroes of our past, we honor and appreciate the warriors of our present. Your heroism and service is remembered with gratitude today. We thank you for your courage and sacrifice. You gave your all to keep order. Your jurisdiction is safer because of your willingness to put yourself in harm's way, standing between the citizens you swore to protect, and the evil that exists. Thank you for helping to make America a safer place. You live on in our memories as you continue to inspire. Time will never diminish our respect. You have not been forgotten, my brother. You will always be remembered. God bless you officer Champion, and rest in peace.

David Hoechstetter
ex-Patrolman (Disabled)
Conway Police Department
Pennsylvania

December 15, 2014

RIP Brother

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

December 15, 2014

Rest in Peace Officer Champion. Thank you for your service. My thoughts and Prayers go out to your family, co-workers, and friends.

Lieutenant Robert T. Mote (ret)
Buena Park, CA Police Department

December 15, 2014

My thoughts and prayers to the family, friends and co-workers of Officer Richard Anthony Champion. Another Hero taken too soon. May God comfort you and your family as you go and touch the face of God.
Your honorable service and sacrifice and bravery to the citizens of Perryopolis Borough, Pennsylvania will not be forgotten. God Speed and God Bless. Rest in Peace Sir.


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

Final Salute

VIPS 750 Jeff Claybern
Alexandria Kentucky Police Department

December 15, 2014