Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

Rest in Peace Brother.

Police Officer II Jeff Cleavinger
San Diego Police Department

May 18, 2015

A police officer should be remembered not by how he died, but how he lived! A great man has gone to secure a safe path for the rest of us to follow. Thank you to you, your family and the Houston Police Department. Our country is a little less safe without you. Rest in Peace Brother!

Anonymous

May 18, 2015

Thank you brother for your service and making the ultimate sacrifice. Rest in Peace ! Your family will be in our prayers.

Investigator Kevin Windham
Shelby County Sheriff's Department, Tx.

May 18, 2015

Prayers for all the family, friends and Co -workers. Hits all to close to home hear and we know and understand your pain.

LEN wife
Montana

May 18, 2015

Rest in peace Brother....My thought are with your family, friends, and the members of the HPD during this most difficult and tragic time.....

Lt. Joseph Ward, Ret.
Jackson, NJ PD

May 18, 2015

RIP Brother Richard.

May God bless and be with your family, co-workers and friends at this very difficult time.

Inv. Bevenour
Gettysburg Police Department

May 18, 2015

Officer Martin,
May you rest in Heavenly Peace. May your family be forever watched over and blessed. May your friends and colleagues find comfort. Please watch over us from on high.
We will see you again dear Sir.
Thank you for your service. I will never forget your sacrifice or the sacrifice of your family.
Greater Love Hath No Man....
Prayers for all involved.

Kristi
Surviving Daughter of Special Agent J. Robert Porter
Federal Bureau of Investigation
E.O.W. 8/9/79

May 18, 2015

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

Chaplain Douglas J. Maykowski
Fraternal Order Of Police Lodge #187 Mt. Clemens Michigan.

May 18, 2015

RIP Brother.....Salute

Trooper A.D.Dezso
Retired NCSHP

May 18, 2015

Rest in Peace...

Detective
Syracuse Police Dept, NY

May 18, 2015

It is with a heavy heart that I read about the loss of another officer. My sympathy and condolences go to his family. My prayers go to God who is merciful, that He will comfort the family and friends of Officer Martin.

Michael Davis, Sergeant
Houston Police Department

May 18, 2015

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

Supervisory FAM, Thomas Kelly Jr.
Federal Air Marshal Service

May 18, 2015

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

May 18, 2015

May God bless this angel in blue. Officer Martin, your heroism will never, ever be forgotten. May the good Lord cradle your father, sister, and two children--and may He protect your fellow brotherhood of officers. You were too good for this earth. With love from the Norman Family in Fulshear, TX.

Susan Norman
private citizen

May 18, 2015

I check this website almost everyday. Almost every day there is at least one or more fine brave men who have lost their lives protecting us, the citizens. I think often of the friends, loved ones and co-workers of the officers and it beaks my heart. Although I am not in law enforcement my admiration for those who are is boundless. Rest in peace Officer Martin and thank you for your service.

Deborah Rushing

May 18, 2015

Thank you for your selfless service and dedication. May you RIP with God and St. Michael at your side. Our loss is heaven's gain.

Timothy Dailey, Retired - Juvenile Proba
Allegheny County Juvenile Probation

May 18, 2015

We would like to offer our condolences. Thank you for your service.

Session 13
Zone 5 Law Enforcement Training Center, Schenectady, NY

May 18, 2015

IN MEMORY OF POLICE OFFICER RICHARD MARTIN

To the family, friends, and colleagues of Police Officer Richard Martin

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 one hundred and thirteen police officers have sacrificed their lives to protect the citizens of Houston, Texas. Today, we honor the sacrifice of Police Officer Richard Martin, of the Houston, Texas, Police Department; who was intentionally struck and killed in the line-of-duty, on Monday, May 18, 2015, by a vehicle as he set up spike strips at the intersection of North Kirkwood Road and St. Mary’s Lane in Houston, Texas, during a vehicle pursuit at about 2:30 AM in which the driver carjacked two vehicles and fired several shots at pursuing police officers.

Lord God, we are grateful for the life of Police Officer Richard Martin. He died serving us. Help us never to forget him. Help us celebrate the life of Police Officer Richard Martin 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 Houston, Texas, help them to faithfully equip their law enforcement officers with the best tools to protect their community. May their training be adequate to the task. Help the citizens of Houston, Texas, to remember to pay their law enforcement officers fairly and treat them with respect. Help the citizens of Houston, Texas, to obey the law and treat each other with dignity so as not to add to the burden of crime and pain to their community.

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 Martin 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.

Now, Police Officer Richard Martin, 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. Amen.

In His Service,

Police Chaplain Steven R. Closs
Retired Captain of Police of the Nashua NH (USA) Police Department
Police Chaplain of the Merrimack NH (USA) Police Department
Senior Pastor of “The Peacemakers Prayer Ministry”

Police Chaplain Steven R. Closs
Merrimack NH Police Department

May 18, 2015

a member of the family gone but never forgotten.

B.C. Police Officer Level 1
Houston Police Department

May 18, 2015

REST IN PEACE BROTHER. YOU ARE A TRUE HERO.

Deputy J. Davis
Pittsylvania County Sheriff's Office

May 18, 2015

Rest in peace brother your work on earth is done. You will now serve in heaven as one of gods angels looking over your brothers and sisters in blue. Thank you for making the ultimate sacrifice.

Sgt. Becky Colunga
Fort Bend County Sheriffs Office

May 18, 2015

Sending White Healing light from above down apon your family And friend's. You will truely me miss by all that knew you. Your a HERO to America and Houston. My heart aches knowing this act was truely hateful and should had never happened. Blessing to your kids, family, friends, brother's & sister's in blue. Rest in Peace. You have your wing's.

Family of LEO's in New Jersey Alysia Sal
Manville, New Jersey

May 18, 2015

May God's Angels carry you safely home Cousin! You are greatly missed already!
Love always,
Clayton and Bethanna

Clayton & Bethanna Downard
Cousins

May 18, 2015

Our deepest sympthy to officer Martins family. Thank you, Officer Martin for your service. I am proud to say you protected the same city as I do.

Patrol Deputy Joe Whitley
Harris County Sheriff's Office

May 18, 2015

peace to you and your loved ones

jennifer phillips
widow of Sgt Ron Phillips

May 18, 2015