Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God”. Matthew 5:9

Thank you for your service. May you rest in peace, my brother.

Retired Chief of police Jim Spratlen
Durango Police Department

August 12, 2020

To the family of Corrections Officer V Jerry Esparza, friends, Director Lorie Davis and the
Texas Department of Criminal Justice - Institutional Division, TX
You are lifted up in heart, thought and prayer. May God comfort, hold you close and give you His peace that surpasses all understanding to keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus now and always. Thank you for your service!
"The LORD is near to the brokenhearted, and saves those who are crushed in spirit." Psalm 34:18
"For he (Jesus) has said, I will never leave you or forsake you." Hebrews 13:5

Patrolman A.S. Batson
CH / OB PD
Goldsboro, NC

August 10, 2020

I am sorry for your loss to your Family, Fellow Officers, Friends. I will keep all of you in my prayers. RIP.

Retired Fire Lieutenant Frank J Corasan
Baltimore City Fire Department

August 5, 2020

Corrections Officer Esparza,

Thank you for your sacrifice for our nation. May you be with the Lord and may he be with your family.

Det. Russ Cain
Pittsburgh PD

August 2, 2020

Requiescat in Pacem

Sergeant Mike O'Connor
Branford CT PD

August 1, 2020

The National Police Wives Association would like to extend their heartfelt prayers to the family of Officer Esparza and the Texas Department of Criminal Justice - Institutional Division during this time. Thank you, Officer Esparza, for your service.

National Police Wives Association

July 31, 2020

Rest in Peace Officer Esparza. May the Lord grant your family, friends and co-workers peace during this difficult time. Thank you for your service and sacrifice.

Deputy Parole Administrator Howard Wykes
Arizona Department of Juvenile Corrections

July 27, 2020

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. PRAYERS FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY AND OUR FAMILY OF BLUE AND REST IN GODS ARMS.

MOTHER OF A DALLAS POLICEWOMAN LINDA KEM
None

July 27, 2020

A corrections 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 Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Our country is a little less safe without you. Rest in Peace Brother!

Chief (Ret) Steven Marshall
Georges Mills, NH

July 26, 2020

Rest in peace brother. Thank you for your service. God's speed sir.

Lieutenant John C. Moore
Wisconsin State Conservation Warden (Retired)

July 23, 2020

Your service is remembered and appreciated. God's Peace to your family.

Father of a Corrections Officer David So
Civilian

July 22, 2020

Thank you for your service and sacrifice. Rest In Peace Officer Esparza. Our deepest heartfelt condolences to all of your family, friends, and brothers and sisters at Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

Postal Inspector Scott Horne
US Postal Inspection Service

July 22, 2020

On behalf of the Kentucky Peace Officers' Association please accept our condolences on the passing of Officer Esparza.

Chip Nowlin
President
Kentucky Peace Officers' Association

July 22, 2020

On behalf of the Ohio Attorney Generals Bureau of Criminal Identification & Investigation, our thoughts and prayers are with the immediate family of Corrections Officer V Jerry Esparza
and the extended law enforcement family of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice - Institutional Division, Texas.



End of Watch Wednesday, July 15, 2020



Rest in Peace brother and watch over us. We will protect and serve from here on in your honor.

I fight not for glory or fame, for they are momentary. I fight for those who can't. I fight for Justice. I fight for the oppressed and the down trodden. And if I should lose my life for these just causes, then I have no regrets, For I serve to protect the innocent. It matters not where or when, for evil knows no boundaries. Be it fire, flood, or the threat of tyranny, I will not flee. Justice is my weapon. Faith is my shield. Hope is my armor. Cry not at my passing, for it was my Honor to fight for you. Shed not tears of sorrow, But tears of joy, for now, I stand with God.

By Jon F. Hooper

"Greater love hath no man than this; that a man lay down his life for his friends."

Superintendent Joe Morbitzer
Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification & Investigation

July 21, 2020

The true measure of a person
is not found in the
might of their arm,
their wealth
or their power –
it is found in the strength
of their character.

There is no greater testimony to
ones character, than ones
willingness to sacrifice all,
in the noble quest of
providing protection to all
whom they serve.
Author Unknown

Javier Cornejo
Police Officer, Retired
City of Milwaukee Police Department
Milwaukee, Wisconsin

July 21, 2020

God bless you Corrections Officer V Jerry Esparza! Thank you for your many years of service with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. We are all thankful to you for your service, your devotion and your sacrifices, and to your family and friends for their sacrifices. Our hearts break for your loved ones!! We are so saddened by this terrible news and you will never be forgotten! Our thoughts and Prayers go out to your family, and all of your sisters and brothers in Blue that protect us. God bless you all!! (Matthew5:9)

Kelly & Eddie King

July 21, 2020

Rest, brother.

Sgt Steve Headle
Mishawaka, IN police

July 20, 2020

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 whose 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

Used with Special Permission of the Author
Copyright © 1993 - All Rights Reserved
and may not be duplicated without permission

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

July 20, 2020

Requiescat in Pacem

Sergeant Mike O'Connor
Branford CT PD

July 20, 2020

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.

Thomas H. Kelly Jr., ASAC
Federal Air Marshal Service

July 20, 2020

On behalf of the Klamath County Sheriff's Office in Klamath Falls Oregon, we send our sincerest sympathy in the recent loss of your Corrections Officer V, Jerry Esparza, from complications of the COVID-19 virus. It is always a huge loss when a fellow Corrections Officer V succumbs from this deadly virus. His bravery and courage to protect and serve your community has not gone unnoticed.

Sheriff Chris Kaber
Klamath County Sheriff's Office

July 20, 2020

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

Douglas J. Maykowski
Fraternal Order Of Police Central Macomb Lodge #187 Macomb County MI.

July 20, 2020

RIP Brother Esparza. Thank you for your lifetime commitment of service to the law enforcement community.

Officer Sandra Rapey
Lindenhurst Police Department Illinois

July 20, 2020

RIP Correction Officer Esparza. Thank you for your service to the state of Texas.

Sergeant Darren Weisse
Tufts University Police

July 20, 2020

My family and I would like to extend our sincere condolences to the family, friends, and fellow co-workers of Corrections Officer V Jerry Esparza during this difficult time. May they find comfort and support from those around them. May happy moments from the past bring forth precious memories to cherish for a lifetime. May God help heal their aching hearts. Thank you for your service and may you rest in peace Corrections Officer V Jerry Esparza.

Gail M. Pabst
Aunt of fallen Detroit Police Officer Jennifer Fettig eow 2/16/04

July 20, 2020