Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

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 23, 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

Officer Pongay, for many years, you dedicated your life to protecting others that they may be safe. It took a small virus to take your life. Our Lord, who sees all and knows all, will reward you abundantly for your courage, dedication and selfless service. May He immerse you and your loved ones in His Divine Mercy. Rest in peace, good and faithful servant.

Jess Espinosa
Civilian

July 23, 2020

Deepest Sympathy to the family of Correctional Officer IV Pongan and to his Brothers and Sisters of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Institutioal Division , Texas. May GOD give his family and associates understanding and comfort in their loss. RIP Brother.

Chaplain Terry L. Longacre (Ret.Manor Tw
Red Rose Lodge FOP# 16 Lancaster, County Pennsylvanianbiu hasMa

July 22, 2020

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

Father of a Corrections Officer David So
Civilian

July 22, 2020

God bless you Corrections Officer IV Jackson Pongay! Thank you for your 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 22, 2020

Rest easy brother thank you for your service. May your sacrifice or memory never fade.

Jerry Matalone #8046 Ret.
Des Moines Iowa Police Departmental

July 22, 2020

Rest in Peace Correction Officer Pongay. Thank you for your service. My thoughts and prayers are with the Pongay Family and the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

Cpl. Gary Hughes (Retired)
Passaic County Sheriff's Office New Jersey

July 22, 2020

Rest in peace Officer Pongay!
You will not be forgotten!

Willie Bell Hopewell VA!
Friend Of All Law Enforcement Officers!

July 22, 2020

On behalf of POINT 27, we would like to offer condolences for Corrections Officer Jackson Pongay. Please know we are eternally grateful for Jackson’s service and his ultimate sacrifice.

To honor Corrections Officer Pongay, POINT 27 sent 27 Thin Blue Line Dog Tag Necklaces, engraved with “Blessed are the Peacemakers for they will be called children of God” Matthew 5:9, to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice-Institution Division for Jackson’s partner and fellow officers.

POINT 27 is a Non-Profit organization with a mission to strengthen and encourage members of the Armed Forces, First Responders, and their families, by sharing scripture on Dog Tags and Jewelry called Shields of Strength.

We will never forget and we are forever grateful.

Respectfully,

Colonel David Dodd,
United States Army Retired
Executive Director-POINT 27

Detective Jerry M. Rhodes (Retired)
Dallas Police Department-Reserve Division
POINT 27 National Outreach Coordinator
Law Enforcement Liaison
[email protected]
214-908-2617

Detective Jerry M. Rhodes (Retired)
Dallas Police Department Reserve Division
POINT 27- National Out Reach Coordinator
Law Enforcement Liaison

July 22, 2020

Pongay family and friends may God grant all of you with a speedy healing. CO Pongay thank you for your service to your Community and Department. Most of all thank you for your Ultimate Sacrifice in the Line of Duty.

Res.Sgt Rudy Jones
Cuyahoga Falls, OH Police Department

July 22, 2020

Thank you sir for your service GOD BLESS.

Mrs.C Singleton /Concern Citizen

July 22, 2020

Rest in peace Corrections Officer IV Pongay.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

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 IV Jackson Pongay and the extended law enforcement family of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice - Institutional Division, Texas.



End of Watch Sunday, July 19, 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 22, 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 IV, Jackson Pongay, from complications of the COVID-19 virus. It is always a huge loss when a fellow Corrections Officer IV 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 22, 2020

God rest his soul.

Sgt. Robert A. Henne
Jersey City PD/Retired

July 22, 2020

Session 18 of the Zone 5 Regional Law Enforcement Training Academy.
We thank you for your service. We offer our sincerest condolences to your family and friends.

Session 18, Zone 5 Regional Law Enforcement Training Academy

July 22, 2020

Faithful Unto Death | Eternal Rest | Salute

S. I. Drake - Lt/IPD | IMPD (Ret)

July 22, 2020

Mr. Pongay was an exceptional man. He truly cared for everyone he came in contact with. His smile was infectious and he will truly be missed. I had the pleasure of working with him .Rest easy Pongay. Our TDCJ family at Lychner will never forget you.

Retired Correctional Officer V
Texas Department of Criminal justice

July 21, 2020

Rest In Peace my brother. May God bless and watch over your family.

Col. Tony Araujo
Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office

July 21, 2020

Thank you for your service and please know that your sacrifice will never, ever be forgotten. Rest in peace always.

Detective Cpl/3 Steven Rizzo
Delaware State Police (Retired)

July 21, 2020

RIP, CO Pongay. Thank you for your service. Praying for your loved ones.

Officer C Curione, ret.
Rochester Police Department, NY

July 21, 2020

Praying for your family, friends, colleagues, and agency during this very difficult time for them and all of us. Thank you for your service! We shall remember you with pride and admiration always! May God Bless the Blue!

“The peacemakers are blessed, for they will be called sons [children] of God.” [Matthew 5:9 HCSB];

“Those who mourn are blessed, for they will be comforted.” [Matthew 5:4 HCSB], and;

“No one has greater love than this, that someone would lay down his life for his friends.” [John 15:13 HCSB]

Depart in peace, Brother-in-Blue; in the name of God the Father who created you; in the name of Christ Jesus who redeemed you; in the name of the Holy Spirit who sanctifies you. May you rest in peace and dwell forever with the Lord. Amen.

Chaplain Steven R. Closs, D.Div, MSBS, CIMT, NCCA
Ordained/Licensed/Certified Independent Ecumenical Clergy / Chaplain
The Steven R. Closs Intercessory Prayer Ministry
Merrimack, NH 03054

Chaplain Steven R. Closs, D.Div, MSBS
Nashua NH and Merrimack NH Police Departments

July 21, 2020

"Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God."
Matthew 5:9

Chris Di Gerolamo
Federal Air Marshal Service

July 21, 2020

Rest In Peace...

Retired Detective
Syracuse Police Dept, NY

July 21, 2020