Officer Down Memorial Page

Rest in Peace, Chief Powell. Your sacrifice is not forgotten.

Officer 11169
April 3, 2012

Rose Garden

When you’re a kid you believe anything your told. It was summer time, school was out and my family spent lots of time together, not only my family but every family in my neighborhood. When our parents were done working for the day it was family time. Not because Dr. Phil said it was the right thing to do but because Andy Griffin did. Even though Opie didn’t have a mama, he didn’t seem to mind much because he had the best daddy ever, aside from mine that is. I guess you could say that we were all like the Leave it to Beaver family. I had one sister and two brothers and they were all older than me. Being the baby had some advantages; I was of course a daddy’s baby.
Thursday, June12, 1980, my brother, Kevin and I had been attending vacation Bible school at my neighbors church. It only lasted four days but Ms.Sally made sure that we went with her and her kids Tim and Tonya every year. This being Thursday it was our last night there. We could hardly wait to show off the things we had made while learning about our savior. I rushed inside the house eager to show mama the bee hive I had made out of the leggs egg she had given me from her panty hose. Excited and boisterous we rounded the corner into the living room “SHHH SHHH HUSH!” I heard in a voice I had never ever heard come out my mama’s mouth. Immediately I knew something was wrong and sat down very quietly on the arm of the sofa.
Still grasping my bee hive I heard my daddy’s voice on the scanner. He was giving an address, but something wasn’t right, the volume was as loud as it would go and daddy’s voice was strained like he could barely speak. I had heard my daddy’s voice on that scanner for as long as I could remember of my whole seven years of age, and that was long enough to know something was wrong. “Get my bedroom shoes!” mama yelled “why mama? What’s wrong?” me and Kevin both ask at the same time. “Just get my bedroom shoes and hurry! Get them now!” mama yelled again. I didn’t yet know what but I did know something was bad wrong because neither my mama nor my daddy ever raised there voice at us or in front of us children. “Pray Sue Ann! Pray, pray out loud” mama begged as if my sister’s prayers would be instantly answered if she’d only pray out loud.
Mama rushed us in the car and across the road back to the safe care of Ms.Sally. Never explaining what was going on after speaking to Ms. Sally mama said, “I love yall” and rushed off with my older sister still praying out loud as she was told to do. With my stomach feeling sick now, Ms. Sally took Kevin and me inside to sit in the formal living room and play with Tim and Tonya. She assured us that everything would be okay, that it was nothing bad. Because of Ms. Sally not letting us sit in the room with her and Mr. Billy I was sure she was explaining to him something that I didn’t know.
After what seemed like forever, the phone rang. I knew it had to be my mama, so I rushed to the phone and there stood Ms.Sally quietly holding the phone and listening. I waited impatiently staring at the long cord curled around our feet hanging from her ear. Fretful of what she might say I could feel the pain starting to set in. “ok I’ll see you in a few minutes bye bye,” she said, as the cord drug closer to the wall. “Go get Kevin and yall come here, I need to tell yall something,” she said. I ran and got Kevin and hurried back to the kitchen where Ms.Sally was waiting on us. It seemed as though Kevin had not sensed the same things I had from mama or the tiredness in my daddy’s voice over the scanner.
She sat each of us on the counter top side by side in the kitchen. This was the first time I remember a grown up looking me in the eye. “You know how people have flower gardens?,” she started to explain. “Every day they go to the garden and pick the prettiest flowers they see, they take them inside and keep them.” Her voice started cracking and her lip quivered as she tried to smile. “Well God has a rose garden and we are all his roses. Every day he comes and picks the prettiest roses and takes them to heaven to live with him. Today he came and he picked your daddy as his prettiest rose and took him back to heaven to live with him.” Finally one single tear ran down her face as she hugged us both and assured us that in time everything would be okay.
I don’t remember anything after my feet hit the floor when she lifted me off the counter. I don’t remember going home from her house. I don’t remember who was there. I don’t remember anything more than the sadness, pain, and anger that had set in forever. I do remember everyone saying that time heals all wounds and that it would all get better. “Who said this? What were they thinking? Why did they all lie to me, and most of all had they ever lost there daddy?” These are all questions that I have still to this day. It hurts just the same as it did the day I sat by my daddy’s flower covered casket, listening to some man playing a very sad sound on a very funny looking horn. Now thirty years later, I know he was playing Taps and it gives me chills every time I hear it played. I still don’t know how long it takes for time to heal all wounds or why those flowers on the casket were not pretty enough for God.

Rhonda Powell
The baby of His 4 Children
June 12, 2010

Chief Powell, Thank you for all you gave. God bless your family.

SSA Ellen Pierson
US ICE/PUT
May 29, 2010

Chief,

I was looking at many fallen officers praying for them and their families when I came upon you. We share a name, and a love of law enforcement. I wish to thank you for your selfless service, and dedication to those you served. I hope that I can live up to the example you have set. Please watch over those of us, your Brothers and Sisters, who still walk the beat. RIP Brother. We have the watch.

Agent Robert Powell (unrelated)
U.S. Border Patrol
February 15, 2008

"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
Sergeant
Richland County Sheriff's Department
Columbia, South Carolina
Used with Special Permission of the Author
Copyright © 1999 - All Rights Reserved
and may not be duplicated without permission

Investigator David L Bell
Richland County Sheriff's Dept., Columbia, SC
October 10, 2007

26 years ago a good man was torn from his wife,children,family and friends today june 4 2006 a good woman,mother and friend is taken from us Bobby&Ann reunited forever peace be with you both ronnie

ronnie edenfield
nephew
June 4, 2006

REST IN PEACE MY FRIEND. I SALUTE YOU! MY PRAYERS ARE WITH YOU, YOUR FAMILY, FRIENDS AND COWORKERS. I THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. A TRUE HERO INDEED.

JIM SWEENEY
A FRIEND TO ALL PEACE OFFICERS
August 21, 2005

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND DEDICATION.GOD BE WITH YOU.

J.CISNEROS
LOS ANGELES SCHOOL POLICE
July 22, 2005

Brother, 25 years ago today to gave your life for others...You are still remembered! Thank you!!

patrol
June 12, 2005

My father gave up his life on June 12, 1980, doing what he loved the most in this world.Police work was in his blood. He loved the people of every color of Swainsboro,Ga. and treated everyone fairly. He was very respected because of this.He wanted to make his town better, and did so in the short time he had.I am very proud to have been able to call him Daddy and best friend, and will forever miss him no matter how old I am.

sue moore,daughter
May 18, 2005