Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

Agent Rodriquez your work as we know it on this Earth is done. You are in God's Hands now sister. May you rest in peace.

SGT. Daryl Brewer
Clarksville Police Dept. Clarksville, Tennessee

June 2, 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 © 1993 - All Rights Reserved
and may not be duplicated without permission

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

March 19, 2008

Susan,
I just wanted to let you and your family know that we won't forget the sacrifice you made. As a classmate of yours, I remember the good times we all had. God Bless you and I know you are watching over us.

Mean Green 261

Sgt. Billy Shelton
Texas DPS

March 1, 2008

Just wanted to let you know that you are not forgotten. July 07, 1998 is a day I'll never forget. You and your family will always be in our hearts.

Gary Renick, Senior Special Agent, ICE
Former USBP, McAllen, TX

May 4, 2007

Susan,
I would like to say thank you to you and your partner for your service and sacrifice for our Country and to the Patrol. And to your family and loved ones, I wish to extend my deepest sympathy. I had just arrived in the Rio Grande Valley the day before on Detail and saw the ambulances and BP vehicles go by on the highway as we were on our way to Harlingen for our briefing we were informed about what happened. That was a really bad day. I'm out of El Paso Station and I have worked with some BPAs that knew and they had nothing but good memories about you.

R.I.P.
A fellow BPA

Anonymous

March 7, 2007

Susan was my classmate of class 261. I know that she now is our class guardian. Rest Peace We'll take the sign from here

SBPA
USBP

January 14, 2007

They say that things happen for a reason: sometimes we never know what those reasons are; I recently met someone from Rockwood, TN., she placed some flowers on your grave for me, took some pictures too. Brought tears to my eyes to see you in such a beautiful place, and more tears while thinking about why you ended up in such a beautiful place. May you Rest In Peace. As I said, i've never forgotten you and never will. I will always love you, my friend.

FOS Karen L. Gales-Lopez
USBP

January 3, 2007

Susan-
You have never left my heart and mind for all these years. I think about you and miss you daily; your daughter and your husband. You left this life far too early. I can only hope you are in a better place, watching your beloved daughter grow and learn. You were such a wonderful person in life and can only imagine that your soul continues to be.
All my love to you and your family,
Karen Lynn Gales-Lopez

FOS Karen L. Gales-Lopez
USBP

December 21, 2006

May you Rest in Peace and may your precious daughter know your love is still with and always will be around her as she grows.

July 7, 2006

Susan,

Our baby turned ten on saturday. We had her brithday party at your Mom's house. We love you and miss you very,very much. You are alive in our hearts and dreams.

Gilbert Rodriguez, SSA
husband, DHS/ICE

June 12, 2006

I still feel the pain of the friend I lost as if it were yesterday because she was such a great friend, wife and a wonderful mother. I remember Susan's laughter and her warm smile. I will always remember her for the beautiful memories she left in my heart. God Bless the Rodriguez and the Salinas Family.

Senior Patrol Agent Melissa Izaguirre
United States Border Patrol/CBP

January 5, 2005

I salute you as a brave warrior who paid the ultimate sacrifice for this country. I hope your family keeps your memory alive for your child and tells her everyday what a hero her Mother was and still is and that you will never be forgotten. I know your family grieves every day over their loss and I know the feeling very well as I lost my son In the Line of Duty this year and he has small children. I also have the job of keeping his memor alive for them. God Watch over you and your loving family.

Robert Gordon
Father of Officer Michael P. Gordon
EOW 8/8/04

Robert Gordon, Asst. Chief, Ret.
Riverside PD, IL

September 20, 2004

As the anniversary approaches of this brave Warrior's sacrifice, May God Grant her Family, Friends, and Fellow Border Patrol Agents, the Serenity to Accept the things they cannot change, The Courage to change the things they can, and the Wisdom to know the difference....Rest in Peace Blue Angel....

Officer Debra McFall Ross
East Buffalo Twp Police Dept, Lewisburg, Pa.

July 2, 2004

Susan, so much happened that day.  But so much happened before that day.  You were a good journeywoman to me.  When you prepared me for my post academy spanish test you could see my fear.  You knew excatly what it was fear, not pride or anything else.  You looked straight into my eyes and said,"Don't worry, you are going to make it".  Those words meant so much to me, especially because not many superiors liked me or  thought I could or would...thanks. Than one day you saw that I was having a hard time "making it" with only three rough duty uniforms, you immediately offered me some of yours.  The next day you brought them in and said,"I had more but ____ needs some too, you will have to share".  I was just so relieved to have extra!  Than you found out I had my kids for the summer a couple of days before that day.  You sympathized with me and offered me encouragement.  You as working mother understood me even if at the time my kids did not live with.  You knew how r!
ough it was for that spring and how rough it would be that summer.  You were so encouraging on a subject which is still so unspoken of. Your pride in your baby girl as you tried to potty train her is still in my mind.  Concerning the shooting, God, you have more guts than any man I know!  You responded to a call to back a Sheriff, for all that Border Patrol Agents are judged, You made sure you were back-up, you could have gone home because your shift was ending, or accidently gotten lost...No...you had more courage, more than many departments put together. You are an officer in every sense of the word.  You and Ricardo are my heros.  They can say what they want but that is because that is all they do...talk.  You did it...in a time and in a place where it is hard for citizens to understand a mission..."to protect...against foreign or domestic".  God Susan no one deserves that, and certainly not you.  Your shoes are too big for anyone.  I can not forget you and Ricky.    

Elsa M Reyna
Ex-Trainee

I never met you, but I know so much about you. I’ve met your family and I know that you loved your job and fellow Border Patrol Agents as much as you loved your family...especially Meagan, your baby. You were at the end of your shift on that faithful morning. You could have gone home, but you didn’t. Like a true professional, you answered the backup call. Our country lost two great agents that day, but God gained two new angels! I also know that along with Ricardo, you are watching over our families and every law enforcement officer in our great country. Vaya con Dios, Susan.

A. Salinas
USAF Retired

I was in the academy when you two answered your last call, I remember it vividly, because yours were the second and third on duty deaths since I joined the patrol, all murdered. I remember the sinking feeling I experienced when our Law Instructor told us what had happened, that year wasn't a good one for the Patrol. now, looking back over 5 years of law enforcement I have known a few of our honored brothers and sisters who have sacrificed, have been to some funerals, and missed others, and I am sure there will be more in the future. But I will always remember you three the most clearly. Rest in peace.

Special Agent Harrison
USDOT

Rest easy, warrior. You lived and died a hero. You will never be forgotten and we continue for you.

Deputy M. Moore
Warren County S.O. (OH)