Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

God bless the family, friends, and coworkers of this fallen hero. Rest in peace, sergeant.

Andrew
Baltimore City Police

June 3, 2004

SGT Rife,
Thank you for your service to this great nation and community. All of us lost a brother and we will NEVER forget. God Bless you and I will pray for you and your family.

SGT Phil Abdoo
Macomb County Sheriff (MI)

June 3, 2004

Sorry to see yet another officer die a senseless and tragic death. My thoughts and prayers to all the family and friends of Sgt. Rife. God bless you all and rest peacefully Sgt.

Private
United States Park Poilce

June 3, 2004

Amercia Lost another hero, Here was a man, that was off duty and in another jursidiction, but his training kicked in and he took care of business. and helped protect the citizens from harms way..now thats a true hero. Sgt Rife go patrol the streets of heaven we will continue your quest here. to the friends and family please turn to God for confort..

Sgt. W. M. Riley
Aragon Ga Police Dept.

June 3, 2004

“When God made Peace Officers….”

When the lord was creating Peace Officers, he was into his sixth day of overtime when an angel appeared and said, “You’re doing a lot of fiddling around on this one.”

And the Lord said, Have you read the spec on this order? A Peace Officer has to be able to run five miles through alleys in the dark, scale walls, enter homes the health inspector wouldn’t touch, and not wrinkle their uniform.

They have to be able to sit in an undercover car all day on a stakeout, cover a homicide scene that night, canvass the neighborhood for witnesses, and testify in court the next day.

They have to be in top physical condition at all times, running on black coffee and half- eaten meals. And they have to have six pairs of hands.

The angel shook her head slowly and said, “Six pairs of hands….No Way.”

“It’s not the hands that are causing me the problems,” said the Lord, “It’s the three pairs of eyes an officer has to have.”

That’s on the standard model? asked the angel.

The Lord nodded. One pair that sees through a bulge in a pocket before he asks, “May I see what’s in there sir?” (When they already know and wishes they had taken that accounting job.) Another pair here in the side of their head for their partners’ safety. And another pair of eyes here in front that can look reassuringly at a bleeding victim and say, “ You’ll be alright ma’am, when they know it isn’t so.”

“Lord,” said the angel, touching his sleeve,” rest and work tomorrow.”

“I can’t,” said the Lord, “I already have a model that can talk a 250 pound drunk into a patrol car without incident and feed a family of five on civil service paycheck.”

The angel circled the model of the Peace Officer very slowly, “Can it think?” she asked.

“You bet,” said the Lord, “It can tell you elements of a hundred crimes, recite Miranda warnings in it’s sleep; detain, investigate, search, and arrest a gang member on the street in less time than it takes five judges to debate the legality of the stop…and still it keeps it’s sense of humor.

This officer also has phenomenal personal control. They can deal with crime scenes painted in HELL, coax a confession from a child abuser, comfort a murder victim’s family’ and then read in the daily paper how Law Enforcement isn’t sensitive to the rights of criminal suspects.

Finally, the angel bent over and ran her finger across the cheek of the Peace Officer. “There’s a leak,” she pronounced. “I told you that you were trying to put too much into this model.”

“That’s not a leak,” said the Lord, “It’s a tear.”

“What’s the tear for?” asked the angel.

“It’s for bottled-up emotions, for fallen comrades, for commitment to that funny piece of cloth called the American flag, and for justice.”

“You’re a genius,” said the angel.

The Lord looked sober. “I didn’t put it there,” he said.


Anonymous

Senior Instructor
Federal Law Enforcement Training Center

June 3, 2004

God Speed, Brother.

P.O. K.Murphy
Union PD, NJ

June 3, 2004

Clifton go rest easy my brother we will take it from here. To the family I know the last 13 years have been hard. I imagine the next 13 years will be harder. But Clifton could not have done it without you. He gave his life to better this world,,,,there is no greater love. God Bless his life, he is a hero to all and an inspiration to me.

PO II Russell Ward
Metro Nashville Police Dept.

June 3, 2004

Sleep well my friend for you have done your duty. Those of us left SALUTE YOU those of us before WELCOME YOU.

P.C. J. MACDUFF
Toronto Police Service - CANADA

June 3, 2004

In loving memory of Sgt. Clifton Rife:
Thank you for your selfless service and for your ultimate sacrifice. You gave your entire adult life to serve and protect. It is a long road to healing that lies ahead, but I know that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will extend His mercy and comfort to all who reach out to Him. There is none greater than He. We don't get to Heaven based on what we do,
but what He did for us!! AMEN! There is now a huge void that cannot be
filled. God be with all those who mourn and may His promises lift all those with heavy hearts for many years to come. I found this poem on another's site and wanted to share it.

We may never understand it,
the risks these brave ones take,
but occasionally we see a bit
of the difference their lives make.
Some do it for the action,
others find it a callin'.
All find the satisfaction,
and few become the fallen.
Being an officer is what he loved,
To him as good as it gets.
Law was what he dreamed of,
He would have no regrets.
And though it saddens all of us
to lose him in this way
He knew how an officer must
Live life to the fullest everyday.

You are in my thoughts. If only I could erase your pain...
From one coast of America to the
other,

Lynn Kole
Washington State

June 3, 2004

Our prayers go out to the family and friends of Sgt. Rife at this very tragic time....We shall remember while the light lasts and in the darkness we shall NOT FORGET!!!

Officer
Sandusky Police Depratment, Ohio

June 3, 2004

There are but two persons who protect the sinful human race from destroying itself. One is God's Holy Spirit. The other is the Peace Officer. Without them, we would all perish at each other's hands.

You were called into this profession and our Lord and Savior has blessed you because:
According to Romans 13.1-5...
God ordains the Peace Officer’s profession.
The Peace Officer is sent by God.
The Peace Officer is vested with God's authority to enforce the law.
A Peace Officer's badge is to be honored by us, because it is honored by God.

To the family of Sergeant Clifton Rife and the Metropolitan Police Department, your extended family of Law Enforcement Officers grieves with you during this time. I pray that God will wrap his loving arms around each of you and comfort you during this most difficult time.

You gave the ultimate sacrifice for your fellow man, your life.
While serving, defending, and protecting others in your community.
Rest easy with our other fallen Brothers and Sisters, we have the watch now.

To all my brothers and sisters, please remember the fallen officers we have lost. Remember the men and women who died trying to make this world a safer and better place for us all to live in. Please pray for this officer's family, agency, and friends as they struggle with this tragedy.
May God be with you every day, please remember, we are a part of the largest family in the world and when one hurts we all hurt.

Though our badges and uniforms may be different, our mission is the same. We will continue the fight in your honor.

Florida Deputy Sheriff

June 3, 2004

The life of another hero is taken too soon. My deepest sympathy to MPD, the family, friends and co-workers of Sergeant Rife. May the Lord give you strength and bless each of you during this time.
Rest in peace for your watch here is over; walk in heavens beat and guide us all to protect and serve others safely.

US Ranger Catroppa
National Park Service Kennesaw GA

June 3, 2004

The world may never know that you gave the ultimate sacrifice to keep its sons and daughters safe, but I do, and all of your brothers and sisters in blue do. We all share with your loved ones the deep sorrow of saying goodbye to a part of our family. May God Bless the Rife family, Officers in the MPDC and everyone else who gives so much for the service of others.

Officer R.A. Murfitt
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department

June 2, 2004

Day is done,
gone the sun.
From the hills,
from the lake,
From the skies.
All is well,
safely rest,
God is nigh.

Godspeed to you and your family.

JAMES A. WILLIAMS
N.Y.P.D.

June 2, 2004

My deepest condolences to the Rife family and the officers and staff of the Washington DC Metro Police Department over the tragic loss of Sergeant Clifton Rife. Once again a brother officer has been taken from the thin blue line. May our brother Clifton rest in peace. Never forget the fallen hero!

Ofcr. Dan Winger
LBCCPD, Ret.

June 2, 2004

Rest easy brother, for you have given the ultimate sacrifice.

Ofc Demand
Town of Manlius PD

June 2, 2004

MY BROTHER IN BLUE, MAY GOD BLESS THOSE WHO LOVE YOU. YOU SERVED WELL. MAY YOU REST IN PEACE. A HERO FOR SURE.

CHIEF RONNIE WATFORD-RET.
JEFFERSON POLICE DEPT,S.C.

June 2, 2004

Another hero lost. Rest in peace brother.

PFC J. DAUZAT
ALEXANDRIA POLICE DEPT, LA

June 2, 2004

You are a true hero your family should be proud. You will be in my thoughts and prayers.

Ofc Clay Fallis
Tallahassee Police Dept.

June 2, 2004

Rest in peace sir. Thank you for your service

Shannon
concerned citizen

June 2, 2004

I extend my sympathy to the family, friends and members of the Metropolitan Police Department in the death of Sgt. Clifton Rife. Twice in a week your agency has suffered the lost of one of your own. You have lost true hero's and leaders from your ranks. Always know that we stand with you in your time of loss.

Cpl. Bryan Taylor
Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office Tampa, Fl.

June 2, 2004

Our thoughts and prayers are with the family, friends and co-workers of Sgt. Rife. May God grant you peace and understanding in this trajedy. Sgt. Rife died a hero. America thanks you for your dedication and sacrifice. May you rest in peace sir.

Captain Robert W Cannon, Ret.
Vermilion Co, Il. Sheriff's Dept.

June 2, 2004

Sergeant Rife, thank you for your service to our city and the sacrafice you made. Rest easy, brother.

Officer Michael Wilhelm
The George Washington University Police Dept

June 2, 2004

May God be with the family, friends and coworkers of Sgt Rife. My heart and prayers are with you all. Rest in peace Sgt, and thank you for a job well done.

Deb Azure
Mother of Deputy Renee D. Azure
EOW 08/06/02

June 2, 2004

Our deepest condolences to the Family, friends and coworkers of Sergeant Rife

Newark NJ PD Auto Theft Task Force

June 2, 2004