Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

"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

September 27, 2007

Just wanted to say hey! Still think about you daily.. That will never stop. Your picture hangs on my rifrigerator door, Not as a reminder of what happened to you, but as a reminder of who you were and to give me a laugh..going back to bed Clife... Hope you changed gods uniforms for his arc angels...white robes just won't work for me... Tell him we're blue to the core.. Blue blood, blue shirts, and blue hearts from missing you and the rest of our hero brothers and sisters!!! Peace in Southeast!

Sgt.
M.P.D.C.

September 18, 2007

Hi Rife! I sure do miss you even though I know you are always with me. During these times when I feel bad, I think of the happy times we spent together and I always feel better. THIS LADY IS GETTING OLD!!!

Those children of yours are so special. Brittney is the most beautiful young lady and Little Cif is tall and handsome. I know you're proud.

Kristine is out in the working world again and I think it's good for her. She's been through so much, so many untruths and broken promises. Please watch over.

Well, son, I just wanted to let you know I love you and I also wanted to thank you for lifting my spirits when I'm down and feel so alone...thanks for being here.

Love,

Pookie

Catherine Rodriques
Mother-in-Law

August 11, 2007

Hey Cliff, never forgot about you. Still read your reflections. More or less to find out what's going on with your kids. Still miss ya but got at least a few funny Rife stories to share with the rookies. Keep watching over us and we'll keep telling stories of you.... Goodnight Clife

mt
mpdc

August 9, 2007

May you and your loved ones be ever blessed.

June 2, 2007

All Around Me -- Flyleaf

My hands are searching for you
My arms are outstretched towards you
I feel you on my fingertips
My tongue dances behind my lips for you

This fire rising through my being
Burning I'm not used to seeing you

I'm alive, I'm alive

I can feel you all around me
Thickening the air I'm breathing
Holding on to what I'm feeling
Savoring this heart that's healing

My hands float up above me
And you whisper you love me
And I begin to fade
Into our secret place

The music makes me sway
The angels singing say we are alone with you
I am alone and they are too with you

I'm alive, I'm alive

I can feel you all around me
Thickening the air I'm breathing
Holding on to what I'm feeling
Savoring this heart that's healing

And so I cry
The light is white
And I see you

I'm alive, I'm alive, I'm alive

I can feel you all around me
Thickening the air I'm breathing
Holding on to what I'm feeling
Savoring this heart that's healing

Take my hand, I give it to you
Now you owe me, all I am
You said you would never leave me
I believe you, I believe

I can feel you all around me
Thickening the air I'm breathing
Holding on to what I'm feeling
SAVORING THIS HEART THAT'S HEALED


Amá-lo eternally!

Kristine Rife
Widow of Clifton Rife II

June 2, 2007

Cliff

remembering you on the third anniversary of your loss.Your family still struggles with your loss, but we are here for them Keep an eye on those LEO's still working the streets to keep all of us safe.

Ellen Guerdat
VP WNY Concerns of Police Survivors

Ellen Guerdat
VP WNY COPS

June 2, 2007

Clife,
Your wife and your kids are something to be proud of.... oh I know they drive Christine nuts, and the sytem makes it worse..... but they are trying to live. Christine misses you so much, gets so fed up, and so frustrated...it shoudn't have been this way. Your "baby" at her prom, in boots no less. You are missed and thought of...

Ofcr BJ Heckman-Sauer

May 7, 2007

It's been a bad couple of days (no surprise). Britt went to her first prom last nite. She's looked gorgeous, you would have loved her foot apparel...boots!! She's something else. I wish you could see Cliff, he's taller than you now. He'll be driving at the end of summer. He has me hooked on Guitar Hero. Beester is his video game buddy. I have to take him to get his class ring. It's all gone by so fast. I went back to work and it's a laugh riot every day - I love it. It'll be hard to leave it when I finish school. Nothing ever changed with anything else, same b.s. I remember talking to one of the widows a few years ago wondering why she was so angry...now I know. Oh, well...

Amá-lo eternally!

Seize The Day...Avenged Sevenfold
Seize the day or die regretting the time you lost
It's empty and cold without you here, too many people to ache over

I see my vision burn, I feel my memories fade with time
But I'm too young to worry
These streets we travel on will undergo our same lost past

I found you here, now please just stay for a while
I can move on with you around
I hand you my mortal life, but will it be forever?
I'd do anything for a smile, holding you 'til our time is done
We both know the day will come, but I don't want to leave you

I see my vision burn, I feel my memories fade with time
But I'm too young to worry (a melody, a memory, or just one picture)

Seize the day or die regretting the time you lost
It's empty and cold without you here, too many people to ache over

Newborn life replacing all of us, changing this fable we live in
No longer needed here so where do we go?
Will you take a journey tonight, follow me past the walls of death?
But girl, what if there is no eternal life?

I see my vision burn, I feel my memories fade with time
But I'm too young to worry (a melody, a memory, or just one picture)

Seize the day or die regretting the time you lost
It's empty and cold without you here, too many people to ache over

Trials in life, questions of us existing here, don't wanna die alone without you here
Please tell me what we have is real

So, what if I never hold you, yeah, or kiss your lips again?
So I never want to leave you and the memories for us to see
I beg don't leave me

Seize the day or die regretting the time you lost
It's empty and cold without you here, too many people to ache over

Trials in life, questions of us existing here, don't wanna die alone without you here
Please tell me what we have is real

Silence you lost me, no chance for one more day
I stand here alone
Falling away from you, no chance to get back home

Kristine Rife
Widow of Clifton Rife II

May 5, 2007

I remember may things about our time working together. The time you through your helment at the Lt. on Valley Avenue after chasing a naked prep. Or the time we had to fight the wanted subject on Wahler Pl. Always a fighter, always a friend, 7D Warriors until the end. Things have changed and we miss you. See you when I get there.

Vince Tucci
MPD

May 2, 2007

Hey bro! I know you'll take care of Pitt! His fight is done. Make sure he rest easy knowing we have his family here on earth! Love ya, miss you. Be with ya soon!

mpdc

April 16, 2007

Sergeant Rife, you are truely missed. rest in Peace.

God bless the Winget and Ripon Police family.

Washington DC Metropolitan Police Department-Third District

April 15, 2007

"My Brother"

Although I never met him, I knew him.
He was idealistic and believed he could make a difference.
He was immensely proud of the uniform and the badge and what they represent.
He felt privileged to be of service to his department, his community and to his country.

He was a cop.

Although I never met him, I knew him.
He was friendly, courteous, and polite, yet firm.
He laughed and joked, but was serious when necessary.
He was competent, trained, and professional.

He was a cop.

Although I never met him, I knew him.
He had a strong sense of right and wrong and became
frustrated when true justice became sidetracked.
He felt the sharp criticism that goes with the job, but he
never wavered.
He stood by and for his fellow officers.

He was a cop.

Although I never met him, I knew him.
He longed for his family during the long hours.
He worried about them during his shifts and the lonely
weekends, holidays and midnights when they were apart.
He felt guilty about the lost time, but knew his calling
and prayed they would understand.

He was a cop.

Although I never met him, I knew him.
He was a good son, a loving husband, and a devoted father.
He was dedicated to the profession and cared about the
people he served.
He wanted to do the best job that he could and strived to
be the best he could be.
He was a good citizen and a good neighbor.

He was a cop.

Yes, I did know him.
He was a cop, he was my Brother.

Rest easy Brother Rife, we have the watch...



”I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.”
---Isaiah 6:8

You answered the call and made the ultimate sacrifice. Rest easy in God's kingdom and watch over us as we continue the battle here on earth!!!

Officer
MPDC

April 8, 2007

Merry Christmas Rife family. May you all continue to move forward in life and heal.

December 18, 2006

Lonely Day...System of a Down

Such a lonely day
And it’s mine
The most loneliest day of my life

Such a lonely day
Should be banned
It’s a day that I can't stand

The most loneliest day of my life
The most loneliest day of my life

Such a lonely day
Shouldn’t exist
It's a day that I’ll never miss

Such a lonely day
And it’s mine
The most loneliest day of my life

And if you go,
I wanna go with you
And if you die,
I wanna die with you
Take your hand and walk away

The most loneliest day of my life
The most loneliest day of my life
The most loneliest day of my life

Such a lonely day
And it’s mine
It’s a day that I’m glad I survived



Luv ya!!

Kristine

October 31, 2006

Happy Birthday Old Man!!

Luv ya!

Kristine

July 31, 2006

It has been a long two years and I think of you often. I need to work harder on keeping contact with your family. In this area I have failed but I will improve. Matthew is a Marine, like you, and he made it back in one piece from Iraq. The family is great and I’m working at Youth Division. Your death opened my eyes to several aspect of my own life and for this I am thankful. I wish I could have done more for a true hero.

Folts

Detective Jeff Folts
Metropolitan Police DC-Friend

June 5, 2006

Remembering you on this the 2nd Anniversary of your tragic death. God bless you and may you rest in peace.

Anne (Civilian UK)

June 2, 2006

My brother, while on duty as an undercover drug agent, was also the victim of an attempted armed robbery. Unfortunately, be never had the chance to brandish his weapon...

As the second anniversary of your tragic death draws near, please know that your dedication and sacrifice have not been forgotten. You will forever be remembered as a hero.

Linda Lamm - LEO wife and sister of
Jay Balchunas EOW 11.05.04

June 1, 2006

Not a bad man, a great cook, and had a great sense of humor. People come and go, hate is spawened through sorrow. Dad told me not to lived simply by hate because there are those in the world who will be like that but ingore them and lived happly for the remander of life. You can put a smile on someones face and not be a hero like a cop. Dad was a hero just by being there for us. Even he was a pain some times, everyone has those momets in life where anger just slips. He loved us no matter what. I will miss him, just ingore me bad mouthing him and mocking him. He is in my mind even in death he helps me make choices. Thought my shell of hate lies the kind me trapped leave me to get out my mind and you will see the kind me like dad did no matter what i did. I will miss him and after I get marryed have, have kids and tell Clifton Rife IV and sister Sheena or Ayamie or what ever I name her or his brother about my father and what he did and ment to all of us. Forever deep down I will hide (don't bug me about this Kristine or anyone who reads this because I will go banannas on you)I miss him. Also haveing some good compition in viedo games will be missed too. Bye bye daddy see ya when I kick la bucket. :( (sinffles)

Clifton Rife III Son (duh)

April 11, 2006

Clifton and I were in academy class 90-24 together. We saw each other in court a lot. I want to know his kids to know what a great guy he was and how much his dry sense of humour helped get us through the long painful academy days. If we had gottten a chance to work together on the streets, we would have cleaned up DC in a week. my regards to the family , Joe

Officer Joseph Zelinka
MPD -3D

March 30, 2006

I can't breath at all
It hurts to think
that time could heal my wounds
feeling I've been betrayed
Black Sunday still burns you in my thoughts
I can't sleep at all
Now you're gone away
I can't fake this anymore
Guess I could blame it all
on God's game
or explain what my life's for

Caught in a winters rain
I can't remember a word you said
Take away my fear please hold on to me
I'm falling
Falling

I will trade it all
for another day
just to feel you and your warmth
but even pictures fade
Black Sunday still burns you in my thoughts
I can't see at all
did you fly away
Did the stars shine bright for you
Guess I could blame it all
on God's game
it was fate that carried you

You always take away
Take away
Take away

and I'm falling
I'm falling
I'm falling
I'm falling
I'm falling

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!!

Love you!

Kristine

February 14, 2006

You're girl is driving!! I can't believe it. Where did the time go when she was just a bald little thing, running around naked. The boy is sprouting like a weed. His face has changed so much. He's becoming quite the young man. The two of them went jogging today. It's funny to see them together; they get along better now. The kids and I went to pet store today. They had a golden retriever. I'm surprised I made it out of the store without him.

I went to DC last week for the first time in a while - it depresses me. Seeing the police cars, reminding me what the kids and I don't have anymore, promises made. I gave up on those a long time ago. I guess I was naive. Only one person kept their promise. Regardless, I have our parents and my sisters. And of course, Breet and Rocket.

I still laugh when I hear "Crazy in Love" -- nice butt!!

Love you!!

Kristine

"Haunt me
In my dreams
If you please
Your breath is with me now and always
It's like a breeze"

February 2, 2006

Just wanted to say hey. I go to this site at least once a week an re-read all of your reflections. I usually lock myself in the the room to do it wich leads the better half to think that I'm up to something more. LOL. But I'm not. I just need some alone time to reflect and read your reflections and those of the other heros that forever will be etched in stone with you on those cold gray walls of the police memorial. Oh, guess who's on the Sgt. list. thats right,ME!.LMAO. .Imagine me a Sergeant. btw, thanks alot.You leave some pretty big shoes to fill.(and big shoes dont mean nothing) I dont expect that I'll ever be near the supervisor you were, but if I can be half that I'll know that I'll be a great Sergeant. Clife, there's not a day that goes by that I dont think of you. I only wish I would have appriciated having you here this much when you were here, and it did'nt have to take losing you to realize just how special you were to us. Well, gotta go Clife. I dont NEED to go anymore, I just chose to. I'm in a pretty good place right now. Me,the ABM, and RK still get together on a regular and it seems the Jamisons tends to come up a little short. But while the toast goes to you, our thoughts and prayers are with your family. Escpeccially your children .Depresing as this site may, be I do find solice here reading the thoughts and prayers of our extended family.Even when these people write about what a good, brave, or heroic man you were, They have honestly been cheated in not knowing you. While you were all of the above, you were so much more than a police officer. You were a father, a son, a brother, a friend and a roll modle. ( god, I hope someone speaks of me so highly when I go)LOL. We love and miss you Clife. Oh, maybe you should ask RK what exactly he was doing when he wrecked his car the other night ( he wasnt hurt). Now that would make for some intesting conversation right there
. And I dont care who you are.
Love ya,
Michael T.
P.S. Tell Duke to get in touch with somebody about this police week

Michael T
MPDC

January 30, 2006

Tonight is the Tree ceremony in front of MPD and Cliff and Britt did a wonderful job decorating the ornaments for the tree in your honor. What is so sad is these ornaments grow each year as an officer leaves behind a family but everybody tries their best to help them get through these tough times. May you rest in peace

COPS WIFE

December 7, 2005