Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

I had the honor of attending your funeral and meeting some of the men and women you worked with. I had only wished I could have met them and you under different terms. May you rest in peace my brother. Your sacrifice will never be forgotten.

Officer R.J.Pike
Raleigh Police Department

October 5, 2005

"Greater Love Hath No Man, Than A Man That Lays Down His Life For A Friend" It was an honor to serve with you and my pleasure to know you. My thoughts and prayers are with you, your family, and friends.

Deputy Yonge
Cumberland County Sheriff's Office

October 5, 2005

To Brian's family; my thoughts and prayers are with you, God Bless.


Brian, I am so fortunate to have worked with you. As you were ending your field training I was begining mine. Everyone was questing who I was. Yourself and D-Platoon welcomed me. My first weekend you were trianing with Sgt. O'Branovich and I with Sgt. Casey, we answered several calls together, ate meals together, and laughed at each others silly comments.

I see you smiling... better yet, beaming as you passed your tests and received your assignment. You were sincerely filled with pride.

I am truly honored to have these memories. Thank you.

As A-Platoon takes over your watch may you rest in peace.

L.A. Guedalia
Cumberland County Sheriff's Office

Sgt. Linda Guedalia
Cumberland County Sheriff's Office

October 5, 2005

Brian, you are the true definition of courage. I have never felt so much pride and hurt in my heart than I felt the day we lay you to rest. I thank God and your parents for blessing us with such an outstanding officer and friend. God bless your family and may he give them comfort in knowing you were the type of person that we all strive to be.

Detective Christy Booyer
Cumberland County Sheriff's Office

October 5, 2005

My sincerest sympathy to the family and friends of D/S Matthews as well as to the CCSO members. Rest in peace Deputy Matthews you are gone but never forgotten, you are now 10-42.

We shall remember while the light last
and in the darkness we shall not forget

Diane Dodge
Polk County Sheriff's Office, Bartow, FL

October 5, 2005

Your spirit will "ALWAYS" be apart of A Platoon. We know you are in a better place! Rest in peace Brian (A14)we love you!

(508) CSI/A Platoon

Cpl. T. D. Taylor
Cumberland County Sheriff's Office

October 5, 2005

Thank you for your service and a job well done, and making this a safer place to live. Having gone through the pain of losing my son, I can sympathize with your pain.. May God comfort your family during this time. My thoughts and prayers are with you, asking God to give you comfort & strength through the long days and nights ahead.

Brenda Lucas, Mother of fallen officer
Anthony D. Lucas, French Camp, MS, Police Chief & Dept. of Miss. Patrol Officer, EOW – February 4, 2005

October 5, 2005

I didn't have the pleasure of working closely directly with Deputy Matthews. I didn't know him on a personal level, all interaction I ever had with him was professionally. The occasional hello as we passed in the halls, maybe.

Like others have written before me, Brian gave his life, doing what he loved, protecting and serving a county that he loved. He, was, in his final moments, going to help a friend and fellow law enforcement officer.

Brian was very loved, and very well respected, both on a professional and personal level. That much was evident in the tears of the law enforcement officers that gathered at his funeral to bid farwell to one of their own. It was in the faces of his family as they too mourned his loss.

Friday Morning, around 11:00 or 11:30, Brian was in my office, looking for one of my detectives. I told him that he wasn't here, but was there anything I could do for him. Brian said no, he'd come back later. We never suspected there wouldn't be a later.

As he was leaving my office, I said to him that I'd let the detective know he came by.

He turned back and looked over his shoulder as he was walking away and smiled.

"Thank you," he said.

No, Brian. Thank YOU.

C. Palaita
Cumberland County Sheriff's Office

October 5, 2005

I am deeply saddend to hear of the passing of Dep. Matthews. He was a great guy. I became ill while on duty one day and went to the hospital were Matthews was then assigned.He saw to it that I was seen quickly by medical staff and checked on me constantly.He even called my wife and assured her that I was ok and not to worry about me.He told her that he was with me and that I would be ok.I will never forget that day.I then had the privilige of working with him on A- Platoon and was quick to learn that he was much more than just a great guy, he was a man of honor and harboured a great deal of integrity, he was a very effective law enforcement officer, one that was loved and will be missed forever.God Bless Chris, his family and friends, and all my brothers and sisters of the CCSO.I grieve with you all. Dep. T.J. Mobley

Dep. Thomas J. Mobley
Jones County Sheriff's Office Jones County Mississippi

October 5, 2005

Our hearts go out to the family of Deputy Matthews. You are a true hero who made the ultimate sacrifice. May the memory of your service, heroism and sacrifice remain forever. May God bless you, your family and brother/sister officers and guide you all through this most difficult of times. AC

Trooper
Pennsylvania State Police

October 5, 2005

I never knew Deputy Matthews personally, just in passing at the jail and the road. Talking to several people he was a great Deputy and friend. He will be missed very much, and my heart goes out to his family and friends. We have the watch from here you can now rest in peace.

Police Officer James M. Walker
Fayetteville Police Dept

October 5, 2005

To the family, friends and co-workers of Deputy Matthews.......
Gods Blessing Be With you....
Thanks for your service Deputy Matthews..

October 5, 2005

On behalf of the members of the Sutherlin Police Department, I send to you, our heartfelt condolences and prayers in your time of sadness. May your fallen officer’s legacy live on in the memories of his friends and family. Rest now brother, after a job well done. We’ll take it from here.

Corporal Justin Marquis
Sutherlin Police Department, Sutherlin, OR

October 5, 2005

To the family and friend of Deputy Christopher Matthews:
Oh how my heart cries for all of you. I know the pain and agony that come with such a loss. May God grant all of you His peace that passes all understanding and carry you through the days and weeks ahead.
Trisha Tucker wife of Investigator Mark Tucker eow 2/12/2004

Trisha Tucker

October 4, 2005

God bless you Officer Matthews...rest in peace. .

Phoenix PD Employee

October 4, 2005

My deepest sympathy goes out to the friends and family of this fallen hero.

Andrew, Detective
Baltimore City Police

October 4, 2005

May God bless you and keep you always. You will never be forgotten.

DE
St. Louis City Police

October 4, 2005

In Valor there is Hope. Rest in Peace

P.O. Chris Welby
Bridgeton, Mo. PD

October 4, 2005

Some day we'll all get to meet those brave souls who preceeded us into Heaven and get to hear the 'war stories' that get generated from patrolling there. Deputy Matthews will no doubt have his share.

He'll be missed by all who knew and loved him, but they can take comfort in knowing he's still with them, so long as they hold him in their hearts.

Ptl. Jim Leahy Jr.
Harvard University Police Dept.

October 4, 2005

Our tears & love, sadness and support are with the family, friends and co-workers of this young Deputy who lost his life serving & protecting. May God comfort & keep you all in this terrible time of loss. We are here for you -

Rest in peace Hero Deputy Matthews.

John Dees
NC C.O.P.S.

October 4, 2005

GOD BLESS,DEPUTY MATTHEWS AND THE LOVED ONES, WHICH HE LEAVES BEHIND.

RCT
MISSOURI CITY PD

October 4, 2005

Unfortunately, I did not have the privilege to serve directly with Chris Matthews. From talking with fellow deputies who knew Chris, he had tremendous pride in his uniform and carried out his duties with the utmost dedication. Chris loved to be a deputy sheriff with the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office and definitely enjoyed working the “East Side.” Chris, rest in peace Brother. God Bless!

Det. Humberto Pelay, MCIU
Cumberland County Sheriff's Office, NC

October 3, 2005

I am so sorry to read an additional name on this site after just losing an Officer in my department on 9/29/05. My heart aches for your family, co-workers and friends. I know your pain and will keep all of you in my closest thoughts and prayers.

Ofcr. Colleen Rosenfeld
Newtown Borough P.D., Bucks Co,PA

October 3, 2005

My heart goes out Deputy Matthews family.

One day a police officer approaches Heaven's Gates
The Police Officer from beneath weary eyes looks to St. Peter
St. Peter says, "Who is this that approaches Heaven's Gate?"
Have you always been a person free of prejudice or hate?
The Police Officer looking gloom responds
At times I have been cursed when I deal with those in life
Snapped at my friends, my family, my wife
Handled the evil of man with malice of heart
My temper unchecked and allowed to blow off the chart
I've show no mercy when mercy was due
Put myself before others and sometime before God and you
So if you turn me away I understand
I've ruined my life alone by my own hand
The Officer tears and hangs his head
A heart full of pain and full of dread
When by surprise St. Peter raises the Officers head
he looks at St. Peter as he says,
Though you admit your wrongs and apparently hard on one's self
Our GOD is a loving GOD and expects you to forgive yourself
It is apparent you have seen much while serving on earth
But my son GOD forgave the day of your birth
We are not all destined to live in hell
come walk a beat on Heaven's Streets
You carry your burdens well.


God Bless.

Deputy Sheriff M. Steffman
Hall County Sheriff's Office

October 3, 2005

“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

October 3, 2005