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| The Monument I never dreamed it would be me My Name for all eternity Recorded here at this hallowed place Alas, my name, no more my face "In the line of duty" I hear them say My family now the price will pay My folded flag stained with their tears We only had those few short years The badge no longer on my chest I sleep now in eternal rest My sword I pass to those behind And pray they keep this thought in mind I never dreamed it would be me And with heavy heart and bended knee I ask for all here from the past Dear God, Let me be the last by Sgt. George Hahn, L.A.P.D. (retired) |
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| But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary; and they shall walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:31 |
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| Killed in the line of duty May 29, 2003 while responding to a domestic disturbance call. Josh, just 28 years of age, responded to help another officer when after a foot pursuit, was shot along with the fellow officer. Josh died at the scene and the fellow officer was transported to the Billings Hospital where he was treated and released. May you be right now with God and all His Glory. Rest in Peace, Josh! |
| Joshua Thomas Raven Chief (Kuxi Humpa) Rutherford 28 years old, died on Thursday, May 29, 2003 after responding to a domestic disturbance call. A wake and rosary were Sunday at the Ft Belkap Agency, the Red Whip Recreation Center. A funeral mass was held at the Harlem School gymnasium with the Rev. Joseph Retzel, S.J., officiating. Joshua was born on August 16, 1974, in Denver Colorado. He was educated at the Edgewater Elementary , Wheat Ridge Jr. High, and Harlem High School. He graduated in 1993, lettering in football and wrestling. He was a member of the National Honor Society and Aises. He attended the University of Montana. Joshua married Roberta King on 6/19/1993. Two sons were born of that marriage, Thomas Michael and Josh Teague. The couple later divorced and on 2/14/1999, Josh married Jennifer Johnson. Two sons were born of this marriage. Matthew Clark and Michael Walter. Josh had two loves, his children and being a law enforcement officer. Following in his father Mike's footsteps, he became a law enforcement officer with the Hill County Detention Center. He then was employed by the Harlem Police Department where after 3 years, he became the chief of police. In Feburary of 2000, he became a deputy with the Blaine County, Montana's Sheriff's Office. He was a state certified instructor, teaching defensive tactics with the Montana Law Enforcement Academy in Helena. He was an expert marksman and was eager and willing to learn new things. He was a certified First Responder, a breath test specialist, a certified resource and a Hitman master instructor. He was a loving son, best father, husband, brother, cousin, nephew, brother-in-law, wrestler, co-worker, grandson, friend and "Inktomini." Joshua was preceded in death by his grandparents, Maxine Bigsby Brown, Walter Magpie, Pete Matthews; and his uncle, PeeWee Magpie. Survivors include his sons, Thomas, Teague, Matthew, and Michael; wife Jennifer; mother Maxine Magpie Clifford; father, Mike Matthews; sisters, Tammy Rider, Jody Rutherford, and Angela Matthews; brothers, Lewis, Michael, Lewis Paul Matthews and Sean Cherchigno; grandmothers, Ruby Rasor and Esther Dumont; great-grandmother, Theresa Walker; and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nephews and nieces. |
| Deputy Loren Janis (center) grieves before the start of Deputy Rutherford's funeral. Janis was injured while responding to the same domestic disturbance that killed Deputy Rutherford |
| Remember me whenever you see a sunrise, Remember me whenever you see a star. Remember me whenever you see a rainbow or woods in autumn colors from afar. Remember me whenever you see the roses, Or sea gulls sailing high in the sky of blue, Remember me whenever you see waves Shining in the sun, And remember, I'll be remembering you. Remember me whenever you see a teardrop or meadows still wet with the morning dew. Remember me whenever you feel love Growing in your heart, and remember....I'll be remembering you. Author unknown |
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| I sometimes wonder why the young are taken from us and we old ones are left to grieve. I forget that God has a reason for everything that happens in this world of his and he must have had a job for Josh up in Heaven with Him. For the little ones he left behind who will never again know the touch of a loving fathers arms or a kiss from a proud father, it is hard to explain this. Thomas will have to assure his younger brothers that their daddy loved them with all his heart. That brave heart that was stilled by a coward's bullet! I know that his father and brother Lewis and sister Angela, police persons all, miss him terribly and the hurt will remain for a very long time and will never, ever disappear altogether. Life goes on for those of us who are left behind and hard though it may be to move forward, we must. Josh, know that the love your entire family had for you encompasses the earth and will never die. The memories we all have of you will always be treasured and kept next to our hearts. This is from an old woman who is very proud of the way you turned your life around and followed in your father's footsteps Go with God my grandson. Josh's grandmother, Ruby Rasor |
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| A Little Pain In My Chest |
| The Deputy Sheriff was sitting alone underneath the tree. As I approached it, I could see him beckoning to me. The battle had been long and hard this night And scores of bullets on the ground to see by morning's light. "I wonder if you'd help me, sir", he smiled as best he could. "A sip of water on this morning would surely do me good. We fought all night with scarcely any rest- Just a sip of water for I have a little pain in my chest." As I looked at him, I could see the large stain on his shirt All reddish-brown from his warm blood mixed in with the bloodied dirt. "Not too much", said he. "I count myself luckier than the rest, Others have gone while I just have a little pain in my chest." "Must be fatigue", he weakly smiled, "I must be getting old. I see the sun is shining bright and yet I'm feeling cold. We ran after him but as we cleared the crest, The night exploded and I felt this little pain in my chest." "I looked around to get some aid - the only things I found Were big, deep cracks in the earth - and bullets all around. I kept on after him, sir, I tried to do my best, But finally sat down with this little pain in my chest." "I'm grateful, sir'" he whispered, as I handed him my canteen And smiled a smile that was, I think, the brightest that I've seen. "Seems silly that a man my size so full of fight and zest, Could find himself defeated by a little pain in his chest." "What would my Dad be thinking of his son so strong and grown, If he could see me sitting here, too weak to stand alone? Could my mother have imagined, as she held me to her breast, That I'd be sitting here one day with this pain in my chest?" "Can it be getting dark so soon?' He winced up at the sun. "It's growing dim and I thought that the day had just begun. I think, before I travel on, I'll get a little rest...... And quietly, the boy died from that little pain in his chest. I don't recall what happened then. I think I must have cried; The angels came and took him to their side. Upwards they went where all good officers go who have died. And, as I watched, I could feel our wounds were pressed The large one in my heart against the little one in his chest. Lynda Rasor His Aunt who never met him. |
| Please visit "The Officers Down Memorial Page" at: www.odmp.org There you will find memorials to Josh along with other officers whom have preceded him. |
| As of 02/25/2005, 8 law enforcement officers have been killed in the line of duty by gunfire. In the year 2004, 57 law enforcement officers were killed in the line of duty by gunfire. In the year 2003 a total of 47 were killed by gunfire, one of those being Josh! In 2002 a total of 54 were killed by gunfire. In 2001, 63 were killed by gunfire. In 2000, a total of 53 were killed by gunfire. Something has to be done to stop this senseless waste of America's hero's. |
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| In Memory of Josh! (my nephew) |
| Deputy Joshua Thomas Rutherford Deputy Sheriff with the Blaine County, Mt. Sheriff's Department |
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| November 5, 2004 One year, 5 months after Josh was murdered, Laurence Jackson was convicted of all counts against him for the murder of Josh and the attempted murder of Deputy Loren Janis. JUSTICE HAS BEEN SERVED!! REST IN PEACE NOW JOSH |