Corrections Officer Fatally Stabbed at Federal Prison

Girlfriend of fallen USP Atwater Correctional Officer Jose V. Rivera.
You will be missed by family and friends always! I love you and I am missing you deeply my NavyBoy.

This incident should have never happened! He was only half an hour away from being relieved of his shift, i was there waiting for him to walk out... he never did.
For all those who are quiting their jobs, i know you are trying to make a difference but please think about it twice. You are only letting down the remaining Correctional Officers, creating an ever greater problem with understaffed.
Many are angry and should be!! It is ridiculous to think that there is only one CO per 120+ inmates. They have previously been taken hostage by inmates, assaulted, and caused the 1st death at USP Atwater on June 20, 2008. As far as things are going, BOP has not given any sign to make changes.
For the ANIMAL that said "why get vests when you can get stabbed in the face" he will in time regret saying that!
These men are risking their lives daily, while he sits in his finely decorated office, and the same goes for the warden. They both might have shed tears, but they meant nothing to his family and I.

It has been weeks since he was taken away from us, his birthday is coming up, July 20, 2008... barely turning 23. He should be here to celebrate life of years to come, but instead we mourn his death.
His death will not go unnoticed, as BOP may believe. This is not something they will simply brush off and hide away as another incident. Jose V. Rivera's family, friends, co-workers and his community are standing strong to push forward a change that will take place. We will do what is necessary!

That is all i will say for now...
E.T loves you my NavyBoy, guide us all from Heaven and watch over your fellow officers.
Happy 23rd Birthday...!
RIP 7.20.85-6.20.08

Not enough officers due to Director Lappins cost saving initiative when the war started the BOP uses officer to fill in sick and vacation spots. Where did these officers come from. Posts the BOP get rid of so now there is less staff per shift all to save a little on overtime. Thanks Lappin

Not enough officers due to Director Lappins cost saving initiative when the war started the BOP uses officer to fill in sick and vacation spots. Where did these officers come from. Posts the BOP get rid of so now there is less staff per shift all to save a little on overtime. Thanks Lappin

The liberal judges need to stop siding with the inmates in all these lawsuits. Grow a pair judges!!

Officers are put in situations without appropriate training, equipment and backup... This is all a show of NO CONCERN for OFFICER SAFETY!!!

Rest in Peace Officer Rivera. Your End of Watch came far too early.

It's frustrating that corrections officers are being killed so much, and not many people are doing anything about it. Does anyone even care about today's cops anymore?

First and foremost my condolences to the Rivera family and loved ones. As a former B.O.P. officer i was aware of the dangers of working in a prison, but it wasnt until i joined the california department of corrections that i realized the vast comparison of the two agencies. I must say that the CDCR provides it's officers with stab resistant vest, baton, OC pepper spray and gun coverage in a housing unit for certain level of inmates. The B.O.P. is grossly negligent of officer safety and puts these officers into harms way everyday. I recall being locked in a housing unit with 120 inmates with nothing more than a flashlight and alarm. There is a misconception in the general public that a federal inmate is doing time for petty crimes like tax fraud or evasion, but that is far from the truth. Any inmate housed in a federal FCI or Penitentiary should all be considered dangerous. It took the death of Officer Gonzalez in Chino state prison for CDC to issue its officers stab resistant vests........The question is how long will the B.O.P. allow its Officers to be killed to save money. I also hope that justice is swiftly served for these two individuals that took Officer Rivera's life unlike that low life coward that took Officer SCOTT WILLIAMS life in Lompoc, USP, in 1997. My prayers and thoughts are with Officer Rivera's family and my B.O.P brothers and sisters in harms way. OFFICER J
U.S. Penitentiary Lompoc

It is unfortunate that this corection officer went down. I guess not every one is cut out for that job for shure. I see he was hispanic that might have had somthing to do with it. when I was an inmate there, the mexican gang Sur was extorting the food administer to bring in special food for them. it always works like that. Criminal groups always prey on their own respective races. By the way...this isnt the first death at Atwater. An Indian inmate lost his life to his people when I was in the SHU. I heard he was "in the hat" which is a prison term for being up for execution.

I agree with previous comments, Federal Inmates are not taken seriously as far as the harm they can cause.
An inmate is an inmate, no matter the crime, violent or not! I am a federal correctional officer and deal with the fact that I supervise up to 125 inmates in a unit by myself with only a flashlight and a radio with a body alarm. Where's the OC spray, when an inmate attacks me. I may come across an inmate that just has been sentenced to life in prison and is ready to attack the first officer in sight, what then push my body alarm! Vests and OC spray is a must. If Officer Rivera would have had a vest and some OC, he could've resisted the stab and spray the sh** out of his attacker. Yes we officers agree to deal with these situations, but it would be nice to also be armed with a defense.

Yeah like the last words in the ears a dying Elmer J. Fud,"...yeah, aint no fun when the rabbit got the gun!" The problem with guards that suffer from post stress disorder, they forget that the people locked up, are locked up because they hold the REAL power!