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Thread: Richard P. Franklin - Florida

  1. #1
    Administrator Heidi's Avatar
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    Richard P. Franklin - Florida


    Sgt. Ruben Thomas


    Richard Franklin


    Columbia Correctional Officer Killed by Inmate Serving Life Sentence

    The Department of Corrections is confirming a correctional officer was killed in the line of duty March 18, 2012 at Columbia Correctional Institution.

    The correctional officer killed in the line of duty: 6 year DC employee, 24 year old Sergeant Ruben Thomas. Witnesses say he was stabbed in the neck by inmate Richard Franklin with a handmade weapon.

    Also, Correctional Officer William Brewer was assaulted in the incident. Brewer was taken to the hospital and has since been released. He will require further medical attention.

    Inmate Franklin was convicted and sentenced to life for murder. He was received by the Department in 1995.

    “The Department is mourning the loss of Sgt. Ruben Thomas. Sgt. Thomas is described as a solid and highly respected member of the Agency and will be remembered in the highest regard. Our condolences go out to his family”, said Florida Department of Corrections Secretary Ken Tucker. “His death and the wounding of Correctional Officer Brewer is another reminder about the danger Department personnel face every day on the job, and reminds us of the seriousness of our profession.”

    The Department has no further comment at this time and more details are not yet being released as the Florida Department of Law Enforcement is taking over the investigation per normal protocol.

    Statement from Governor Rick Scott Regarding Death of Sgt. Ruben Thomas

    Tallahassee, Fla. – “I am saddened to learn of the tragic death of Sgt. Ruben Thomas last night at the Columbia Correctional Institute annex. My deepest condolences go to his family and fellow correctional officers in Columbia County and across Florida. A second officer, William Brewer, was also assaulted during the attack, and I pray for his quick recovery.

    ”It is always troubling when members of our law enforcement community lose their lives in the line of duty. These brave men and women dedicate themselves each day to ensure Florida is a safe place to live. We all need to remember the sacrifices and heroic efforts of our officers.”

    http://www.wctv.tv/home/headlines/co...ySection=story
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  2. #2
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    Sergeant Ruben Thomas

    Florida Department of Corrections, Florida

    End of Watch: Sunday, March 18, 2012


    Sergeant Ruben Thomas was stabbed to death by an inmate at the Columbia Correctional Institution Annex.

    At approximately 10:00 pm he was checking on an inmate in one of the prison's dorms when the inmate attacked him. He was stabbed in the neck several times by the inmate who was armed with some sort shank. The inmate, who was serving a life sentence for murdering a college student, then struck another officer in the eye with a sock filled filled with a heavy item before being taken into custody.

    Sergeant Thomas was transported to Shands Lake Shore Hospital where he succumbed to his wounds.

    Sergeant Thomas had served with the Florida Department of Corrections for six years. He is survived by his young daughter and fiancee.

    Please contact the following agency to send condolences or to obtain funeral arrangements:

    Secretary of Corrections Kenneth Tucker
    Florida Department of Corrections
    501 South Calhoun Street
    Tallahassee, FL 32399

    Phone: (850) 488-5021

    Bio & Incident Details

    Age: 24

    Tour: 6 years

    Badge # Not available

    Cause: Stabbed

    Incident Date: 3/18/2012

    Weapon: Edged weapon; Shank

    Suspect: In custody

    http://www.odmp.org/officer/21208-se...#ixzz1pco1K3r5
    An uninformed opponent is a dangerous opponent.

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  3. #3
    Administrator Michael's Avatar
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    Another example that a life sentence is not enough for some murderers. I´m sure the antis willfind some dumbasses which explain the murder with the situation at the prison or soemthing like that.

    My sympathies for the family, friends and colleagues of Seargent Thomas.
    No murder can be so cruel that there are not still useful imbeciles who do gloss over the murderer and apologize.

  4. #4
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    Community saddened by officer's death

    Working behind the counter at the Blue Roof Grill, Betty said she sees a lot of customers, many who work at the Columbia Correctional Institution.

    But she very clearly remembers Sgt. Ruben Thomas, a corrections officer who investigators said was killed late Sunday night by an inmate. Betty said she saw Thomas in the restaurant several times a week.

    "Very honest, very outgoing, very fun, full of life, loved his family, loved his fiancee, and was ready to work every day," she said.

    Betty said Monday was a hard day because so many staff and customers weren't taking the news easy.

    "It's really sad to hear anything like this happen, and we feel very bad for his family," she said.

    Ruben Thomas "It's bad enough when an officer goes down in the street, but to be there in a confined place where these people are supposed to be held responsible, and they come up and they can kill somebody in there, that's not right," customer Carol Semas said.

    Semas has lived in Lake City for years and can't believe this kind of tragedy would even happen in the community.

    Other residents said Thomas was known as Little Ruben, and everyone who knew him knew he was excited about becoming a father again. He was expecting his second child.

    "It's sad. That's a dangerous job they're doing, and they have to remember how dangerous that job can be," resident Willie Mae Williams said.

    "I've been in situations where I've been at work and, you know, people get stabbed, and it goes with the territory," former corrections officer Wilbert Austin said of the dangers of the job. "When you go to work, kiss your family, pray for them, because you never know what's going to happen. Any course of things could happen any time at any day."

    Austin said even though every officer goes through training, there are some situations they just can't anticipate.

    "When I worked at the prison, they had this thing called lock-in-socks," Austin said. "They take combination locks from their lockers, put them in their socks and attack people with them. It's very dangerous."

    The institution has a maximum capacity of just more than 1,400 inmates. The state said it holds all levels of inmates there, except those on death row.

    Channel 4 crime analyst Ken Jefferson also used to be a corrections officer and said relying on training is key.

    "In this case, sounds like the inmate -- sounds as though he lured the corrections sergeant down to talk to him, but in essence he ambushed him. He brought him down there specifically to attack him," Jefferson said. "But it's a very dangerous situation you're in on a daily basis. You've always got to rely on your backup. You've always got to rely on your training, and you've always got to rely on your instinct."

    The state prison system is dealing with a budget shortfall of $79 million. Austin said his concern is that in the long run, this kind of a shortfall could end up hurting these institutions when it comes to safety.

    "You've got less people that's probably going to be working, so you're dealing with a smaller workforce," Austin said.

    For residents like Williams, Thomas' death is not just a reminder of how many men and women risk their lives working at the institution, but it's also a reminder that this community won't be able to move forward unless it is there for each other.

    "We do need to come together," Williams said.

    http://www.news4jax.com/news/Communi...z/-/index.html
    An uninformed opponent is a dangerous opponent.

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  5. #5
    Candy
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    Absolutely shocking, my sympathies are with his family and colleagues. They should roll the electric chair into his cell and fry the c**t. Sorry reading this has saddened me.

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    RIP and prayers to the Thomas family.

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    Flags at half-staff for fallen officer

    Gov. Rick Scott has ordered national and state flags be flown at half-staff on Friday, the day of the funeral for a local corrections officer slain in the line of duty.

    "I am deeply saddened to learn of the tragic death of Florida Department of Corrections Sergeant Ruben Thomas while on duty at Columbia Correctional Institution Annex on March 18, 2012," Scott said in an official memorandum. "In honor of Sergeant Ruben Thomas, I hereby request that the National and State flags be lowered to half-staff at all Florida Department of Corrections institutions statewide, the City Hall of Lake City, and the Columbia County Courthouse on March 23, 2012, from sunrise to sunset."

    http://www.lakecityreporter.com/arti...b834510544.txt
    An uninformed opponent is a dangerous opponent.

    "Y'all be makin shit up" ~ Markeith Loyd

  8. #8
    terrie
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    Please keep the family of SGT Ruben Thomas in your hearts today as he is laid to rest


  9. #9
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    Thank you terrie for posting the beautiful tribute video.
    An uninformed opponent is a dangerous opponent.

    "Y'all be makin shit up" ~ Markeith Loyd

  10. #10
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    Family, friends remember slain corrections officer

    Family and friends were among hundreds who gathered Friday morning to remember a correctional officer who was killed by an inmate earlier this week.

    Sgt. Ruben Thomas was attacked by convicted killer Richard Franklin just before 10 p.m. Sunday at the Columbia Correctional Institution annex, according to investigators.

    "I think this guy, as young as he is, he's touched a lot of lives, and we would never forget him, we would never forget him," said Capt. Kenneth Roundtree, who worked with Thomas.

    Thomas, a six-year veteran, had a young daughter and was engaged to be married. His fiancee is pregnant with their second child, a son to be named after Thomas.

    The service for Thomas at Christ Central Ministries in Lake City began with a moment of silence. Following the funeral, a procession led to his burial site at Oak Grove Cemetery.

    "He was a young sergeant, he was definitely -- I think he just got promoted recently -- he was definitely on his way up," said Warden David Ellis, of the Department of Corrections. "It's the ultimate tragedy to have to end a life like this."

    Law enforcement officers lined the streets and saluted the hears carrying Thomas' body as it rode by. Members of the community also paid their respects.

    "It's just a way of bonding together, you know, in face of a tragedy, I guess, and showing support for one another," said Pamela Parks, Thomas' eighth-grade teacher.

    "Everybody was there giving support and love for the family, and for the memory of Ruben, it was a very moving and loving service," Irene Roundtree said.

    The 24-year-old was in one of the wings of a dorm checking on an inmate when a control room officer saw Franklin chase and then stab Thomas several times in the neck with a handmade weapon.

    When he realized he was in danger, investigators believe Thomas tried to get away, but it was too late.

    Thomas was taken to Shands Lake Shore Hospital in Lake City, where he died.

    A second officer, William Brewer, was trying to lock down inmates when Franklin swung something heavy in a sock, striking Brewer in the eye, investigators said. Brewer was also taken to a hospital, where he was treated and released.

    "When we walk through that gate, we come as a family," Kenneth Roundtree said. "All we do is hope and pray that we walk out that gate at the time we leave and go home."

    In the funeral program, Thomas' family asked that any memories be written down and sent to Dees-Parrish Family Funeral Home to be shared with his children later in life.

    To donate to Thomas' family's trust fund, go to CorrectionsFoundation.org.
    An uninformed opponent is a dangerous opponent.

    "Y'all be makin shit up" ~ Markeith Loyd

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