Montgomery County Sheriff killed in line of duty, funeral service Thursday morning

BRYAN, Texas (KBTX) – A Montgomery County deputy killed in the line of duty was laid to rest Thursday morning.

The life and service of Deputy Charles Rivette was honored at Woodlands Church in The Woodlands, Texas.

“It’s an honor to celebrate alongside you Deputy Rivette’s life, to the Rivette family, we are so sorry for what you guys are walking through and our heart is with you and we are praying for you. If there’s anything you need, we are here for you,” said Pastor Dustin Reitzel with Woodlands Church.

During a Press Conference held by the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, the Sheriff’s Office said Deputy Rivette was killed when he and Deputy James Francis were transporting an inmate on February 22nd and their patrol vehicle hit an 18-wheeler. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office says both Francis and the inmate, Daniel Baxley, suffered serious injuries.

“The front passenger, Charles Rivette, was pronounced deceased on the scene by Leon County Justice of the Peace, Jeff Carr,” said Sergeant Justin Ruiz with the Department of Public Safety.

Family and friends gathered at Woodlands Church to mourn the Deputy where Pastor Dustin Reitzel opened with a prayer and Montgomery County Sheriff, Rand Henderson, spoke about the Deputy’s character.

The Rivette family’s pastor, Roger Obregon at Community Transformation Church in New Caney, also spoke at the funeral describing Charles as a dedicated deputy, father, and husband.

“A gentle-giant, Deputy Rivette, [he was] loving, kind, faithful, and true. He loved being a deputy but he also loved being a husband, a father, and I’d like to say he loved being a member of our church. He volunteered and served faithfully. You know there were people in our church that didn’t realize he was a deputy, that’s how quiet he is,” said Obregon. “A word to describe Deputy Charles Rivette is found in Psalms 116:15, ‘Precious in the eyes of the Lord are the death of his saints.’ Deputy Rivette is a saint.”

Deputy Charles was buried at Garden Park Cemetery in Conroe after the ceremony.

The Sheriff’s Office says they have never experienced a tragedy like this, their agency’s last line-of-duty death was April 7th, 1876.