DEC 2022. Blues Vol 38 No. 12

AROUND THE COUNTRY
GRAND PRAIRIE, TX
Texas officer dies in vehicle crash while pursuing car
with fake tags.
By Michael Williams
GRAND PRAIRIE, TX ‐ Grand Prairie
Police Officer Brandon Tsai, was
killed in a single-car crash Monday
November 14th after attempting to
stop a car that had a fake paper
license plate.
Tsai. 32, was killed after his car
struck a light pole, according to
Grand Prairie Police. Around 10:45
p.m., Tsai noticed a car with fake
tags near the intersection of Southwest
3rd Street and Pioneer Parkway,
in Grand Prairie.
“Officer Tsai attempted to stop
the vehicle which immediately fled,”
police spokesman Mark Beseda said
in a statement. “During the pursuit,
Officer Tsai lost control of his squad
car causing it to strike a light pole.”
Tsai was taken by firefighters to
Methodist Dallas Medical Center,
where he died, Beseda said.
He had worked for the Grand
Prairie Police Department since
January. He previously worked at
the Los Angeles Police Department
in California for five years, authorities
said.
“He was a loving friend, a trusted
colleague and an outstanding officer
whose passion was providing
service to the public,” Beseda said
in the statement.
The crash remains under investigation.
Tsai’s funeral service was held
on Monday, November 21st in Grand
Prairie.
Mrs. Tsai, you did an outstanding
job raising Brandon,” an emotional
Chief Daniel Scesney told Tsai’s
mother in front of the crowd.
Scesney revealed the fallen officer
loved camping, shooting and driving.
“Fast cars, classic cars, unique
cars,” he added.
A handful of Tsai’s favorites were
parked in front of Gateway Church
during the funeral service in his
honor.
Tsai also loved food. Street tacos,
Texas barbeque, sushi, dim sum,
just to name a few.
“Most of us would bring one
lunch... Brandon would bring three,”
joked friend and fellow officer Ilan
Marhasin.
Tsai’s sister, Staci Tsai, addressed
his fellow officers from the stage.
“Please take care of yourselves,”
Staci said in tears. “Be safe and
remember to always tell the people
that you love that you love them.
Every day.”
Tsai’s girlfriend and her 7-yearold
daughter also attended services
Monday. Tsai was helping raise the
young girl, Scesny said.
“Kinsley would paint his fingernails,”
Scesny remembered fondly.
“He’d even take a spin in Kinsley’s
pink electric four-wheeler around
the block.”
OFFFICER BRANDON TSAI
Scesney also told the crowd Tsai
spent Thanksgiving volunteering
at homeless shelters, and revealed
he saved a suicidal man’s life last
month when he talked him out of
jumping off a bridge.
Tsai was laid to rest with the
honors he deserved, Scesney said.
That included the presentation of
the colors, a 21-gun salute, taps,
a flyover, folding of the flag, bagpipes,
the ‘’riderless horse” and final
radio call.
Hundreds of Texas police officers
from departments as far as Lubbock
and Corpus Christi were in
attendance as well.
“Officer Brandon Tsai has now
been officially sworn in to protect
the streets of heaven,” remarked
Scesney.
14 The BLUES The BLUES 15