MAY 2022. Blues Vol 38 No. 5

THE TRAGEDY The day we

THE TRAGEDY The day we both lost our dads. I was a senior in High School when my dad was killed in the line of duty. I was just going into my 4th period class when I saw my Uncle Jack walking down the hallway. If you knew my uncle, you’d know he has a smile as big as Texas and he is always smiling and high five ‘Ing everyone. As he got closer, I knew something was wrong because not only was he not smiling, his eyes were red and he looked like he’d seen a ghost. Hey dude, what’s up? What are you doing here? “It’s your dad, he’s been hurt. Get your stuff. We have to go, now!” The minute we stepped outside; I knew it was bad. Uncle Jack was a detective and drove an unmarked car. Today he was driving a marked unit and had two solo units sitting in front of it. All had their overheads on. This wasn’t good at all. “Unit 562 I have the package and we’re enroute to the hospital.” Jack what happened to dad? Is he OK? “He and another officer were shot serving a warrant. They were transported to Med. I was told to come get you and bring you to the hospital. I’ll be honest son; I don’t know how bad it is. We just need to get there.” I’ve been on ride a longs with both my dad and my uncle in the past and we’ve run some pretty hot calls, but this was crazy. We were blowing lights like crazy. I just remember everyone parked on the side of the road, like they knew we were coming. When we got to the hospital, there were patrol cars everywhere. From every agency. Highway patrol, sheriff, constables, and tons of unmarked units. The news media had already started to gather across the street. I knew that spot well. I’d seen it on TV dozens of times. Their cameras focused on the front door of the hospital waiting on word if an officer survived or not. The families arriving and being escorted into the emergency room. I never thought I’d be one of those people. I guess I just thought it happened to someone else’s family not mine. As soon as we walked in the door, I knew someone didn’t make it. Everyone of the officers were lined up against the wall and had their head down and were crying. We met the chief and he escorted us down a long hallway into one of the doctor’s lounges. My aunt was already there, as was the family of the other officer. I immediately recognized his daughter Mary Beth from the union picnic my dad had taken me too. When she saw me, she walked across the room and warped her arms around me. She was trembling and crying. Before the chief could say a word, she said: “They didn’t make it. My dad is gone. Your dad is gone. They killed them both.” The chief began to tell us what happened. He was visibly upset and at times could barely talk. But somehow, he managed to say that in the process of serving a warrant the suspects opened fire on them with an automatic weapon. One that had been modified to shoot hundreds of rounds a second. Five officers had been hit, two fatal and three with serious injuries but not life threatening. The suspect was also killed in the gunfight. He was sorry to say that nether of our dads survived. He then began telling us what was next, but I don’t remember any of it. I sat down with Mary Beth and tried to console her. I remember seeing my aunt crying and hugging Mary Beth’s mom. My mom had died several months before of cancer. It was just me and my dad and now it was just me. Our dads were buried the following week. My dads was first, then Mary Beth’s on Friday. I was emotionally spent by that following weekend. I had been staying with my aunt and uncle, but Saturday was the first day I decided it was time I went home. There were hundreds of flowers and cards all over our lawn. I walked inside and for the first time I realized I was truly alone. It was at that moment I decided I was going to be cop. Follow in my dad’s footsteps and make him proud. CONTINUED IN AFTERMATH. 86 The BLUES POLICE MAGAZINE The BLUES POLICE MAGAZINE 87 86 The BLUES POLICE MAGAZINE The BLUES POLICE MAGAZINE 87