11/03/2011
This was written by Phoenix Polce Sergeant Phil Roberts and I thought it was important to share:..
Anyone wonder what happens to a police officer "after" he is killed in the line of duty? Unfortunately, I had the sad opportunity and yet the privilege to find out firsthand. Several days ago 27 yr. old Glendale Police Officer Brad Jones was shot in the line of duty... by ......a suspect who is not worth the dirt we walk on. From the moment his "brothers and sisters" arrived on scene he was never alone. While the fire department treated him, transporting to the hospital and during his final moments here on Earth he was surrounded by family and fellow officers. Then when he left the hospital, as a matter of reality he had to go to the Medical Examiners office. Escorted the entire way by officers from St. Joseph's Hospital and never left alone. 24 hours a day a Glendale Officer was posted at the M.E.'s office. Brad was never alone. When he arrived that fateful morning at the M.E.'s office every available patrol officer in South Mountain Precinct in Phoenix, where the M.E.'s office is located, lined the streets with overhead lights flashing, stood outside there cars and rendered a hand salute...at 3:30 AM. Glendale Officers stood the watch with Phoenix Officers constantly checking if they needed anything. A sandwich, a drink or maybe just a brief break. Brad was never alone. Then yesterday afternoon it was time for Brad to be delivered to a funeral home. I was privileged to be part of an estimated twenty police cars formed at an impromptu moment just from South Mountain Precinct in Phoenix to pay what respect we could. We lined 7th Avenue at the beginning of rush hour, stopped with overhead lights on and standing at hand salute. As the procession pasted the Phoenix Police Department's Crime Lab over twenty lab technicians came out to the side of the street and paid their respects to the M.E.'s vehicle with Phoenix Officers saluting, led by two Glendale Motorcycle Officers, a Glendale police car and two Phoenix Police Cars as they made their way to the funeral home in Surprise Arizona. Respect, total respect is what happens to an officer "after" he is killed in the line of duty...as it should be. Tonight a wife and two little girls go to bed without their father and daddy. But Brad is not alone...he never was, never has been and never will be.
