This particular blog has nothing to do with Jusphophun, it’s more about a thought or realization. It all started with a call across the scanner of a major 1050 in Bridgeport Texas on the afternoon of April 2. In route to this major accident I heard that one of the officers that had been involved in a high-speed pursuit might be involved, little did I know that the officer might be a young man on the Bridgeport Police Department that I had known, and had just recently talked to him a couple weeks prior to the accident, that officer was Randy White, badge number 804!

Upon arriving on the accident scene, I began shooting, and as I got closer I could see what was left of the Bridgeport PD vehicle. The best thing about small-town journalism can sometimes be the worst, and that being that  you know most everybody and, they know you, and sometimes that can make you a little too close to the situation.

Sometimes you know people, but then again you don’t really know them. Such was the case with Officer Randy White, we had met several times over the years when we were both doing our jobs, but I never really did get to know Randy until he was gone. But the way that happened was through his friends, who shared little tidbits of information throughout the whole time that I was covering the story. Randy White was somebody I wish I would’ve got to know better.

The story coverage continued with the picking up of the national officers flag at DFW airport the following Monday morning, followed by a candlelight vigil on Tuesday night. Now this was the tough part, in a past life (before newspaper) I could kinda stay hidden in the background instead of having to confront the front line emotions, there’s no escaping it when you have a camera in your hands.

That’s when I met Janet White, mom to Jaydn and wife to Randy.  Janet White, a very strong individual, seemed to be very much in control, strong for herself, and her five-year-old daughter Jaydn. Steve Stafford, a long time friend, and fellow officer of Randy introduced me to Mrs. White, and asked her if she would mind if I took photos at the funeral to document the event.  Her response was “I would be honored as long as it is in good taste”.

As I covered  Randy White’s funeral, those words rang through my head.  Even though I had full permission to be there, I couldn’t help but feel intrusive with every press of the shutter in front of 2000 of Randy’s friends, fellow officers from all over North Texas, paying their last respects.

So many times I’ve asked myself why I put myself in these kind of situations, that day the question was answered, for this day there was nowhere else I could have been, or anything I could have been doing that was more important.

This is one of Wise County’s greatest losses ever, but even in Randy’s death, he continued to bring people together wich was clearly shown in the amount of people that showed their support, and care to the family.

Talking with Janet on the follow-up interview, I knew that through her strength and faith that she would be okay. For me it was a emotional journey, one whose lessons, and images are burned in the emulsion sheet of my mind forever.

Thank you Mrs. White for letting me be part of your life in your hardest times!

the Story………