Fallen: Officer William Williams

[Rebecca]

A tragic accident takes the life of a father of five...

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*Officer William Williams
Miami Police Department, FL

Cause of Death: Motorcycle accident
End of Watch: July 3, 2000
Date of Incident: July 1, 2000
Time of Incident: Unknown
Age: 42
Tour of Duty: 20 yr
Suspect Info: Unknown
Weapon Used: Automobile

Officer Williams was killed when his motorcycle was struck by a car while he was escorting a funeral procession. He was following alongside the procession when one of the participating vehicles made an abrupt left turn, cutting in front of Officer Williams. He collided with the vehicle and was thrown from the motorcycle, suffering severe head injuries. He was transported to a local hospital where he remained in critical condition for two days before he was removed from life support. He had been with the agency for 20 years and is survived by his wife and five children.

*as reported by the ODMP

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May God bless his family and watch over his children.

http://www.officer.com/ubb/frown.gif

[Rebecca]

This man's death hits very close to home for me. I hope you don't mind if I share this story with you...

Last Novemeber I was invited out on a date to have dinner with one of our City Officers and about 10 of his fellow Officers and their spouses. As we were all beginning to meet at the bar of the restaurant... sharing oysters, beer and laughter... I see the Officers and their wives call out in loud tones with "Heys" and "Howdys" and "Hellos"... all said with huge smiles on their faces. I looked over my left shoulder to see this very hunched over young man... scooting along with his walker. As he opened his mouth to speak... I couldn't understand a word he said... but the cops knew exactly what he was saying... and replied to everything.

Shortly thereafter... as we were all finally settling into our seats at our table... my date and the Officer across from us... began to tell me that this was the Officer that had been hit on his motorcycle in the funeral procession almost 3 years to the date. Ahhh, I understood better now.

This man sat at the center of the table... and I must admit... at first, I had to steal as many glances in his direction as I could without seeming too obvious. I sat there and tried to imagine how strong he must have been... how truly vibrant a life he must have had before becoming so restricted. I thought how sad it was that he has probably recovered as much as he would and that he would live out the rest of his life this way. I felt very sad for this man.

But then... I began to pay attention to the love he was receiving from his brothers... how they would talk across the table to each other...and then, call down to Brad to find out what he thought... and how those closest to him kept him in their conversation at all times. I listened to them talk to him about upcoming events in all of their lives and asking if he was coming... and telling him that he better be there! I heard the conversations that touched on how Brad was going to be moving home to New York with his family within the next year... and how genuine they all were when they told him how he better take care of himself up there... which was really saying how much they would miss him.

I then took a look in another direction... and found my gaze directly on his wife. She is about 28, maybe... a beautiful woman with brown hair and eyes and a very warm smile. My date had told me that she was a hell of a woman who never left his side throughout all of this... as her love and dedication to her husband could not have been more evident. I remember thinking how glad I was that she was his wife... and not his widow. In her arms... she held their sweet little dressed up daughter... who could not have been a full year old yet.

What began as something of a shock for me to come face to face with an Officer whose life was forever changed due to his career... now became for me what was one of the most endearing evenings of my life. To witness the strength in the bond of this brotherhood I've heard so much about... and to see that this man, who I thought was so damaged, was really and truly one of the most fortunate men I would probably ever meet. He has a family of brothers who love him... a wife who absolutely adores him... and the most precious gift from God in his new little daughter... and a smile on his own face as wide as his poor little cheeks could stand.

As we were all leaving, Brad scooted over to shake my hand and spoke to me. All I could make out was my name... but my date translated his very sincere... "it's a pleasure to meet you, Rebecca" ... and all I could say to him was the God's honest truth, "The pleasure, sir... is all mine."

Brad lived. We don't know why one lives and one does not. I wish Officer Williams would have been able to pull through this tragic accident. All we can do now is prayer for his soul... and for his family.

In both Officer Williams' memory... and in Brad's honor... I'd like to wish for the safety of all of you... and may you share in the truest joys life has to offer you... your friends and your family... for a long time to come.

God bless you all.

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***Rebecca***



[This message has been edited by Rebecca (edited 07-05-2000).]