NAPO News

Honorable Tribute to Constable Brian Bachmann in College Station, Texas

From: Lee Jackson
Sent: Mon 8/20/2012 11:37 AM
Subject: Fwd: A Postcard from College Station, Texas

A life long friend of mine sent me this email of an unexpected encounter. It is well written and I thought that I would share it with you all.  Maybe it should be posted on our site for a bit.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Sun, Aug 19, 2012 at 4:37 PM
Subject: A Postcard from College Station, Texas

The senseless killing of the constable in College Station last week caught many people's attention, and two other people were in the wrong place when the shooting started, and their lives ended. The constable was named Brian Bachmann and his funeral was held yesterday in College Station. When an officer is killed in action we often witness a sign of unity, and reminders that law enforcement requires a personal risk in order to serve the community. There are a few bad cops out there of course, though the committed far outweigh the selfish, and the number of good guys yesterday was astounding.

Steph and I were moving Sarah into her apartment yesterday as she begins college, and we made a stop at Walmart I noticed what appeared to be a bad accident nearby, as lots of the big stair crane bucket trucks were there, and traffic was a mess.  As we escaped the masses I was puzzled why two buckets were fully extended across Texas Avenue and a bunch of police were keeping news crews back, but there was no accident. We unloaded our packages at Sarah's apartment and on our way to lunch our cars were stopped by traffic cops and I saw a string of motorcycles and police cars with flashing lights turning on to George Bush Drive, coming our way. I got out of the car to watch because there was a mile of cars advancing. It took a moment to dawn on me that Constable Bachmann's funeral was concluding. 

My car was stopped in a turning lane, so the procession turned from a side street on to George Bush Dr in front of me. (Steph and Sarah were a block behind and had their own vantage point). I looked at the pedestrians around me and the gravity of the moment was shared. The men with hats all held them over their hearts. Many families stood along the road and observed the  procession as a river of flashing lights on more than 150 motorcycles passed, followed by a multitude of clean and polished cruisers; passing at walking speed and many were filled with women and children. The hearse passed and was flanked by the honor guard, and two helicopters buzzed overhead. I stood there with my own hand over my heart and felt that I would never again witness such a parade. I made a few attempts at counting the cars but figure that 400 would be accurate, and maybe that was a low number. I am certain that every major city in Texas was represented, and I saw a car from Louisiana. Coppell and most DFW cities, El Paso, Houston, Austin and many Hill Country towns and most counties I could think of were represented. Even a bad ass Dodge Charger from Jamaica Beach near Galveston went by. I looked at the people driving the cars and many waved with a few fingers on the wheel, with some a full hand; most nodded and several said thanks.

The faces I saw driving by were of good people who would write you a ticket but still consider the circumstances. Hard working folks that drove a long way to pay their respects to a man who was serving an eviction notice to a senseless fool. I didn't see anger or hatred in their faces, mostly thoughtful, in-the-moment expressions of reflection. The solemn tribute slowly passing reminded me that there are many who are keeping order in a changing society on our behalf who are paid but serve proudly. Those were the people I observed yesterday. I have no idea who was keeping order back home.

The stream of flashing lights wound far down George Bush Drive, passing the A&M campus and apparently turned on to Texas and passed beneath the banner strung between the College Station and Bryan ladders hoisted high above the fire trucks and into the cemetery. Quite a tribute.

I'm not sure how many cars were in the procession, but I saw this photo of the procession in the news today.

Lee Jackson