Community Comes Together to Support Former SAPD Officer and Family

SAN ANGELO, TX – San Angelo residents have the reputation of always looking out for their own, and in the case of Abernathy Police Department Sgt. Terry Edge, 39, this is no different. With the help of the community, SAPD Officer Raymond Francis and his wife, Candace Francis, have set out to raise money to help Edge’s family in any way they can after he suffered a terrible accident last year.

Officer Edge actually served the San Angelo community for two years and was considered by many a “great officer and a great role model.” He was working with the Abernathy Police Department when one night, on Nov. 26, 2016, while off duty, he was involved in a motor vehicle accident with an 18-wheeler that resulted in him being ejected from his jeep. Several local media reported that the prognosis for Edge was not good, and, for several days, it appeared he could be paralyzed. Mrs. Francis explained that when he “arrived at the hospital, they didn't think he was going to make it, but he pulled through.”

As Edge has undergone numerous surgeries, he faces a long road of recovery ahead of him. He has fought multiple infections and is still confined to a bed until he is able to start physical therapy. Even though the Sergeant does have insurance that covers parts of his medical bills, the situation will be very tough on his family when he is able to come home both financially and emotionally. That is why family and friends are not only ask for financial help, but also for prayers to help the sergeant and his family as they undergo this unfortunate situation.

Overall, this tragedy has been hard for the whole family, especially the officer’s 10-year-old son, who is very close to his father, and Edge’s mother who relocated to Lubbock as soon as her son suffered the accident; she has been there since to be by his side. His mother is a resident of San Angelo.

The Francis family decided to create a gofundme page that allows members of the community to donate whatever they can. In just two months, 48 individuals have raised over $5,000 dollars. The account has been set up so the family can use the funds at any given time that they may need them.

“To everyone who has donated, and anyone who is going to donate on behalf of Terry Edge, we want to say thank you very much and everything is appreciated,” Mrs. Francis said.

But the efforts to help the Sergeant's family does not end there, and the community will continue to raise money for this noble cause. Mrs. Francis has organized a barbecue plate fundraiser at the Calvary Baptist Church on March 18 to help the Edge family.

Beginning at 11:30 a.m., the community is invited to stop by and purchase a delicious plate of barbecue with all the fixings, win door prizes and participate in a raffle. A Facebook page dedicated to informing the Sergeant’s family and friends about his condition is also a way to raise funds for Edge and his family. Roadblock's Warriors, a homage to Edge’s nickname, will be selling Pray for Terry bracelets for $5.00 each, in both adult and kid sizes.

If any members of the community are interested in donating items for the raffle and door prizes, please contact Mrs. Francis at [email protected]. Officer Francis and his wife are also willing to pick up any donated items in order to make the process easier for the community.

Editor's Note: Sgt. Edge worked for Abernathy Police at the time of the accident, as stated in the article. He was not a sergeant, however, for the San Angelo Police Department. He worked as a Peace Officer for SAPD for two years, as also stated. Our headline and article have been updated to reflect this clarification.