Police Sgt. Korby Kennedy Laid to Rest Monday

The instructions provided by the San Angelo Police Department sounded ominous. Saturday’s press release detailed a long procession up N. Bryant, across to the N. Chadbourne, and into the coliseum for the memorial service of Sgt. Korby Kennedy. All law enforcement was participating, the release stated.

Kennedy was killed just four days prior in a tragic crash on duty, on his police patrol motorcycle on Knickerbocker Road. Kennedy was the head of the SAPD Traffic Division, an elite cadre of motorcycle patrolmen and crash investigators.

For Kennedy, he lived to ride that bike, and knew how. But no amount of experience or training can completely protect anyone from a world in a hurry. He was escorting a convoy of high performance drag boats destined for a static display in the parking lot of the annual drag boat races sponsor, Twin Peaks Restaurant. The destination was about one mile further northeast from where Kennedy crashed into an SUV, when a driver of a Nissan Rogue pulled out of a commercial driveway in front of Kennedy’s path of travel.

At the crash scene, first responders and media reporters were in a state of disbelief. Kennedy was well known to all, especially the media. He was usually the one who briefed the media on major crashes after the initial investigation. At the scene, whispers were heard that Korby didn’t make it. It turned out that it was as bad as it looked.

The crash was only four days prior to yesterday’s funeral, but over those four days, San Angelo learned much about its police force. The police force learned as much about the community it serves, too.

In a series of quick, pragmatic decisions, the City of San Angelo scheduled the funeral at Foster Communications Coliseum; the 5,250-seat facility could accommodate a large audience. City Recreation and Parks Director Carl White said that the city’s contingency plan was that as many as 6,000 may attend the funeral. The official count isn’t in, but Police Chief Tim Vasquez said his estimate was 4,000. The seats were two-thirds full and there were 500 on the floor of the coliseum.

During the press conference Thursday immediately following the crash, in a tearful statement, Police Chief Tim Vasquez said, “If the people want to honor Korby right now, tie a blue ribbon around your tree.”

Blue ribbon material suddenly disappeared from store shelves and everywhere, on many trees in San Angelo, blue ribbons appeared. Announcements of when blue ribbon would be available again, usually from a volunteer’s trip to Abilene, or a restocking at the HEB or Walmart, filled our news tips email inbox. On social media, support of the police was omnipresent. It was hard to determine who was who on your wall, as every San Angeloans profile picture on Facebook was a dark ribbon-wrapped San Angelo police badge.

Vasquez thanked the community profusely for the outpouring of love and support. But when speaking with police officers, the outpouring wasn’t expected.

Although San Angelo is a conservative community, police recall times when they doubted community support.

Police are still weary of media and many still don’t want their names used in our reporting or have video taken of their statements. They’ve been burned before.

But it’s gotten better, because of leadership of officers like Kennedy. Kennedy spearheaded an effort to make the police more transparent to the public. He encouraged traffic investigators to provide full briefings at crash scenes. In return, the public learned how busy, and at times, how dangerous, police work is in San Angelo. Kennedy and his team leveraged the enhanced awareness. It turned public opinion in favor of higher pay for the entire police force that Kennedy was able to negotiate in 2014.

The Kennedy tragedy, however, brought Kennedy’s efforts over the past two years into focus. Citizens already understood how difficult the traffic safety situation had become within the city, and when the dangers of San Angelo streets claimed the life of the police department’s most visible traffic cop, it completed the circle of knowledge and respect for San Angelo police.

Kennedy’s pastor summarized this in his opening remarks at Monday’s funeral. “Your presence here and the prayers that are being said all over this community… these are significant and meaningful things. This family is grateful, and quite honestly stunned, by the outpouring of your compassion. It is so gratifying to them to see that the one that they have loved, the one who has meant so much to them, has reached so many people, and touched so many lives in this community,” said Tommy King, minister at Johnson Street Church.

“As I came to know Korby, I realized that he was a realist. He knew what was going on. You guys (law enforcement) sitting out here, you guys know what is going on in our communities. Korby was well aware of the evil and the brokenness of humanity. But what most impressed me about him, and what I admired in him, is that he never became a cynic. He continued to love people. He continued to love his community. He continued to serve his calling.”

Sgt. Brian Robinson, Sgt. Cade Solsbery, and Sgt. Todd Dornhecker shared “Korby Stories” in emotional tributes.

“Korby was a friend. He was my best friend. He was my brother. But that didn’t make me special or unique, because if you were friends with Korby, he was that same thing to you,” Robinson said.

Law enforcement details from all over the state of Texas were in attendance. The line of San Angelo Police Department cruisers and SUVs numbered at least 100. Vehicles from other law enforcement agencies, such as from Abilene, Midland and as far away as Austin and Fort Worth doubled that number. As each visiting law enforcement agency entered the coliseum, their detail marched up the center aisle to salute Kennedy whose body was lying in state.

The Sheriff’s office confirmed yesterday that sheriff’s deputies and constables took over coverage of the entire city so that every San Angelo Police Department officer could attend Kennedy’s memorial service.

Police Chief Tim Vasquez admitted that the eulogy for Kennedy was by far the most difficult speech he has ever given.

“Since that night at the hospital, I have often pondered the exact words to convey to illustrate how awful this loss was… Citizens of San Angelo, you have lost a great police officer… Korby worked for you with love and a faithful servant’s heart,” Vasquez said.

“In losing Korby, San Angelo lost an incredible protector and leader. Because of his efforts, he made the entire law enforcement community better prepared to serve you. Every one of us is in a better, safer place because of Korby.”

Vasquez said that Kennedy raised the police force’s awareness of the community’s needs, and increased the community’s awareness of how the police department serves the community.

“Sergeant Kennedy’s life mattered,” Vasquez said in repeated refrains throughout his speech.

After the funeral ceremony inside the coliseum, police officers and family participated in a committal ceremony where Korby Kennedy’s wife was presented with a U.S. flag and San Angelo police officers performed a 21-gun salute.