Please note: A version of this article was first published in 2017.

By Trent Rosser

This Friday is Christmas. The day that children are playing and having fun with the new presents that they received earlier in the day or earlier this past week. There will be food, laughter, toys and joy. Most stores will be closed and most people will be at home or with family. Unfortunately not everyone will be with their loved ones. Along with our soldiers, fighting for our freedom, there will also be our men in blue. Patrolling the streets, keeping the bad guys at bay and making sure we are safe as we celebrate this day. Sometimes, even on this day, bad things happen.

December 25, 1980 — Amarillo police officer, Berry Joe McGuire, was patrolling the streets and pulled a vehicle over for possible drunk driving on Willow Street. After Patrolman McGuire handcuffed and was placing the suspect in the back of the patrol car, the other occupants of the vehicle came to the suspect’s aid. During the struggle, one of the men took McGuire gun and shot him twice. He was then held on the ground by two of the men and the third shot him in the head. Potter county sheriff’s deputies arrested the trio, when their car was found park near the Canadian River Bridge north of Amarillo. One of the suspects was still wearing the handcuffs that McGuire placed on him.

In March of 2005, Officer Mark Simmons suffered head trauma and a spinal injury when another vehicle hit him from behind. Simmons was in the passenger seat of an unmarked 2000 Crown Victoria police car when a 1998 Chevy pickup slammed into the back of the car. Simmons was air lifted to the hospital. Simmons retired in 2006 due to his injuries and he was awarded the “Star of Texas “for his service. Just 8 days before Christmas, on December 17, 2008, Officer Mark Simmons succumbed to his injuries.

Also succumbing to injuries received during the line of duty, Officer Justin Scherlen passed away in October of 2016. In September of 2015, Officer Scherlen was injured in a traffic accident. Amarillo Firefighters had to use the Jaws of Life to free Scherlen from his patrol car. With numerous traumatic injuries including many broken bones he was awarded the Purple Heart. Scherlen went through multiple surgeries after the accident but passed away while he was with his family.

Captain Preston George Burnam responded to disturbance call at a place called Western Motel on January 5, 1934. A 27 year old suspect shot him 4 times at close range. At the age of 62, Captain Burnam passed away.

From the time that Catain Burnam was killed, 13 police officers have been killed in the line of duty. 9 by gunfire, 3 by automobile crash and 1 by vehicular assault. All of these men had families. They were fathers, brothers, sons and husbands. These men left their families to protect all of us, but some did not return to their family. As we celebrate this Christmas, please remember the men and women in blue to protect us. The families that they left behind are in mourning during Christmas time. A time when there is suppose to be joy, there is nothing but heartache and sorrow. There are children of these officers that just want their father back instead of the gifts under the tree. There are stockings that a missing on the mantle. The sorrow cannot be healed.

If you happen to go out this Christmas, and happen to see an officer, be sure to thank them for their service. Do a good deed and thank them or buy them a cup of coffee for a Christmas gift. For the families of the officers out on patrol this Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, thank you for your sacrifice as well. You are the ones at home waiting patiently for them to come home. Merry Christmas, and remember to thank an officer.