Well Its November 10th again. I cant believe its been 17 years.
Frank was a great friend the kind of guy who would give you the shirt off his back if you needed it. We went to high school together and sat in the same homeroom for 4 years, we both went to the same college and attended the police academy together. Frank was killed by a no account wino that refused to move on from his favorite ally drinking spot.
It was a daylight shift and Frank was walking the beat in Mckeesport PA Frank had only been on the job a few months and was alone because his partner had court that day. I'm told Frank never called out that he was having an encounter with a intoxicated street person. It soon turned ugly and Frank was in a struggle for his life, the revolver discharged once taking off one of the wino's fingers, but he then gained control and shot Frank in the chest just above the vest and then once in the head. Frank died at the hospital later that day.
The bum was found and arrested a few blocks away bleeding from the wound and with Franks gun in his waistband how he was not killed then and there I do not know. He was convicted in the first trial and several years later in a second trial that Franks parents had to be put through because the murderer claimed he had poor representation the first go around.
Brothers and Sisters in Blue, please always call out no matter how small or unimportant you think the incident is.
Frank, I miss you brother.