Once again, and in less then twenty-four hours from my last blog, I have the sad but nonetheless great privilege to honor a fallen peace officer on these pages. Deputy Josh Mitchell of the Reagan County Sheriff's Office was murdered last night just after 6 PM. Deputy Mitchell had approached the residence of the shooter while on some type of service call. Officer Mitchell was fired on and mortally wounded by the suspect, Marcus Madison. Both men were residents of the small town of Big Lake, a small town where nothing like this is supposed to happen. But as policemen everywhere know, death is never very far from the police officer's path. The shooter, Madison, was known to police due to several arrests over the years. The suspect was "brave" enough to ambush a lone police officer but was later found hiding like a scared little boy in a closet inside his residence. Apparently he was not up to standing face to face with one or more officers, opting not to fire any more shots as more officers arrived, eventually backed by SWAT units from various departments. This is the modus operandi of many a criminal; to ambush a single officer then meekly surrender when confronted by other officers.
Deputy Mitchell was a long-time resident of Reagan County, and had been employed at the Reagan County Sheriff's Office since he was old enough to legally be a peace officer in the state of Texas. The murder of this officer, for the above reason, as well as because Deputy Mitchell leaves behind a young wife and loving family, as well as comrades at the Sheriff's Office, is especially tragic. The tragedy is exacerbated by the fact that the shooter was also a member of the same community. My deepest sympathy to this officer's family and to the men and women of the Reagan County Sheriff's Office, as well as other officers of the various agencies that work closely with Reagan County SO, due to the isolated location of that community. Also my prayers of safety for peace officers in West Texas and all over the state, and the nation, who will carry on in the face of this and other tragedies, and will continue to do their jobs even as they daily walk through the Valley of the Shadow of Death.
Deputy Mitchell was a long-time resident of Reagan County, and had been employed at the Reagan County Sheriff's Office since he was old enough to legally be a peace officer in the state of Texas. The murder of this officer, for the above reason, as well as because Deputy Mitchell leaves behind a young wife and loving family, as well as comrades at the Sheriff's Office, is especially tragic. The tragedy is exacerbated by the fact that the shooter was also a member of the same community. My deepest sympathy to this officer's family and to the men and women of the Reagan County Sheriff's Office, as well as other officers of the various agencies that work closely with Reagan County SO, due to the isolated location of that community. Also my prayers of safety for peace officers in West Texas and all over the state, and the nation, who will carry on in the face of this and other tragedies, and will continue to do their jobs even as they daily walk through the Valley of the Shadow of Death.
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