Senate Resolution 2

A RESOLUTION EXPRESSING THE PROFOUND SORROW OF THE LEGISLATURE ON THE LOSS OF BROOKHAVEN POLICE OFFICER JAMES KEVIN WHITE WHILE IN THE LINE OF DUTY AND EXTENDING OUR DEEPEST SYMPATHY TO HIS BEREAVED FAMILY.

WHEREAS, Brookhaven Police Officer James Kevin White (35) of Sontag, Mississippi, passed away on September 29, 2018, while serving and protecting the people of Brookhaven, Mississippi, an event which saddened the State of Mississippi and the entire nation; and

WHEREAS, Officer James White honorably served his country in the Army National Guard in Operation Enduring Iraq Freedom. He then became a Police Officer serving at the Brookhaven Police Department where he laid down his life for his community serving in the line of duty; and

WHEREAS, Governor Phil Bryant ordered State and American flags on public property flown at half-staff from sunrise October 1, 2018, until sunset October 4, 2018, to mourn the loss of Officer White and Highway Patrolman Moak. The Mississippi Highway Patrol Honor Guard stood guard beside the officer's casket and concluded with taps played and the rifle salutes at the graveside service. The Honor Guard is a team of troopers who travel the state to honor fallen law enforcement officers. It is the greatest way to show honor for the ones who have sacrificed their life; and

WHEREAS, Reverend Dustin George considers it "the highest honor" to support the White and Moak families in their time of loss. At these moments, words fall short as we try to make sense of the tragedy, but there are some things we know for certain, these officers are heroes. They gave their lives protecting and serving the citizens of Brookhaven and they will be honored and remembered for their sacrifice. We join our prayers with those of so many others in our city, state and across the nation as we ask God to bring healing, comfort and strength to these families and to all who are a part of the law enforcement community; and

WHEREAS, on October 3, 2018, Governor Phil Bryant presented a posthumous Mississippi Medal of Valor from the Army National Guard to the family of Patrolman James White of the Brookhaven Police Department for the line-of-duty sacrifice that added his name to the pages of history. He had previously served in Iraq and received the Purple Heart. A true American hero; and

WHEREAS, law enforcement was not James White's only army. Jason Avants of Jackson described seeing a young soldier protecting one of his comrades in Operation Iraqi Freedom. "This young man, clearly injured, took a knee beside his friend, wiped the blood, sweat and sand from his eyes, and with his weapon at the ready, provided security for his injured friend. He did not lay down. He did not hide. He did not cower in fear. He did his job under the most adverse of conditions." This young soldier was James White; and

WHEREAS, preceding him in death were his grandparents, J.C. White, Jr., and Sally Turnage White. Those left to cherish his memory are his parents, father, James Darrell White; mother, Laurie Maxwell White and stepfather, Steve White; sons, James Curtis, "J.C." White and James "Lee" Edward White; fiancé, Elizebeth "Liz" Howell; sister, Lisa "Wese" White and Trey McBlair; special honorary brother, Dustin Vanderslice; stepsister, Leslie Kelly; stepbrother, Yaun White; and nieces and nephews: Holly and Leiana Thornell, Colton Thornell, Sidnie and Steve Henderson and Maggie and Hannah White. He is also survived by grandparents, Curtis and Nadine Maxwell and Margaret Pitre along with a host of aunts, uncles, cousins and brothers and sisters in uniform; and

WHEREAS, we can never repay our debt to fallen law enforcement officers and their families, but we must do what we can, with all that we have, to live our lives in a way that pays tribute to their memory. We should not pause and remember to thank law enforcement officers only in the wake of tragedy, we should do it every day:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby express the profound sorrow of the Legislature on the loss of Brookhaven Police Officer James Kevin White while on official duty and extend our deepest sympathy to his bereaved family.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to the surviving family of Officer James Kevin White, forwarded to the Brookhaven Chief of Police and the Governor and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.