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Officer Killed in Crash Mourned

First officer killed in Bridgeport city history.

By Brett Johnson

| Friday, Apr 3, 2009 | Updated 7:30 PM CST

An action figure and flowers were placed on top of a Bridgeport police cruiser in honor of Sgt. Randy White.

For the first time in its history, people in the town of Bridgeport, Texas, are mourning the death of a police officer killed in the line of duty.

Sgt. Randy White, a 32-year old, 5-year veteran of the Bridgeport Police Department was killed when a suspect involved in a chase with DPS and Wise County Deputies rammed White's police cruiser with an SUV. It happened along Highway 114 Thursday afternoon.

"My heart goes out to the family" says Jerry Syzmanski, a Bridgeport resident. "I have a great deal of respect for all law enforcement."

On Friday, people in mourning flocked to the Bridgeport Police Department to sign a book of remembrance and place flowers on a police cruiser parked next to a large framed color photo of Sgt. White.

Deena Marshall and her 14-year old daughter Danielle dropped of a bouquet. "This touches a lot of lives," Deena said, "we just wanted to come out and show our appreciation for what Bridgeport police officers do for us every day."

Sgt. White leaves behind a wife and 5-year old daughter. "I feel really sad for the mother and the child" Danielle says "because I couldn't imagine losing my father at such a young age."

The suspect, 43-year old Steve York, has been charged with Capital Murder, a crime that can carry the death penalty in Texas.

Bridgeport Assistant Police Chief Steve Stanford says, "From what we've been told by investigating officers and from our eyewitness there are some indications that this was an intentional act."

Stanford says the suspect is well known by Bridgeport police and that Sgt. White knew the suspect. But he doesn't believe the suspect was targeting Sgt. White.

York underwent surgery Friday morning at John Peter Smith hospital for injuries sustained in the collision. He suspect remains under guard and in the custody of the Texas Rangers.