April 11 – “Honoring Chief McLane”

I had the privilege of attending the memorial service for Jamaica Beach Police Chief Andy McLane yesterday.  I have to say it earned a place right up there near the top on my list of impressive events.  I didn’t know Chief McLane well.  He had always been pleasant an accommodating the times he or other officers stopped by to check on the church facilities.  They were great about making sure everything was fine with us.  In fact they often went above and beyond the call of duty. 

One time we were having an event at the church and a Jamaica Beach police officer came to the door.  He asked if I knew the two teenagers he had with him.  As it happened, I did know them.  They had come to several events at the church.  The officer told me they had been pretending to fight on the side of the road and had caused one driver to almost have a wreck.  She thought one of them was really injured, so she finally pulled over and called 911.  Sounded to me like they were probably having a great time, and the scenario probably was pretty funny.  Apparently the officer thought so as well, but they were disrupting traffic.  He didn’t want to have to arrest them, though, so he brought them over to the church to see if we were doing something they could get involved in.  Of course we welcomed them in.  Now that was some creative police work as far as I was concerned.  The kids didn’t have to go to court, and they didn’t even have to tell their parents what happened, although Jamaica Beach is a pretty small community.  It probably didn’t take long for the parents to hear about it.  I don’t remember if the officer was Andy or not, but it typifies the approach to police work he must have encouraged.

Here’s a list of some the organizations that were represented:   Jamaica Beach, Tomball, Santa Fe, Texas Department of Public Safety, Hitchcock, League City, Kemah, Houston, Texas City Galveston, Eustace, Baytown, Seabrook, Manvel, Brazoria County sheriff, Galveston County sheriff, UTMB police, Galveston ISD police, Friendswood, Constables, Port of Galveston, detectives from many forces, Galveston Fire Department, Jamaica Beach Fire Department.  I’m sure there many others I didn’t see.  They lined the aisles of the packed church during the service, and they stood at attention as the casket was returned to the hearse.  The line of vehicles to the cemetery was amazing.  Along the route through town, trucks of the Galveston Fire Department waited to assist with blocking traffic.   The procession left town by driving under the outstretched ladders of the Jamaica Beach Fire Department trucks.  Most definitely an impressive way to honor someone who served the community. 

Psalms 85:8-9 says, “I will listen to what God the Lord will say; he promises peace to his people, his saints — but let them not return to folly.  Surely his salvation is near those who fear him, that his glory may dwell in our land.”

Father, walk with Andy’s family and friends through their grief.  Amen.