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AUSTIN (KXAN) – Austin Police Department Sgt. Tim Kresta can share details about each of APD’s deaths during his multi-year tenure with the department. He remembers each person’s name, face, cause of death, and interactions with officers while they were on duty.
He assists in handling the benefits for officers who have died on duty. But for Rick Randall, the APD’s chief chaplain, his memory often stays with the families of the fallen officers who are left behind.
“Obviously, a funeral is one of the most emotional and intimate moments in a family’s life,” Randall said. “Usually funerals are fairly private services that involve intimate family and friends. The special thing about a police funeral is that you have all of these components and then you add the public part. “
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Randall served as the APD chaplain for 23 years as part of his 44-year service. Most of the services he oversaw were for retired officers.
However, in the past decade, APD has lost five officers on duty – in addition to two officers who were lost to COVID-19 last week.
“Literally, the fatalities represent the real cost of protecting our communities,” he said.
APD officials confirmed to KXAN Monday that Sr. Officer Randy Boyd and Sr. Sgt. Steve Urias will be counted as a duty death within the force, with the same benefits as officers lost in car accidents, shootings or other circumstances walk.
![Senior Sgt.Steve Urias (APD interim chief Joseph Chacon photo)]()
Senior Sgt.Steve Urias (APD interim chief Joseph Chacon photo)
Senior Sgt.Steve Urias (APD interim chief Joseph Chacon photo)The two were the first officials to die of COVID-19 in the last 18 months of the coronavirus pandemic. Nationwide, 130 police officers died of COVID-19 in Texas on August 27.
Texas leads the nation with the highest number of COVID-19 police deaths, according to the Fraternal Order of Police. Of the 581 police officer deaths from the virus documented nationwide, Texas statistics account for 22.4% of all COVID-19 deaths.
Under the APD, active deaths on duty keep specific logs to honor the fallen officers during funeral processions, including a gun salute, fly over, flag folding, and the traditional bagpipe playing “Amazing Grace.” Each of these details fits, among other things, through the collaboration between Randall, the APD honor guard and city or state officials.
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Alongside these specific protocols comes the logistics of where the public service can best be housed. For some fallen officers, visitors travel from across the state and even beyond to pay their final respects.
On site, APD works with several religious organizations that have greater capacities and have expressed an interest in providing these services. Shoreline Church and Hill Country Bible Church have both hosted frequent APD-related services.
“I think it’s a perfect blend of our hearts to work with the community to honor these brave men and women who literally gave their lives to serve our community, and a combination of that heart with the very practical reality that we have a facility large enough to accommodate the kind of funerals of this type that our ward has, ”said Robert Koke, senior pastor, Shoreline Church.
Depending on the wishes of the families of the fallen officers, Randall said, the APD could conduct a civil service before the family and loved ones of the fallen can hold their own separate, private ceremony.
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Nestled on East 14th Street on the Texas Capitol grounds is the Texas Peace Officers Memorial in honor of those who died in the service. The names of the 23 APD officers are currently engraved on the memorial, from the 25 officers killed on duty in KXAN’s August 25 interview with Randall.
During the interview, news of Boyd’s death came and Urias’ death was confirmed on August 26th.
Hundreds of names mark the walls of the 1875 Texas Peace Officers Memorial. The state will expand the memorial to add names to the back of the wall – a visual reminder of the lives lost to victims.
“I think the big tragedy, when you look at these walls, is they are full,” Randall said, adding, “This is a fair expression from the members of the state of Texas, from law enforcement around the world.” to say that we will never forget what you did in duty. “
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