Every once in a while you run across a news story that becomes personal. Usually for me, it’s a story that involves children. I’m a parent and when I have to report on something tragic happening to a child, it gets to me.  This week, it was Sgt. Ron Harrison’s murder, a man I knew personally. The station called me in to work about four hours early. . . All hands on deck when there’s breaking news.

Before the name of the victim in the cop killing was released to the public, deputies described him only as a DUI Sergeant. I knew right then! There is only one DUI Sergeant. It was Ron Harrison!  I’d known the man for close to a decade. Tears welled up in my eyes. I started calling the colonel and the sheriff. I didn’t want information on the killing. I wanted someone to share my grief at 5:15 in the morning.

I wouldn’t necessarily call Ron Harrison a “friend.” I’d known him professionally for about a decade. We had teased and kidded each other more times that I could count. I used to call him a drill sergeant. He just had that look and demeanor about him. He used to tease me about standing in hurricanes. The one thing I will always remember about Ron is he always had a smile on his face. He greeted you like it was the highlight of his day. AND he was so passionate about his job fighting drunk driving, it made me passionate about it too! He was a man I liked, admired, respected. A man I would gladly help out if he needed a hand. Perhaps, he was a friend after all. A friend I will miss.