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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-12-06 Euless Articles DISTRIBUTED TO: PIGS / OF / .1I I FOR CITY CACI CITY ATTVY SUTTER .IICKAr11IE BROWN YOUNG .AL1/4L CVT McDO,VALD COLLINS W. RHODES GETCHELL LIBRARY ADMLV LIBRARY REF H-IRTSELL DATE DISTRIBUTED /(- /Ct" // DATE OF ARTICLE // /' ' NEWSPAPER FWST BY TERRY EVANS tevans@star-telegram.com Euless police officer Richard Wong died Monday evening after having a heart attack, an official said. • Wong, 52, had the heart attack while playing racquetball with his father at the Hurst Recreation Center, 700 Mary Drive, said %.1 Euless Police Capt. Gary Landers. "It was kind of surreal last night,"Landers said Tuesday. "I'm meeting with the family this morning." Landers would not say more until he talked with Wong's family. Wong was taken from the recreation center to a hospital, but could not be revived, authorities said. The city was not aware of any history of health issues,said spokeswoman Betsy Deck. MIME Wong was a 17-year veteran of the Euless Police Department. He had been a school resource officer at Trinity High School, 500 N. Industrial Blvd., Euless,since 1998, principal Mike Harris said. Students held an impromptu candlelight vigil at the school Monday evening.Another vigil is scheduled for 7:30 tonight on the front steps of Trinity High. "He interacted with the kids all day every day,"Harris said. "As a resource officer, his primary job is to build relationships with the students so they feel comfortable talking with him,so they will report information or just feel safe here. He was outstanding at that." Harris said that Wong was loved by Trinity students, so the candlelight vigil Monday wasn't a surprise to him,though he wasn't aware of it until he got to school Tuesday morning. "There were some candles on my front step this morning,"he said. "The vigil must have been set up by the students themselves on Facebook.Who all was there and when they did it, I don't know." Harris said that counselors at other district campuses are standing by in case they are needed.Tuesday is the last day before the Thanksgiving break, and Wong's death was to be part of the morning announcements. "Counselors from other campuses are always available when one of our campuses needs them,"Harris said. "At this moment, they're on stand-by. Until all the kids get here,we don't know how much counseling support they'll need or want, but we certainly want to be ready." By 9 a.m. Tuesday, there were almost 1,000 likes on the R.I.P. Officer Wong page on Facebook. —^ The Trinity High School football team will honor Wong during the noon Saturday playoff game against Arlington Martin. When they enter Pennington Field, the Trojans will wear stickers on their helmets that look like a police badge and inscriptions of Wong's name and"In remembrance." A biography from the city of Euless states that Wong was a Pinkerton security officer in Fort Worth and also worked security at North East Mall in Hurst before becoming a police officer. He became a senior police officer in 1997. Wong graduated from Meridian High School in Sanford, Mich., and earned 60 hours in law enforcement from Delta College in University Center, Mich. Survivors include Wong's wife, Mary, 50, and daughters Rachael, 16, and Allison, 13. A funeral service islanned for 1 p p.m. Friday in the Trinity High School auditorium. Euless police officers and Wong's relatives will be among the pallbearers, according to Lucas Funeral Home. The funeral home said the coffin will be draped with a flag during the service, and there will be a folding-of-the-flag ceremony. Euless Police Chief Michael Brown will present the flag to Wong's widow. DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE I OF b1,9YOR CITY CNCL CITY A TTNY SUTTER MCKAMIE BROWN YOUNG ANIMAL CNTR IIcDO,VVILD COLLINS W. RHODES GETCHELL LIBRARY ADMIN LIBRARY REF HARTSELL — DATE DISTRIBUTED /'"? / c / ( I DATE OF ARTICLE // /• = / I( NEWSPAPER(.TA 19 . C-0,44 Vigil held at Euless school for officer known as 'good man' e by CYNTHIA VEGA WFAA Posted on November 22, 2011 at 8:39 AM Updated yesterday at 12:44 PM EULESS -A community in Euless is mourning the loss of a school resource officer who died last night. Police said Sr. Lt. Richard Wong died of an apparent heart attack while playing racquetball with his father. Wong mentored students at Trinity High School. Overnight, students gathered to honor his memory. Not even stormy weather could keep students away, with more than 100 gathered carrying candles and saying prayers. DISTRIBUTED TO: PIGS R OF .tiIAYOR CITY CNCL CITY ITTNY SUTTER MCKAMIE BROWN YOUNG ANIMAL CNTR ,IICDON-ILD COLLINS W. RHODES GETCHELL LIBRARY ADMIN LIBRARY REF HARTSELL - DATE DISTRIBUTED /• �(t? / /1 DATE OF ARTICLE /1 / ‘'// NEWSPAPER( V II . cC% '�l Students described Wong as a caring person, who was there for students on and off -duty. A candlelight vigil took place Monday night and a temporary memorial for the officer was created outside the school, with candles and a large poster with signatures from dozens of students saying goodbye to the officer. Wong was a 17-year veteran of the Euless Police Department and served as a resource officer at Trinity High School for years. Just last year, Wong was nominated for Euless Police Officer of the Year. Euless Police Chief Michael Brown said he lost a family member and good friend with Wong's passing. For the last 10 years, Wong and Brown would travel together to watch out-of-town Trinity High School football games. A Facebook page called "R.I.P. Officer Wong" was set up after his death and has already gathered over 950 likes as people share their memories of the lieutenant on the page. "Wong was such a good man," wrote Randy Ashford on the wall of the page. "His absence has already left a big void in the universe." One women who showed up for the vigil said while she graduated from Trinity High over five years ago, she still remembers the impact Wong made on her life and other students. "Officer Wong was always there in the halls, roaming the hall, 'You need to get back to class; I don't see why you have to go to the bathroom. Just get back to class, get — back to class [and] go learn something,' she said. "He was always trying to better the students here, always. And if we ever had a problem, needed money for lunch or anything, we could always go to him and he would always help." Senior Sadie Wilkinson said Wong would walk the hallways, always smiling and asking if students were okay. She said he would never talk about himself, preferring to help students instead. Wilkinson said Wong's passing will bring the close-knit "Trinity Nation" even closer together. Euless police spent the morning with the officer's family in Haltom City. He left behind a wife and two daughters. Funeral arrangements are pending. I / DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE / OF l 6.- MAYOR CITY CNCL CITY ATTNY SUTTER MCKAMIE BROWN YOUNG ANIMAL CNTR McDONALD COLLINS W. RHODES GETCHELL LIBRARY ADMIN LIBRARY REF HARTSELL L DATE DISTRIBUTED I / / t / DATE OF ARTICLE / / /1 INEWSPAPER S 41x D i L L Off-Duty Officer Collapses, Dies Published Tuesday,22 Nov 2011,11:32 AM CST MYFOXOFW.COM EULESS,Texas-Students and staff at Trinity High School are mourning for a Euless police officer who knew everyone by name. Officer Richard Wong suffered an apparent heart attack while playing racquetball Monday night at the Hurst Recreation Center. Officer Wong was a resource officer assigned to Trinity High School for many years for the past several years,according to his bio When current and former students learned of his death,they spread the news on Facebook and Twitter and gathered for a candlelight memorial at the school Tuesday night. Wong worked as a police officer since 1997. � III I I L L L DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE / OF - .1,19YOR CITYC1VCL CITY A TTNY SUTTER MCKAMIE BROWN YOUNG ANIMAL CNT .kDO:V-ILD COLLINS W. RHODES GETCHELL LIBRARY ADMIN LIBRARY REF HARTSELL - D4 TE DISTRIBUTED /.-2 /�Q /// DATE OF ARTICLE /1/?-// / NEWSPAPER FWST Remembering Officer Richard Wong Posted Tuesday,Nov.22,2011 Snare ;y t s ,, '"*Ilr' " w s. 'Iiii.`,.,:e.44t.':' '',.---'-i',,,'"'''..-,.."' ., 4, __ . , , . i✓' „...., _ , (; "- � `C p c� rs v P x, A 1°111\\* EULESS POLICE DEPARTME Euless police officer Richard Wong.Wong was a resource officer at Trinity High SchoolIII , x1 _) t — f." •- - - I a a: • i x r _ � '4,•-i-.,:-.---: ' 42t-'---.44-.?4' ,i7--'. - 1v -. ---.1._- ` .._ START ELEORAM(K,HAM PHA BO UAP HANH Trinity High School sophomore Chris Ceniceros places a candle at officer Richard Wong's memorial in front of the school in Euless on Tuesday,November 22,2011 Wong,a school resource officer at Trinity,died of a heart attack i DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE `' OF i MAYOR CITY CNCL CITY ATTNY SUTTER MCKAMIE BROWN YOUNG ANIMAL CNT AlcDONALD COLLINS W. RHODES GETCHELL LIBRARY ADMIN LIBRARY REF HARTSELL " DATE DISTRIBUTED ' I I f DATE OF ARTICLE ( 1 / T-7// ( NEWSPAPER FWST ._ L ., • L ., f -- ' f 9 f V- _L T � yam. ,, m '4 START E LEGRANVKFYNA P KA BO UAP HAN H Flags are raised half staff in honor of officer Richard Wong at Trinity High School in Euless on Tuesday,November 22 2011. 1$ - Irl i ion. =-`" iC 718 %''• y; in POLICE ., ... ! ,! . __ . . ...„ ... , ...„...„;:,* .. ,, ,,,.:.. ...„,..,,_ _ '~ STARTELEGRAM/KHeM PHA PO UAPHANH Trinity High School principal Micheal Harris places a wreath next to officer Richard Wong's patrol car at the school Lin Euless on Tuesday,November 22,2011.Wong was a school resource officer at Trinity. L L DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE 3 OF 3 MAYOR CITY CNCL CITY ATTNY SUTTER MCKAMIE BROWN YOUNG ANIMAL CNT McDONALD COLLINS W. RHODES GETCHELL LIBRARY ADMIN LIBRARY REF HARTSELL f DATE DISTRIBUTED Ilc)) I I I DATE OF ARTICLE I I 1 L:-"t9/l 1 NEWSPAPER FWST .,„. 4, - ....._ ..*. 7- .. ite'„,-- i 1 ,. . 1 • zi it"` • ' ' L ` i 'tom a� -ik..\..,,„--,-- - ,„,„0,7,..4..„,„„ .ftrik,.:- { s 1 STARTELEGRAIWKH,IPHABOUAPHANH A memorial is set up at the front 0f Trinity High School for officer Richard Wong in Euless on Tuesday,November 22,2011.Wong was a school resource officer at Trinity. i f ..*„, .-: i :t i Ask' ,g 46, lii { L . ,. .. .. , .... _ , . ,,..,..... . _ . ... ,.. . START ELEGRAMiKHAMPHA BOUAPHANH Norma Jimenez,a 2004 graduate of Trinity High School,leaves flowers at officer Richard Wong's memorial in front of the school in Euless on Tuesday,November 22,2011.Wong,a school resource officer at Trinity,died of a heart Lattack. L L 1 L DISTRIBUTED TO: • PAGE / OF c r tl t YOR CITY CNCL CITYATTVY SUTTER MCKAMIE BROWN YOUNG ANIMAL CNT .t/cDO,VALD COLLLVS W RHODES GETCHELL LIBRARY ADMIN LIBRARY REF HARTSELL r DATE DISTRIBUTED /- / / / / DATE OF ARTICLE // /2= 2 / // NEWSPAPER FWST Services: The funeral for Richard Wong will be held at 1 p.m. Friday at Trinity High School's auditorium under the direction of Lucas Funeral Home. Euless police officers and Richard's relatives will be among the pallbearers. The coffin will be draped with a flag during the service, which will later be presented to Wong's widow. Trinity's football team will honor Richard during Saturday's playoff game against Arlington Martin with helmet stickers resembling a police badge and featuring Richard's badge number. Visitation will begin at noon prior to the funeral service. Euless officer at Trinity 'loved those kids and they loved him' Posted Tuesday, Nov.22,2011 BY TERRY EVANS tevans(a�star-telegram.com EULESS --Christian Ciniceros hovered over dozens of candles Tuesday, trying to relight the stubs that had been placed the night before on the front steps of Trinity High School. Ciniceros' effort was in memory of someone whose influence kept the Trinity sophomore in school: Euless police officer Richard Wong. The teen said Wong taught him during anger management sessions how to avoid bad decisions. "He told me to count to 10 and calm down," Ciniceros said. "If it wasn't for him, I don't know what I'd be doing. Most likely I — wouldn't be in school. I won't forget him." Wong, 52, died Monday evening from a heart attack he suffered while playing racquetball with his father at Hurst Recreation Center, Euless police Capt. Gary Landers said. Wong was taken to a hospital but could not be revived, Landers said, adding that the city was unaware of any history of health issues. "This is a shock to us," Landers said. "You have a guy who's the picture of health and he just falls over. Once he went down, he never regained consciousness." Landers said a Euless police officer will remain with Wong's body round-the-clock until burial. A 17-year officer with Euless, Wong was a school resource officer at Trinity. Students held an impromptu candlelight vigil in front of the school Monday evening for Wong, who had been a mentor there since 1998, Principal Mike Harris said. Another vigil was held Tuesday night. — "He was very loved by the kids, worked great with them," Harris said. Kaylon Brownlee, a junior, said Wong "was there for the students who needed him." DI.STR/BI'TED TO: PAGE OF .1I.i YOR CITYCNCL CITY ATTNY SUTTER :1ICKAMIE BROWN YOUNG ANIMAL CNT 1IcDO,V4LD COLLLVS W. RHODES GETCHELL LIBRARYADAIIN LIBRARY REF HARTSELL DATE DISTRIBUTED / ') / e I I 1 DATE OF ARTICLE l/ ' / // NEWSPAPER FWST Another junior, Angela Brown, said any student could talk to Wong about anything, "even if it was kind of disturbing.- Harris said talking with students was what motivated Wong. "As a resource officer, his primary job is to build relationships — with students so they feel comfortable talking with him, so they will report information or just feel safe here," Harris said. "He was outstanding at that." — Landers agreed. "He went there and found his niche," he said. "He could have been anything he wanted to be, but he loved those kids and they loved him." Landers said Wong received the 2009 Blackie Sustaire Award, named for the city's first police chief. - "It's given to someone who exemplifies the characteristics of our first police chief--a good, honest, hardworking individual who puts service to community before self," he said. — According to a biography from the city, Wong was a Pinkerton security officer in Fort Worth and worked security at North East Mall in Hurst before becoming a police officer. - Wong graduated from Meridian High School in Sanford, Mich., and earned 60 hours in law enforcement from Delta College in University Center, Mich. He is survived by his wife, Mary, 50, and two daughters, Rachael, 16, and Allison, 13. Terry Evans, 817-390-7620 I DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE / OF /f _ MAYOR CITYCVCL CITY ATTVY SUTTER .}ICK4MIE BROWN YOUNG ANL}IALC.VT .I/cDO.VALD COLLINS W. RHODES GETCHELL LIBRARY ADA-ILV LIBRARY REF HARTSELL DATE DISTRIBUTED ;l<71' /Lt /` l DATE OF ARTICLE f// / lI NEWSPAPER FWST Honorable service The sudden death of Euless police officer Richard Wong makes each of us acutely aware that life is fragile and we should be thankful for each day. Wong was an outstanding school resource officer. He found his niche in that duty assignment. He had a personality that meshed well with students.As the Euless fire marshal, I had the privilege of knowing and working with Wong on many occasions.When I had to question a Trinity High School student regarding a fire-related incident,Wong would assist.The change in the students'attitude when he entered the picture was amazing. It was like the difference between night and day.The rapport he developed and the respect they gave his presence was astonishing. Wong distinguished himself in many ways as a Euless police officer. His legacy will be the lives he touched and the involvement he had with the students at Trinity High School. I'm thankful there are people like Richard Wong in our communities,because he made a difference. May the Lord comfort his family, his friends,the students and the Euless community in which he served honorably. --Michael A. Logan,Euless assistant chief/fire marshal(retired), DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE / OF LI.I YOR CITY CVCL CITYATTNY SUTTER MCK-IMIE BROWN YOUNG A.VIM-IL CVTR McDON.-ILD COLLINS W. RHODES GETCHELL LIBRARY ADMIN LIBRARY REF H.IRTSELL DATE DISTRIBUTED /)/CE'= / / 1 DATE OF,I RTICLE / I /') III ;VEUSPAPEll 1 A/t�� c Richard Charles Wong By the Midland Daily News I Posted: Thursday, November 24, 2011 10:45 am Richard Charles Wong died unexpectedly on Monday, Nov. 21 , 2011 . Funeral: 1:00 p.m., Friday, Nov. 25, 2011, at Trinity High School Auditorium, Euless, Texas. Memorials: In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Trinity High School Angel Fund in honor of Richard Wong. Donations may be sent to Trinity High School, 500 N. Industrial, Euless, Texas 76039. Richard was born Dec. 17, 1958, in Reed City. He graduated from Meridian High School in Sanford, and studied at Delta College in Saginaw. He graduated from the police academy at Tarrant County College. Rich was proudly employed by the Euless Police Department for over 17 years. He served over 13 years as Resource Officer at Trinity High School. Rich touched the lives of everyone he met. He was loved by his family, students, the faculty at Trinity High School and by the Police Department. He would stand on the sideline of every Trinity Trojans football game cheering them on enthusiastically. He was truly devoted to his family, the police department and to all the students and faculty at Trinity High School, for which he had great pride and love for all. Survivors include his loving devoted wife, Mary Beth Christensen; two beautiful daughters, Rachel and Allison; his mother, Edna Holzschuh; and father, Neal Holzschuh; his siblings, Robin, Sondra, Robert, DeAnna and Sean; and many nephews, nieces, and other loving family members.