Editor, Dec. 28, 2015, will forever be imprinted in my mind.

Georgia State Patrol Trooper Harry Middleton phoned my house, told me his name and asked me my name and several questions.
Right away, he said he had to answer another call and would call me right back. After 30 minutes had passed, I called the dispatcher to locate him.

Five minutes later, Trooper Middleton called to say he was coming up my driveway. All the while, I had no idea what had happened.
He got out of his car, introduced himself and started a conversation. Realizing that this could be serious, I asked Trooper Middleton, was my son in his car and was he OK? He then said that this was the hardest part of his job and that my son Marco had been killed in an automobile accident. He helped me to the house, where we sat and talked for a few minutes.

Just then, Sheriff Steve Sikes entered, and the three of us talked and prayed for over an hour.

I’m telling this story to remind us what is very important in our daily lives. I think that unless you have experienced this kind of nightmare of losing a child and getting that kind of support and compassion from these law-enforcement officers, you cannot imagine what they go through every day. Sure, you can watch the evening news and see only bad stories about a few bad apples, but I am convinced that for every one you see, there are at least hundreds, if not thousands, of good ones you will never see in any news media. I’ll relive my nightmare for the rest of my life, but will never forget the help I got from a “real” trooper and a “real” sheriff.

Thanks to everyone that took the time to read my story, and may God bless.

Respectfully,
Chip Belgio
Sunbury