West Memphis Tragedy Prompts Fundraising Event by Memphis College Students
On May 27, the students in our Memphis Campus chapter of the American Criminal Justice Society (Omega Eta Psi) organized a fundraiser to help the families of two West Memphis officers killed in the line of duty on May 20, 2010.
West Memphis Police Officer Bill Evans, 38, and Sergeant Brandon Paudert, 39, were shot and killed during a shootout after a traffic stop on Interstate 40 in West Memphis. West Memphis is an Arkansas city on the border of Tennessee and Arkansas. Both Officer Evans and Sergeant Paudert, who is the son of West Memphis Police Chief Bob Paudert, leave widows and young children.
Ever mindful of the daily risks that police officers face, and moved by this tragedy and the loss faced by the surviving family members and the larger community, our students came together to raise more than $600 in just a few hours. Remington College’s corporate office matched the amount raised, for a total donation of $1,200 to be given to a memorial fund for the benefit of the slain officers’ families.
Fundraising activities included hot dog sales and a rock climbing event, sponsored by the local unit of the National Guard. Said Criminal Justice Instructor Sandra Palmer, “Once the word was out that the Campus was conducting a fundraiser for the fallen officers, participation increased. We actually ran out of hot dogs to sell, and the rock wall was an added bonus.
The participation by our students was wonderful.” Criminal Justice Instructor Michelle Doty added, “We had many students go out of their way to donate, even without getting a hot dog. Many generous staff members also helped to solicit everyone’s participation around the administrative offices.”
Campus President Dr. Lori May summed up everyone’s feelings: “This event has obviously affected our community, and we just wanted to do our part to provide some support to the families of the officers who lost their lives.”
As for the shooting suspects: They were later cornered in a Wal-Mart parking lot in West Memphis, where a second shootout occurred and the Crittenden County Sheriff and the Chief Deputy were wounded. The gun battle ended after a state wildlife officer used his vehicle to prevent the suspects from escaping, and they later died at that scene.