Thread: Slain Agent known as Cop's Cop

Slain Border Patrol agent known as cop's cop
Former Marine described as patriotic

by Craig Harris - Dec. 16, 2010 12:00 AM
The Arizona Republic

Clean-cut. Well-built. A cop's cop.

If Central Casting were looking for a prototypical officer, they would have found it in Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry, a former colleague said.

"He had a very impressive presence in his uniform," said Chief Thomas Karnes of the Lincoln Park, Mich., Police Department, where Terry previously served. "That had a lot to do with his Marine training. He always looked very sharp."

Terry, 40, a border agent for three years, was fatally shot late Tuesday patrolling near Peck Canyon in a remote area off Arizona 289. He was possibly killed by "bandits" who roam the border area, stealing from illegal immigrants, according to the Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office.

The slaying occurred 2,000 miles from the suburbs of Detroit where Terry grew up and served as a police officer after a four-year stint in the Marines, where he was honorably discharged as a corporal.

Karnes said Terry obtained an associate's degree in criminal justice from Henry Ford Community College in Dearborn. He also was a police officer in Ecorse, another Detroit suburb.

Karnes said Terry was shot at while with the Lincoln Park department but was not hurt.

Terry grew up in Flat Rock, a small community about 20 miles south of Detroit. He graduated from Flat Rock High School in 1988.

"He was an easygoing guy who was very patriotic," said Eric Wymer, a 10-year veteran with the Detroit Police Department and longtime family friend. "He lost his life doing what he loved best, fighting for his country and catching bad guys."

He is survived by his parents, Josephine and Kent Terry; his brother, Kent and two sisters, Michelle Balogh and Kelly Willis.

The Detroit Free Press contributed to this article.


Read more: http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/ ... z18IOMFZY7

Border Patrol agent remembered for his bravery and actions
Posted: Dec 15, 2010 11:43 PM CST Updated: Dec 16, 2010 11:08 AM CST

NOGALES, Ariz. (KGUN9-TV) - FBI agents are releasing little information about the shooting that killed US Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry. What is known is that at 11 p.m. Tuesday night Agent Terry exchanged gunfire with five suspected border bandits near Rio Rico, was hit, and died around 1:00 a.m.

"This is a stark reminder of the realities that we face each and every day in protecting this border and protecting our communities," said Border Patrol Deputy Chief Richard Barlow.

This isn't the first time Agent Terry was caught in gunfire. Before working at the Customs and Border Protection, he was an officer for Lincoln Park Police, outside Detroit. He earned an award for his bravery when he took on a shooting outside a large building.

"When he started is when Lincoln Park had the Senior Tower shootings, and that when he was awarded a certificate of merit for his actions that day," said Lincoln Park Police Chief Thomas Karnes.

In the Lincoln Park shootout, the bad guys were caught and Terry walked away unharmed. Unfortunately, it was not the case this time. His life is a testimony of the violence along the border. Of the five suspects who shot at Agent Terry, four are in custody. While a person of interest is in custody until his identity is verified, agents are still on the hunt. Meanwhile, nearby residents are still worried about their safety.

"I don't know what's going to happen here. It doesn't seem like we're winning the drug war," said area resident Tom Mitchell.

FBI agents and Santa Cruz County Sheriff deputies say it is normal for Border Patrol agents to take on border bandits like the ones Agent Terry encountered Tuesday night, and say they are investigating just who these bandits actually are.

Governor Jan Brewer has ordered that all state flags be flown at half-staff in honor of Agent Terry's sacrifice. He had a proud history of serving his country. Besides working as a police officer and Border Patrol agent, he served three years in the US Marine Corps and was honorably discharged in 1994. The 40-year-old was a native of Detroit, Michigan. He is survived by his parents, a brother, and two sisters.

WITH 4 MINUTE VIDEO

http://www.kgun9.com/global/story.asp?s=13682232

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