Thread: Haines City Police, Kin Bid Phoenix Braithwaite Farewell

http://www.theledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/ ... 90363/1004



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Published Wednesday, August 9, 2006
Wednesday, August 9, 2006

Haines City Police, Kin Bid Phoenix Braithwaite Farewell

By Amber Smith
The Ledger



Haines City police officers and Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd, in center with his hand over his heart, surround the coffin of Officer Phoenix Braithwaite at NorthRidge church in Haines City on Tuesday. (SCOTT WHEELER/The Ledger)



HAINES CITY -- Bagpipes sounded in the background as members of Haines City police Officer Phoenix Braithwaite's squad carried his casket outside the church Tuesday.

Braithwaite's wife, Ivy, sat nearby clutching the folded flag that had lain on her husband's casket. She was surrounded by family members as her husband was honored with a 21-gun salute, a helicopter flyover and the processional of the riderless horse.

"He will be missed. He was a member of our family. He will always be a member of our family," said Haines City Police Chief Morris West. "He will not be forgotten."

Braithwaite, 24, was killed in a head-on crash Aug. 2 on U.S. 17-92 in Osceola County on his way to work. He had been with the Police Department for 10 months. He would have been 25 years old Thursday.

He is survived by his wife and 2-year-old daughter, Brianna.

Miguel Garduno Gonzalez, 43, of Haines City, was driving the van that hit Braithwaite's motorcycle. Gonzalez fled the scene but was arrested later that day and has been charged with leaving the scene of an accident where a death occurred and driving without a driver license. He is being held in the Polk County Jail without bail.

Florida Highway Patrol officials said Gonzalez is an illegal immigrant. An investigation into whether he had a valid state ID is ongoing.

The crash is still under investigation. FHP Trooper Kim Miller said she did not know whether additional charges will be filed against Gonzalez.

More than 1,500 people packed into the NorthRidge church in Haines City on Tuesday morning to pay their respects to the fallen officer.

The entire Haines City Police Department was at the funeral. Polk County Sheriff's Office deputies patrolled the city Tuesday and county dispatchers handled calls.

The three local pastors who officiated at the memorial service urged the congregation to love one another and to remember Braithwaite the way he was -- always smiling and with a kind word for everyone.

Ivette Oppenheimer wrote a tribute to her son-in-law that was handed out at the service. In the letter, she thanked the officers for their love and support.

"It is so comforting to know that our beloved Officer Phoenix Braithwaite worked with such wonderful and caring people and that you all were a second family to him when he was at his home away from home. Phoenix would have been so proud that you all took his wife, daughter and family underneath your wings and are helping them through a very difficult time," Oppenheimer wrote.

Before the ceremony began, a slide show of pictures of Braithwaite and his family was shown on a large screen at the front of the church.

Photos of the couple's wedding were shown as well as pictures of a beaming new father holding his newborn daughter and a recent trip to a local theme park.



Ivy Braithwaite clutches the flag that had been draped over the coffin of her husband during the service Tuesday in Haines City. (SCOTT WHEELER/The Ledger)



City Manager Ann Toney-Deal spoke of meeting Braithwaite for the first time during his swearing-in ceremony in September 2005.

"He was a gentle giant. My first impression of him never changed. He continued to be a gentle giant," Toney-Deal said. "He loved life to the fullest. He loved his wife with a passion."

Braithwaite was well-known for his quick smile and enthusiasm for his job.

The Rev. Sam Malave, who is one of the chaplains for the department, urged everyone to be more like Braithwaite and to adopt his enthusiasm for life.

Malave said there were four things that everyone he asked said about Braithwaite.

"One of the things they said -- and take this into your heart -- is that Officer Phoenix had an excitement about life," Malave said. "He was responsible. He was responsible for the job he did. To protect and serve. That was his way."

Malave said Braithwaite also had a lot of love in his heart for his wife, daughter, family and co-workers.

"He also was very dedicated. When someone asked him why he was sent to pick up the mail recently (at City Hall) he said `because they wanted to send the best man,' " Malave said.

Malave also told those gathered to celebrate life and the wife of the fallen officer.

"Go out and celebrate the life of Officer Phoenix Braithwaite. Celebrate him. Let him know. It is a great loss, but (his) life had a lot of meaning," Malave said.

A fund has been set up for Braithwaite's family at the Washington Mutual bank at 6318 U.S. 17-92 N. Donations are also being taken at the Haines City Police Department at 35400 U.S. 27 N.

Amber Smith can be reached at amber.smith@theledger.com or 863-422-6800.


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Would the police officers family have standing to file a wrongful death lawsuit against the federal government? I don't think it would be difficult to prove the federal government has been complacent in regards to the enforcement of our illegal immigration laws. The complacency the entire Bush administration has shown over the last 5 years toward border security and our immigration laws is responsible for many deaths at the hands of illegal immigrants. Why can't the families of the deceased file wrongful death lawsuits? Any lawyers reading this?

MW,
I agree, a huge nationwide class action lawsuit should be filed against the government by anyone who has lost a loved one in an accident with an illegal alien.