‘Honoring his sacrifice’: Name of fallen Fort Worth police sergeant added to Memorial Wall
Sgt. Billy Randolph’s family and coworkers gathered the morning of Wednesday, Oct. 9, to see his name on the Memorial Wall of Fort Worth police and firefighters who died in the line of duty.
“May this inscription serve as a reminder of the impact Billy had on our lives and the memories we share,” South Patrol Division Commander Andre Smith told the crowd. “May it bring comfort to those who mourn and inspiration to those who continue Billy’s work.”
The 56-year-old sergeant was struck by a wrong-way driver while responding to an 18-wheeler crash and fire on Interstate 35W in the early hours of Aug. 12. Fellow officers rushed him to John Peter Smith Hospital, but he didn’t survive his injuries. The driver, 25-year-old De Aujalae Evans, was arrested and faces a charge of intoxicated manslaughter of a peace officer.
Randolph’s name will also be inscribed on memorials in Washington, D.C., and Austin, but there is something special about the Memorial Wall in Fort Worth, Police Chief Neil Noakes said.
“This is our wall,” Noakes said. “This wall is for the people who knew and loved Billy the most. Yes, he needs to be recognized at a state and national level, but this shows our commitment at home.”
The Fort Worth Police and Firefighters Memorial, located at 2201 W. 7th St. in Trinity Park, was dedicated in June 2009. Randolph’s name is the 66th name to be added to the section of the wall memorializing police officers.
Randolph’s daughter, Kayla Bates, said serving others was her dad’s life calling.
“Thank you to the Fort Worth community and our family in blue for not only loving and supporting us, but honoring him,” Bates said. “Honoring his sacrifice and remembering him for the hero that he was and will always be.”
Randolph served with the Fort Worth Police Department for nearly 30 years. Most recently he was assigned to the South Patrol Division.
Fort Worth resident Sheila Williams said she drives by the memorial frequently but never stopped. On Wednesday, she stopped to honor Randolph.
“It’s a really sad loss to the community,” Williams said. “He was just doing his job.”
This story was originally published October 9, 2024 at 2:33 PM.
