Sergeant Korby Kennedy
San Angelo Police Department, Texas
End of Watch: Thursday, June 25, 2015
Biographical Info
Age:
Tour of Duty: Not available
Badge Number: Not available
Incident Details
Cause of Death: Motorcycle accident
Date of Incident: June 25, 2015
Weapon Used: Not available
Suspect Info: Not available
Agency Contact Information
Chief Tim R. Vasquez
San Angelo Police Department
401 E. Beauregard Avenue
San Angelo, TX 76902
Phone: (325) 481-2696
Sergeant Korby Kennedy was killed in a motorcycle crash on Knickerbocker Road, near Albert Street, while escorting a parade at approximately 6:00 pm.
He and other officers were escorting a parade of boats for the upcoming San Angelo Drag Boat Races. He was traveling on Knickerbocker Road when a vehicle pulled out of a parking lot into his path. He was transported to Shannon Medical Center, where he succumbed to his injuries.
SAN ANGELO, Texas – A flood of condolences and prayers for those who knew Sgt. Korby Kennedy struck local social media feeds Thursday night as people learned of his death.
Kennedy, a San Angelo police officer for nearly 20 years, died after an SUV crashed into his motorcycle on Knickerbocker Road, Police Chief Tim Vasquez said in a somber and tearful news conference Thursday evening.
“It’s a sad day for our community. We lost an officer and a very close friend,” Vasquez said, “someone we would consider a brother.”
Kennedy was part of an escort from Lake Nasworthy to Twin Peaks restaurant for boats participating in this weekend’s Showdown in San Angelo Drag Boat Races.
About 6:06 p.m. a Nissan Rogue SUV pulled out of a private parking lot and collided with Kennedy’s SAPD motorcycle near the Albert Street intersection, Vasquez said.
Kennedy was taken to Shannon Medical Center by ambulance, escorted by six patrol units, but died of his injuries. His death was pronounced at 6:39 p.m.
Texas Department of Public Safety troopers were on the crash site as a sign of solidarity. DPS investigators will take over the crash investigation.
Later that evening more than 100 people, in uniform and plainclothes, gathered outside SAPD headquarters, then went into the Municipal Court, where SAPD officials planned to speak to them before the news conference.
Vasquez said two people were in the Nissan that struck Kennedy’s motorcycle. The passenger was taken to Shannon, but Vasquez had no details on injuries other than they “weren’t significant.”
It is unclear if any charges will be filed against the driver of the Nissan.
“I’ve been doing this job 11 years and this is, this is for sure one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do,” Vasquez said. “This is something that no organization wants to face ever.”
“Sgt. Kennedy leaves behind a family. Obviously everybody is having a hard time with it,” Vasquez said.
Vasquez said he understands citizens will want to donate or assist the department, and he asked them to call 325-657-4331 and ask for the Community Service Division.
Cities with similar tragedies often see an outpouring from citizens, which can “sometimes be overwhelming for organizations, for family for everybody involved,” he said. If the department has specific needs, it will reach out to the public through local media.
“If the citizens want to honor Korby right now, tie a blue ribbon around your tree,” he said. “Let’s just remember him.”
Before the news conference Vasquez spoke to police staff, asking them to “remember why we do what we do” and to honor Kennedy by doing their job “nobly and with professionalism as Korby did.”
Kennedy’s body was taken to Lubbock for an autopsy after the news conference. A police procession began after 10 p.m. to escort the body. Vasquez said officers would accompany Kennedy to Lubbock and post guard over the body.
Kennedy’s is the first death of an active SAPD officer since Apprentice Officer Paul Book was killed in an off-duty crash in October 2008. Book was southbound on Highway 208 in a 2001 Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck when a 2007 Jeep Liberty westbound on Farm-to-Market Road 2105 ran a stop sign and crashed into the Chevy. Book died of his injuries.
Book’s parents, Roy and Chris Book, were at the Municipal Court to show support for the department.
Kennedy was well loved and respected in the community as “the traffic guy,” Vasquez said – somebody the public would call if they had traffic complaints.
“We’re going to miss him,” Vasquez said, choking up. “We’re going to miss him.”
