On the night of December 23, 2000 Cpl. James Lamance and his brother Kevin Lamance were patroling the city of Whitewright when they got in a pursuit with what they believed to be an intoxicated driver. The vehicle was a white 4 wheel drive truck. They chased the truck in Whitewright and out to Fannin County Road 4510. The truck pulled into a pasture where the suspect got out. James Lamance radioed that the suspect was shooting at him and his partner. Two shots were fired. The first shot missed both officers but the second shot struck James in the face. James Lamace died at local hospitals. Kevin stated that he felt the first bullet go by his face.
James had always wanted to become a police officer and made that dream come true at the age of 50. Kevin had just graduated from the local Police Academy and was a Reserve Officer with Whitewright Police Department. My heart goes out to James Lamance's family. I will truly miss him.
I had worked with James before I left to go to work with the Howe Police Department. The shift James was working was my old shift. Sometimes I wonder if it would have been me that was shot if I would have stayed. I was working the night Cpl. Lamance was shot and I figured that it would be best if I stay in Howe instead of going to the crime sceen.
We will always miss him. |
