National Police Week

This week is National Police Week and in light of the recent events in March 2013 involving the killer of Tom Clements, head of Colorado Prison system, who also shot a Montage County Deputy and fired on dozens of Wise County police personnel and then ultimately was killed in a shoot out in Decatur, Texas- I'd like to say thank you to all law enforcement personnel for taking the oath to Protect & Serve. My Mom (Shirley Wasson), my niece (Delise White who is a Wise County Jailer) & I attended the Taylor County Law Enforcement Memorial Service on May 1st. There have been several years we've attended that we have had some connection to the state roll call. Of course the Abilene officers, Jeff McCoy & Rodney Holder are always close to our hearts, as Daddy was formerly Abilene PD. Then there was Wes Hardy, a Plano Motor Officer who grew up in Wise County; Randy White, a Bridgeport Police officer; and most recently our family friend, David Slayton, a Trooper from Montague County. Thank God that we didn't see the name of James Boyd, Montague County Deputy who was shot on March 21, 2013. I was honored to once again answer roll call for my Grandfather, Deputy Jessie Bryan "Jake" Wasson, Sr. and I count it a privilege to be a part of the law enforcement family. by Donna Bean

Potosi Cemetery, Abilene, TX

Taking Comfort in a Father's Words by Donna Bean

They say history repeats itself. On July 13, 2011 it did for my mom and I. We found ourselves spending the night in the same 7th floor ICU waiting room of United Regional Hospital in Wichita Falls that we had spent the night in on July 13, 2007. The results were different, as my Dad didn't pull through this time. They say time heals all wounds. Right now, I'm not sure of that. I'm a scrapbooker, but have never considered myself much of a writer. But my Dad was. He wrote police & army reports & manuals, a book about horses back in the 60's, short stories & poems AND he blogged. Right now, I find great comfort in his blogs, all 3 of them! He will live on in the hearts of his family and friends as we continue to read and update them. As one of my friends put it, Dad was an entertainer. He sang, played guitar & told stories. Most of the stories on his blogs seem like tall tales, but all are very true! He lived a colorful life and the blogs prove that. Thanks Daddy for sharing your stories with the world! I love you!
To read some of his stories, go to:
www.wassonslookingback.blogspot.com, www.bowietexasareamusic.blogspot.com or www.talesapd.blogspot.com


Donna Bean
Classified Department
Wise County Messenger

(This was published in the Wise County Messenger newspaper in July 2011.)

End of Watch 7/14/11

The family of Jessie Bryan Wasson regrets to inform you of his death on July 14, 2011. We hope to continue his 3 blogs, Wasson's Looking Back, Bowie Texas Area Music, and Tales of the Abilene Police Department. He loved writing his stories and there are many he had not posted. The posts may not come as often, but we hope to honor his memory by posting them to his blog.

Please comment on this post if you have additional stories or tales of past events with him.

Thank you for your continued support of our family.

FBC April 10 2011 Footsteps.MP4