Episode 94 The History and Evolution of the Dallas Police Honor Guard: The Ultimate Sacrifice

In Memory of Dallas Police Sgt. Anthony Allen #8098

Today we will tell the listener the story behind the creation of the Dallas Police Honor Guard Unit. Like all great ideas there is a unique story, and this one is no different.

I knew this story would be important, so I sought out the person who had a vision that he turned, after years of planning and frustrations, into a reality for the Dallas Police Department. Sgt. Joe Denomy #4081 hired on with the Dept. in 1978 and proudly served for 36 years, most of this in Dallas SWAT.

After transferring to Tactical in 1985 part of the duties included an Honor guard function.

The duty was assigned to Tactical because “We looked good in uniform” Over the next several years attending way to many funerals, I noticed a couple of things.  One Almost every other police department in North Texas had a designated Honor Guard Team. Most importantly we were sending officers to this vital function that had no desire to be there.

In January of 2000 he was part of DPD representatives at Ft. Worth Chief Windham’s funeral.  At the graveside service all the attending Honor Guard were lined up together.  As Joe looked down the multiple rows of officers, each department there had an Honor Guard patch or designation.  That’s when I asked WHY not DPD.  That day started the 6+ years before the team became a reality.

Joe will tell the story of how it all started and how he handed off the torch to Chief Foy.

Chief Foy will detail how he, a Sgt. at the time, had to rally his troops in the Honor Guard to complete 13 events in 5 days as the City suffered its darkest day in law enforcement history after July 7th, 2016.

Sr. Cpl. Reed Higgins, a family services liaison at the time, also joins this documenting of Honor Guard history.

 

Incidents Discussed:

2000 Funeral of Ft Worth PD Chief Windham.

Death and services of Dallas PD Gang Unit Legend Norm Smith.

July 7th, 2016, shooting in Dallas as 5 officers were murdered by a gunman.

January 23, 1988, Death of Dallas Officer John Chase

January 16th, 1983, Death of Dallas Officer John Pasco