Officer Chris Blake encouraged Detective Brad Lancaster to join the Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department. Now, his police vest is buried with Lancaster.
"I hate the fact that it's got to be that way, you know, and that Brad is no longer here, but him having part of me is something I will cherish forever," said Blake.
Lancaster's vest is now part of a crime scene in his own homicide investigation. Lancaster’s family buried him in full uniform, but needed a police vest.
At first Blake thought he would have to find one, but then something clicked.
"Pretty much instantly hung up the phone and I said, 'No, we don’t need it, I know exactly what he needs,'" said Blake.
WATCH: Det. Brad Lancaster's May 14 funeral
This is one of many acts of kindness for Brad and the Lancaster family. The most recent was putting his handcuffs to use one more time.
While visiting Brad's widow Jamie, one of Blake’s co-workers called asking him to grab Brad Lancaster's handcuffs.
"I was at Jamie's house when I actually got the call, and so I took them from his duty belt actually and I actually went to my house then and gave them to the appropriate people to take them to where they needed to go," said Blake.
They went to officers with the Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department. The handcuffs are on standby for when Brad Lancaster's accused killer, Curtis Ayers, is transferred from a hospital bed to behind bars.
"It was both satisfying and it was hurt, tearing at my heart a little bit, you know, knowing that you know Brad won’t use them anymore and this will probably be the last thing that they are ever used for," said Blake.
Dt. Lancaster's good friend speaking with media @41ActionNews pic.twitter.com/jOKQ3Jg4I0
— Ali Hoxie (@ali_hoxie) May 19, 2016
------
Ali Hoxie can be reached at ali.hoxie@kshb.com
