Of all the people who gathered Saturday to support the family of Detective Brad Lancaster, Theresa McBride may have understood their pain most intimately. More than two decades ago, her own family stood, heads bowed, at the center of a funeral very much like this one.
READ: Det. Brad Lancaster laid to rest in Kansas City, Kansas funeral service and burial
In 1989, McBride's brother-in-law, Jeff Young, was killed in the line of duty as part of the Kansas City Kansas Police Department. He died when a driver fleeing police ran over him at a road block.
“We are there in the worst time of their life," said McBride of her attendance at the Lancaster funeral. "Usually we’re there to make a difference, you know, not to affect them or trying to make things worse for their life."
She said Lancaster's funeral reminded her of the time the community gathered around her and her family, and Saturday, it was her turn to step up and provide support for another family's terrible suffering.
“Hopefully the community gets a feeling of understanding of what officers go through every day and how difficult the job is,” said McBride.
McBride did have a message for the Lancaster family.
“The KCK family and all of the police officers, we’ll unite behind them," she said. "We are always here for them.”
----
Ali Hoxie can be reached at ali.hoxie@kshb.com
