On the recordMay 25, 2010
It is with a heavy heart that today I honor two brave policemen from West Memphis, Sergeant Brandon Paudert and Officer Bill Evans, and pay tribute to their lives and service to their community. Sergeant Paudert and Officer Evans lost their lives in the line of duty doing what they loved most: protecting their community. They were both part of the West Memphis Police Department's drug interdiction team, a specialized unit that fought drug trafficking on Arkansas's highways. They were on the front lines in the war against drugs, fighting to keep our streets clean and our children safe. Sergeant Paudert's sense of duty was in his blood--his father, Bob Paudert, is West Memphis's police chief. Sergeant Paudert's loved ones described him as a kind, honorable man, devoted to his family and the force. He married his high school sweetheart, Kim, whom he had dated since they were just 14 years old, and had three children whom he loved dearly. He was always there for friends and fellow officers, lifting up their spirits and lending a hand when one was needed. Officer Evans shared Sergeant Paudert's call to serve; he was a fourth-generation law enforcement official, with both his father and his grandfather serving in the Crittenden County Sheriff's Department. He was the team's "maintenance man" with an ability to fix anything he encountered, and had a wonderful sense of humor, always able to get a laugh out of his colleagues and friends.
