Witness to an execution

I never knew Officer Guy Gaddis. I only knew what happened to him, that was taught to us in the academy. How he was shot in the back of the head transporting two prisoners to central jail in Houston. That was January 31, 1994 when Gaddis was 24 years old. His murderer stands a few hundred feet away from us awaiting his execution.

A few days ago at the Blue Knights meeting a member announced a group of bikers are riding to Huntsville to support the family. Fortunately I could take the day off and linked up off of I-45, about 20 miles south of Huntsville. Initial headcount of over 40 riders, mainly The Thin Blue Line, but a couple of Blue Knights like me. The Thin Blue Line's International President briefed on the route and our setup at Huntsville, then the chaplain led us in a prayer. For the family, for the safety of the riders and for the punishment of Tamayo. May sound cruel, but this group is over 90% cops. Some knew Gaddis. We are a family, we don't like cop killers. And we have no little tolerance for Tamayo as he said he murdered Gaddis because “he wouldn't let him leave his keys with his wife.”

The ride to Huntsville is normally less than 20 minutes. However construction delayed us right after we get on the interstate, and that's always fun. First people tend to act stupid in construction zones. Also anyone who rides a Harley knows they tend to get a little warm at lower speeds. This is annoying but the beautiful sounds of Luckenbach Texas and Telephone Line from other rider's stereos makes the slow ride pass easier.

Arriving in Huntsville, at the prison there is little confusion of where to park. We parked in the roadway and then the guard told us to clear the road out so at least one car can pass. They also want to keep us and the Tamayo supporters apart. After moving all the bikes, we settle in for what we hope is a stay of ninety minutes or so. Before you know it five riders from Lake Charles LA and Beaumont TX arrived, members of Blue Iron Motorcycle Club. They’ve also ridden in to support the Gaddis family. The record though is a member of TTBL, who came from northern New Mexico.

I have to say I'm surprised the prison is smaller than I thought from all the pictures I've seen on TV. But no matter, it does its work. Over 1400 of Texas's not so good call it home.

After a few minutes several of the officers in the group are allowed to walk to the front of the prison where some HPD officers are greeting the family members.. Present is Officer Ray Hunt, President of the Houston Police Officer’s Union. Here he greets Officer Gaddis’s mother.

A member of The Thin Blue Line brings out a box of cigars and I brought out my pipe. Will take a while, next time I'll bring my thermos of coffee. While waiting around I got a call from my lovely wife. Told her I would probably need some comfort food tonight, like Hooter wings and beer. She understands. I got a hell of a woman.

I get on the iPhone and update Facebook. Quickly I get support, asking for updates. And I notice the phone is already at less than 50% power. Damned, next time make sure it’s fully charged moron!

In Texas we execute prisoners at just past 600pm. Normally the waste of sperm is pronounced dead between 615-630pm. It’s around 620pm and we want to make it known to the people that we’re here. Get the bikes started and make some noise!



We wait a few minutes and no official word. Then we get the word around 700pm, The Supreme Court had stayed the execution for one last look. All of us are worried, would the Gaddis family have to endure this another time. Gaddis was murdered on January 31, 1994. His murderer was convicted in November 1994. To say justice delayed is justice denies is not enough. It’s been twenty years and his lawyers want to stop his punishment because he’s mentally retarded and their are bringing up the red herring about consulate advise. Hey moron, if he wasn’t in our country illegally he wouldn’t be in Huntsville right now. More importantly Gaddis would not have been murdered in January 1994. But we have to wait.

And wait. Some of the riders have to leave. Some of these men have to be at work at 600am and have to go. We wish them well and they go on their way. The men of Blue Iron have to depart. They have a 4 hour ride back to Louisiana and need to get going. We thank them for their support and wish them the best.

And again, we wait. Many of use are trying to get updates on our smart phones of the status of the SCOTUS review. And wondering if this will go on. And the conversation goes on. Rides we’ve taken, family, the job, sports, whatever it takes to pass the time. And then something else gets our attention. We’re getting hungry. Most had planned to eat after the execution and we’re getting hungry.

One of the guards told me there was a gas station a few blocks away and a Snickers bar sounds good. Get on the bike and start riding. Then I get a great idea (Beth is getting nervous right now). There has to be a McDonald's down the road. So I keep riding. It only takes five miles to find one and the dollar menu looking good. An order of 20 each cheeseburgers and fries surprise the managers but I told him to we were watching at the prison. He immediacy gets on his intercom and calls “All hands on grill…” and in less than ten minutes the order is ready. He and several members of his crew thank us for being there. Ride back, miss the damn turn, but get back there. And a quick dinner goes over well. Hot, fast and cheap not only describes a great date when your young, but a quick dinner when your cold and hungry.

Continue to wait, then the word comes down. SCOTUS will not stop the execution. Yes, finally. It’s just past 900pm and we want to make it heard. Back to the bikes and make it loud!



After a few minutes we start to move in front of the prison, as we all know this is done. We look at the entrance, and wait. And wait more. This is almost as bad as the Army, “Hurry Up and Wait!” One of the TBL members points out there is a camera in front of the entrance and it flashes every few minutes, taking picture. And we hear the anti-death penalty people out there, counting down the people this country had executed since the late 1970s and calling Rick Perry a murderer. Reminded me sometime last year Rick Perry had presided over the 500th execution Texas had preformed since capital punishment had resumed in the late 70s. And the Washington Post thinks this is a bad thing. Come down here and tell the family of Officer Gaddis that.

People start trickling out and we hear it’s finally done. It’s around 930pm. One of the Texas Rangers who works with the executions walks out, smiles at us and says “They heard those bikes in there!” Makes it worth staying here! And I realize I’ve left my bike idling since we did that twenty minutes ago.

We walk over to the press area and an official is making the announcement and handing out the press release. It’s done. Justice is served. One of the points he made was Tamayo made no statement, no surprise. He was a coward in 1994, he dies a coward. The human gene pool is a bit cleaner this morning.

Some of the members of TTBL are standing around, waiting on more information, but it’s time for me to go. I want to get to my family. On the bike, I”m making good time home and then it stops. The Texas Department of Transportation is putting down deicing chemicals on I-45 and the trucks are blocking all the traffic. Probably added 20 minutes to my ride home. Thanks guys. Get home and start thawing.

Looking back at this I recall the beginning words of End of Watch, “…By law I am unable to walk away. I am a consequence. I am the unpaid bill…” Tamayo had a bill to pay and he’s now settled his account on Earth. Now he has one more Judge to face and he cannot hide from Him. May God have more mercy on your soul than you deserve Tamayo. I pour some scotch to handle the chill, and a small toast to Officer Gaddis.

I get into debates sometimes with people who oppose capital punishment and a point often made is this will not bring back the dead or it’s not a deterrent. I don’t care. It’s point is to not deter, but to punish. We as a society have decided we will not tolerate certain actions by people, one of which is murdering another human being. In certain cases, we have set the consequence as your life. Yes, this won’t bring Gaddis back to him family, won’t allow him to see his daughter grow up, walk her down the aisle, see grandchildren. But maybe he can rest a little easier. God bless him and his family.

Be safe out there fellow officers.