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Tim Pollard was my friend.
We met when we both attended the law enforcement training and certification program in the fall of 1986 at what was then Daytona Beach Community College.
Tim and I sort of gravitated towards one another, especially so during the physical education part of our training. I was one of the 'older students' and Tim was a bit on the overweight side of the scale so we ran and worked together encouraging one another to 'get through it!" Tim had an issue with running and mine was with situps. He was a very likable guy with bright naturally reddish-orange hair and made friends easily. His demeanor was always positive and was well liked by the class.
We graduated in March 1987 and Tim went on to be an officer with the Ponce Inlet Police Department while I was a deputy with the Volusia County Sheriff's Department.
It was thirty years ago tonight.
I was watching the eleven o'clock news and learned of Tim's passing earlier that day. He had been a six-month rookie officer with Ponce Inlet and now he was gone. As I watched the news I couldn't believe what I was seeing. I saw Tim's bright reddish-orange hair in the tangled mess of what was once a patrol car and knew it was him. I also received a call from another friend telling me about Tim's 'accident' and told him I was watching it on the news as we spoke. A 19 year old had stolen a van in the Daytona Beach area and was being pursued as he drove south on A1A by Daytona Beach Police Officers. Tim was responding to a call for mutual aid driving north on A1A and found himself suddenly confronted by the stolen van. Before he could react he was hit head-on and very critically injured. He survived for a few hours on life support and then passed away.
I attended Tim's service and was completely unprepared for the emotional aspect of it. At the end of the service we lined up outside and as Tim's coffin was brought out of the church the radio dispatcher did "The Final Call" broadcast for all of us to hear.
DISPATCH: "Beep beep beep.....Dispatch 243? (*pause*) Dispatch 243? To all listening stations and units, Ponce Inlet Police Officer Timothy Pollard, Badge 243 is officially '10-7'." Right at that moment the Volusia County Sheriff's Department Air One helicopter flew directly overhead and it was all I could do to keep it together. A truly great guy and police officer had his life taken away from him and was gone. He had come from a really good family and had a younger sister Tina who suffered from severe Down Syndrome. I didn't learn until months later that Tina had passed away in her sleep the following March. She couldn't understand why her brother never came home and missed him immensely.
The driver of the van, who already had a lengthy criminal history, was charged with the murder of Officer Tim Pollard and sentenced to life in prison with no possibility of parole where he sits today.
Tim, at 22 years of age your life was cut way too short but you died doing exactly what you wanted to do and for that you will always be remembered.
You made a difference.
R. A. Dea
Volusia County Sheriff's Office (RET.)
September 22, 2017
