It’s the phone call that no one ever wants to receive, but sometimes it is inevitable.

Mark never stood a chance. The water came rushing over his car like a crashing wave. And just like that he was gone; sucked into the murky water of Turtle Creek, filled with the dirt and debris of two different counties.

He wasn’t afforded the honorable death that he deserved. It was violent, devastating and brutal. In some areas, Turtle Creek rose over 20 feet of its normal height.

The force of the current was powerful enough to move boulders the size of cars downstream several miles. It was virtually unstoppable.

We held onto hope and prayed for a miracle, but his fate was determined the second he was swept away.

When talking about Mark, it’s hard to say “he was”, but it does not feel right to say “he is.” In my heart I know he’s gone, however, until we find him, I refuse to believe it.

I joined the thin gold line of dispatching in November of 2013. Shortly after, Mark was hired by our department. Mark and I were a part of a small band of Marines within our department, although he gave me crap about being a reservist. In turn I scolded him for being a military police officer, not an infantryman.

Mark was an old school Marine. He wasn’t a fan of the new boots or uniforms, and like clockwork, before every shift he would shine his duty boots until he could see his reflection in them. He always wore a high and tight. He was a Marine through and through.

On Tuesday, July 5, the university and the world lost an incredible man. On July 5, I lost a brother in blue and a brother in arms.

[/caption]For a year and a half I watched Mark work selflessly to provide for his family. I marveled at his drive, his tenacity to do the right thing, and his willingness to sacrifice food and sleep in order to provide for his wife and children.

The painful irony of losing Mark last week, is that I started the police academy today. My entire life I have felt the desire to serve and protect, and after much contemplation and learning as a dispatcher, I am blessed to be offered the opportunity by SMU to transition from gold to blue.

The last conversation I had with Mark was about the police academy. We talked details and specifics, but at the end, the last words he ever said to me was “goodluck, that is such an awesome opportunity and I’m so excited for you. You’re going to do great.”

“Goodluck, that is such an awesome opportunity and I’m so excited for you. You’re going to do great.”

And that was it.

Despite the events in our city over the last week, never have I felt more eager nor prepared to take on that mantle. Mark was one of the most supportive people in my venture to the academy, and it pains my heart to know that when it is all finished, he won’t be able to physically be there. It is truly an honor to be doing this. This one is for you Mark, this one is for you brother.

Donations in support of Tiffany and the McCullers family can be made via Paypal (www.paypal.me/OfficerMarkMcCullers), or at any Wells Fargo location with the account number 9976436577 the account name – Officer Mark McCullers Memorial Fund.