Vigil held for fallen Dallas police officer after deadly shooting

Not only did he love his family, love the fraternity and Omega sci F fraternity in everybody. And I just wanna say thank all you guys for coming out brother Burke. We missed you daily and we know that we will see you again and thank you for all the great work that you have done for us. Thank you. Thank you brother mcleod. Let's jump. Peace and blessings, peace and blessings. My name is Thomas Johnson. I went to Parkman College with uh Burks. He was my frat brother. He was really more than the brother. He was my first best friend in the frat. Mm You may know him as Berks D Burks, DB Darren, right, brother, right friend. Everybody knew Darren in a different type of way. New Burke is a different type of way, right? And we all can obviously see how he impacted earlier. They asked who will be our chapter chapel and it was Burkes. Burke is the one that would be standing here and speaking about someone that's, that's going on in our chapter or in the fraternity. He would be the one that would have prayed. He would have been the one that would have showcased the best of what Omega is. He would have been the one that, that if you needed something at any point in time, he would be the one that you could come to. Right. And it's, it's really heartwarming to see how everybody showed out and came out for him in support and celebration rather of his life. Right? Because, and I'll say this and I'll be quiet if anybody knew Darren Burkes, if anybody knew Darren Burkes, like dog just said, he never drank, he never smoked. He was high on life, right? He was a good person. You can talk to him at any point at any time. And if he didn't do nothing else, he was gonna set out of hot, right? Wherever he was. So, you know what I'm saying? Like we gonna miss him and, and we gonna honor his legacy, we gonna honor his life accordingly the way he would want us to, the way he want us to. And we are gonna be better having known him up up next. We'll have two members from Alpha Kappa Alpha. They also Paul Quinn alumni, uh Nikki and Andrea when you come up. Thank you all for being here. I am Nikki Andrews. Um And this is Andrea Scott. Um I met Burkes in 2004 at Paul Quinn. Um Drea met him about him. There's nothing negative. Um I remember him telling me that he wanted to join the police department, um, as I am, Dallas Police as well with 16 years on. And, um, I told him, I said, well, I'll walk you through it, walking through it. I said, I'm gonna call, we're gonna call hr we're gonna call recruiting and we're gonna do it on three way. He was ready. So that's what we did became an officer fast forward if Burke's touched you in any kind of way, hold on to those memories because he wouldn't want you crying. As Thomas already said, he would be out here setting to hop out right now. He would be making you laugh, making you smile. He was just that bubbly person, not a down person. Everything was so positive and so just hold on to those memories. And I, I was talking to H bond before I got here. Um One of the older brothers from Paul Quinn and um we was talking about how the, the uniform made him the final hero. And so I wanted to share that with you guys. It completed him. This is what I I said, bet before you joined the police department, did you ask God was this? OK? And he told me, yeah, he said this was his calling. And I said because this isn't a job, this is a career. And he said, I got you sis continued on. He touched lives in the school, he touched lives on the basketball court. Now he's touching, lives in the community touch lives with football, he touch lives with everyone. There wasn't a sorority or fraternity that he did not talk to. He didn't care about that. And as you see, this is a witness of who he was, there's a picture floating around of him in the academy praying. That's the man that he was. So I just want y'all to remember that this uniform completed his task here on earth, but God seemed bigger and better for him. So while we're still here, it's not too late to get right. You got time while you're here because this is temporary for all of us. This ain't permanent and just how you just gotta hope that you're right because he, he's good now. It's up to us to make sure we're good and y'all be blessed. All right up next. We'll have someone from class 392. Yeah, I represent. This is Police Academy class 392. Hey, good evening everybody. I am senior corporal Maurice Addison. Um I was assigned to oversee the academy class that Officer Burks went through and typically the academy class is youngsters that's fresh out of college, fresh out of the military works for 17 years as an edu as an educator and transition. So the uh militant style of overseeing the academy, uh the word militant is there, but I couldn't go there with Burks for one. We was about the same age. So immediately I evaluated who he was and saw extreme leadership skills and actually used him to get the younger officers in check and he did it with compassion. Uh He did it with love. He gave orders. Uh no one took offense to it. And so greatly they nicknamed him Papa Burkes, which was a good thing. And um just watching him graduate in that circle of the prayer that uh Nikki talked about uh was powerful. It drew tears and not just a fellow colleague, he just became a friend and I know where I am. But every so often he'll text me and say, man, you Detroit lions doing their thing. I I would just get that text and I said, yes, sir. And we'll chit chat a little bit. And um God bless him, God bless his family. And if there's something that says there's a, just a few good men left, obviously, Berks is one of them. Thank you indeed. Thank you. I'm glad uh Brother Greg showed up. I knew he was gonna come and we couldn't, we couldn't have this without one of his closest. I mean, absolute closest friends want his line brothers to speak today. So uh brother Greg, if you will give a few words, oh, it's a tough field. She took pills, works was different, wanted to go. And I think everybody here will know that just by looking at the size of the crowd, you don't bring this many people out. If you're not a good person. Um. Yep. FS was the best brother. Anybody can ask for it. Your best friend, anybody could ask for. And if anything, if anybody could say anything about Burt and I think we would all all agree is that he was always there, he was always there. It didn't matter where, where, what time you needed. Berks to be there. He was gonna be there. And that's just the kind of just the kind of man he was, he was a solid guy through and through. But it's, it's a tough one. It's a tough one. Everything that he said, my name's Lind. I'm first lb. It was a solid guy. His character and speak for itself. You'll never find another guy like Burt, it's good. It's always the same. His character is always the same. His uplift is always the same. He never had anything bad to say. It was always positive. Came to one of our functions. You see some old guy hopping, it was him and he didn't just do one or two hops. He hopped the whole night the whole night. So man, it's great to see everybody's face circumstances. Yeah, it was great to see everybody here supporting them, showing them the Alright, before we uh close out and open up a question, I just wanted to say a few things. As I look, look at this crowd, I I'm uh reminded I had a keynote to do about three weeks ago. And, uh, at a youth athletic banquet. And I told those kids and those parents, uh, one thing that when you're navigating life, you have to keep this in mind, you either have to be phenomenal or you'll be forgotten. And I think without saying any other words, we can definitely agree that Burks was phenomenal because we already know he won't be forgotten. Can we agree? We agree. So, so with that, uh, like everybody said, Burks was pure, that was his name, pure dog. Um I say time and time again, I've never met anybody who did everything right. He's the only person in this world that I know that did everything right? If there is somebody here right now could tell me something that he did wrong, then say something. But I don't know nobody that can say he ever did anything wrong. He did it all right. And uh even though I'm older than he is just like a, a bunch of us and I can speak for those of us that are older and probably those that are younger, we wanted to be just like him. You know, see he laughing, you know. Right. He was a shining example of how to do it. The right way. Consistent never changed. And like everybody said, we never saw him upset. If he was, he kept it to himself, nobody's ever had an issue with him and he always kept that same demeanor, whether he was with the brothers, whether he was with 392 whether he was with his church members, he was the same person at all times. So remember that and remember that he was always phenomenal and remember that he'll never be forgotten. Can we agree? Agree? I will open for questions if you can. Can you explain what you had said down there? Ok. So here in this vacant spot with his class 392 they left a spot open for him. So we brought his boots which represents the fraternity along with the hat and the flowers came from 392. So this spot represents him with his class 392. So we wanted to make sure that we still represented his presence here. So, uh, that, that is what we have here. Any other questions? Ok. So if you brought candles, if you have candles, just get your candles out question. Yes, sir. Yes, sir. I met a guy, you have one of your gospels fraternity brothers sing us a song for the family tonight. So when they lay their heads on their pillows, these officers out here these major highways and by ways, II, I, you know what I'll check and see who wants to do that. I'll check and see who wants to do that. Ok. Oh, yes, sir. Somebody at my office was that we, we, we have one more speaker Councilor Mulley and while we're waiting on constable gun to get your counters ready, get your lighters ready or your phone like your circle the lamp. We got constable Gully. Oh, came across my constable Hammond. Right. Yes, ma um I just want to share a little bit about what I wrote uh for Mr Derenberger. We were first off a friend before he started in this and before even I started in his life. So I want to read what I posted. Um And I want you guys to really understand the type of person he was, I am constable Deanna in Dallas County constable precinct tick. Um We lost a remarkable man on last night. I am deeply devastated by the news of this senseless death of my dear friend, Darren Burkes. He was one of the kindest, most humble and caring individuals you could ever meet, knowing him was a joy. His presence could instantly bright anyone's day. No, sorry, Damon's spirit of service and protection was evident in his deep care for the community he loved and it was his honor to serve there. I first met Darren at Texas Can and he carried those qualities of a true servant leader from the classroom into his role of serving and protecting the community. Not only was he my friend, he was my frat brother and he became one of my constituents after I was elected as constable. He called and said, congrats big sis I voted for you. Then later in that same year, I received a call from him saying big sis, I did a thing. Well, that thing was complete in the Dallas Police Academy, which he was truly proud of. And he invited me out to his graduation ceremony. Darren, you were an exemplary figure to the community and all you served. Sometimes the uniforms we wear makes us a target regardless of who we are. We know not the time nor the hour, but we know that God has the final say and I know you were met with open arms, Deanna Hammond badge 8379. Salute you Darren Burkes badge. 12 543 job. Well done. Your brothers and sisters in blue will take it from here. Rest. Well, my friend, constable Deanna Hammond. All right, I see everybody got you got your candles lit where you get your candles lit some crazy. I close it out while we got the kind of lit. So he probably on the out outside. Perfect right before you. So again I got the song for you. OK. So we finish the song. I got you. You don't know this. Ask me not come a little closer. Ready to go. Everybody got your candles lit. Let's hold them up. One little thing. There we go. Come on. Sorry, I wasn't strong enough to talk earlier. Um Most people know me as one of Darren's best female friends. D was a great guy. So you um Darren was a great guy. Um I don't even know if I could do this but I'm trying. Um he, I mean, he was as pure as can be like we said, he didn't drink, he didn't smoke, he didn't cuss you out. Um Anything that I needed, Darren was there. Um I, when I say we talked every other day, we talked every other day. Um He checked on me, he said sis I'm making sure you're good. Um He's just a loving person. Um And III I can't believe that this is happening is so unreal. Um me waking or not even waking up because I was at the hospital at 10 o'clock just going through all of this and it's just so unreal. But overall, I know that Burke wants us to be in good spirits. Um At the end of the day, we question God, but we can't question God at this point because this was his call and like we said, this is what he was called to do. This is what he loved to do. And so I'm just, I'm just gonna go with it and that's all I got. So as I was telling through my Instagram found the recording that perfect sense. Oh, yeah, that'd be perfect. Class 392. Listen up. Class 392. Motivated. Mhm Ma'am. He said that to me after so after I promoted to sergeant and I didn't find it until the day. So. Ok. OK. Class 392. Dedicated motivated serving in blue, ma'am right from crazy by your heads. Please, everyone by your hair is please. Thank you Lord. Thank you Lord. Thank you for Darren Burke's Lord. Thank you Lord for what he did for us. Lord. Thank you for allowing him to be in our lives. I know Lord that you got him and I know you got us. Lord, get us through this time. Help us to remember the good times, help us to remember what he taught us how much he loved everyone. I thank you Lord, we thank you. OK. Mhm Like to thank everybody for coming out. Uh I will conclude this uh candlelight and uh those for those that can, we're headed to Cedar Hill at uh winner's barbecue. So for those that can join us for some fellowship uh food and just some conversation we're headed over to uh Winner's barbecue at Cedar Hill. Uh Thank everybody for coming out. Uh I appreciate you. Um We love you. Got thank OK. It's my sorry. Thank you, Miss CKR. You already got the size there, brother. You ready to go outside? Oh, with the cameras on. What is my OK. It's a this I want to bring different. Go ahead. Yeah. Yeah, sure. OK. We find it. OK? Got me. OK. C to me. Yes, I what? No, that, yeah, that is that on? No, six months. OK. See it on. I got a big coming up, right? But she new way Mhm. Ok. Right. I, mhm. Ok. Yeah. Yeah. One. Ok. I, so I, I, no. Mhm. I, ok. Good idea. Ok. Ok. On, no, no, no. Ok. Yes or. Ok. Ok. Did I have? There we go? Ok. It's not. Oh. Right. Ok. I know. I, but, excuse me, sorry, were you married? Oh. Yeah. Yeah. Mhm. And I walked up wonderful about I, yeah. Ok. I, you can, I, I, hey. Ok. Ok. Yes. Yeah. Ok. Yeah. Oh, all morning. Mhm. Ok. Right. Jesus. Yeah. Let's see. Oh, he's great back in? Oh. Oh. Yeah.