By SABRINA GARRETT The Wilson Post
Anyone who works in law enforcement knows that tomorrow is not guaranteed. As the rest of us put on our jackets or heels and head to the office, police officers tie up their boots, grab their badge and leave their homes knowing that there is a chance they will not be returning that night.
Friends and family in the law enforcement community gathered on Tuesday morning to remember two men who gave their all to protect Wilson County – Mt. Juliet Police Sgt. Jerry Mundy and Wilson County Sheriff’s Deputy John Musice.
To commemorate the 10th anniversary of their deaths, which occurred on July 9, 2003, speakers including Wilson County Mayor Randall Hutto, Mt. Juliet Mayor Ed Hagerty, Wilson County Sheriff Robert Bryan, Mt. Juliet Police Chief James Hambrick, Rich Miller of The 100 Club and former Wilson County Sheriff Terry Ashe joined together to lead the community in a remembrance ceremony at the monument erected in their honor at Charlie Daniels Park.
Mundy and Musice were killed on Interstate 40 while laying down spike strips to stop a fleeing vehicle, driven by Fallon Tallent, which was being pursued by other officers. Ashe said that while the incident would not be forgotten, his hope was that emphasis would be placed on how the men lived “not how they died.”
“I hope we remember how these two great men lived. Mundy loved baseball. Musice loved animals,” he said.
Mayor Hagerty continued by sharing a story about how Mundy would frequently act as an advocate for the police department whenever budget time rolled around. “If we can learn anything from Sgt. Mundy’s life I think it would be to emulate him,” he said.