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"Arizona's Family," that's been the slogan at KTVK-TV in Phoenix, AZ for seemingly forever. It might sound hoaky, but truly, it's appropriate. When you worked at Newschannel 3, as I was lucky enough to do from 1989-1994, you really became part of a family. Eventhough, I left 13-years ago, I still have many dear friends who work there. It's like that with family. Even when you move onto to new cities and opportunities, you keep the ties.
So, you'll understand why my stomach dropped to my knees when I first saw the news cross late today about the crash of two news helicopters in Phoenix.
You can get more details from KTVK's website, but the Reader's Digest version is that the choppers were following a high speed chase through the streets of central Phoenix when they collided. Four are dead, two on each chopper.
Turns out I don't know the guys who were aboard the Channel 3 helicopter, pilot Scott Bowerbank and photographer Jim Cox.
I did, however, know the photographer aboard the other helicopter belonging to KNXV-TV. Before he joined Channel 15, Rick Krolak was a shooter over at Channel 3 when I came on board as a very green reporter back in '89. He was a veteran even then. Rick had a quick wit and smile. A good news sense, and not much patience for management. Just the right kind of guy to show the ropes to the new kid on the block.
He was married at the time to a reporter at one of the rival stations. This being the days before we all carried cell phones, Rick came up with this walkie talkie system so that he and Kelly could communicate throughout the day of their busy schedules. I remember thinking that was so darn romantic. It's funny what you remember.
I clicked around to as many of the Phoenix websites as I could and quickly found Rick's photo along with that of their pilot, Craig Smith. Rick looks exactly the same. Maybe, his hair a touch lighter with more gray, but same moustache, same smile, same mischiveous twinkle in his eye, seeming to say he is the first one to get the joke.
No joking or laughing today among Arizona's Family. Four good guys are gone, all for covering a police chase that would have advanced the news coverage in Phoenix, how? I don't have an answer for that one.
I just wanted to use this space to let you know behind the cameras and in the choppers of the stations that bring you your local news everyday are some fine men and women. You don't see their faces, but they risk their lives everyday to do their jobs. You get the call or the order from the assignment desk and you just go. No questions asked. I can't tell you the number of times I reported from Newschopper 3, always thrilled to get the chance to go.
Trust me, these four men covered forest fires, The Grand Canyon, hazardous weather conditions. It doesn't get much more ordinary than a police chase over Indian School and 7th Avenue. And yet, this was their day.
Where do I go with an entry like this on my hopeful news site? I can only hope all four died doing something they loved. And, I hope this makes news management re-evaluate when it makes sense to fly and risk lives.
Meanwhile, I send love and support out to all members of Arizona's Family.
-Daryn.
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