Officer remembers Kozminski as friend
 
By Marc Thompson
Wood TV8
     
 
GRAND RAPIDS -- The tributes continue for Officer Bob Kozminski, with a growing memorial at Grand Rapids Police Headquarters.

24 Hour News 8's Marc Thompson spoke with an officer who described himself as one of Kozminski's best friends, and another family who lost an officer decades ago, about what they are going through.

For nearly six years officers Joseph Trigg and Bob Kozminski worked side-by-side on beat three and beat four, patrolling Grand Rapids' northeast side.

"He knew I had his back he had my back," Trigg said. "He would bend over backward to help me, I would do the same for him."

The duo, also best friends, bonded outside of work through a shared love of sports and family. Specifically University of Michigan football and the Chicago Cubs. Their children were close in age.

"He became a father April 20th, 2004 with Kate," Trigg said. "My son was born two days later. We were father's at the same time."

Trigg was off duty the night of the shooting. He struggles with not being there for his friend, wondering if there is something he could have done to prevent what happened.

The questions are haunting his thoughts and no longer can he downplay the dangers of the job to his own family.

"If I was working we probably would have been on the same call together," Trigg said. "Maybe I would have went to the back, you know."

The pain of losing a family member in the line of duty is all too familiar to Frankie Scott and Shannon Brown.

"This brings it all back to the surface," said Frankie Scott, who lost her son-in-law 21 years ago.

Joseph Taylor was the last Grand Rapids police officer shot and killed in the line of duty.

"It's something you never get over," Scott said.

"People talk about police officers, but they're here for you," said Shannon Brown, Taylor's sister-in-law. "They're here for all of us, you know."
   
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