SMU Police Chief Rick Shafer expresses thanks for help

From SMU Police Chief Richard Shafer:

Our SMU community tightly holds Officer Mark McCullers’ loved ones in our thoughts and prayers. As the search continues, the women and men of the SMU Police Department will continue to support and aid in efforts to locate our fellow officer. 

We are deeply grateful to all those who have worked to find Officer McCullers, even while grieving the terrible losses in Dallas and elsewhere. On behalf of SMU and the SMU Police Department, thank you to Highland Park Department of Public Safety, Dallas Fire-Rescue, the Dallas Police Department, University Park Police Department and Fire Department, Texas Parks & Wildlife, Texas Department of Public Safety, Plano Police Association, Highland Village Police Department, City of Dallas Trinity Watershed Management, Dallas Box 4 Fire Buff Association, Search One K9 Rescue Team, Cedar Valley College Law Enforcement Academy, Dallas VA Hospital Police, Civil Air Patrol and Task Force 2 Urban Search and Rescue, as well as additional agencies that have offered their support.

We also thank all those in North Texas and around the world who have supported the McCullers family and SMU PD with prayers and words of encouragement. 

July 6, 2016

Statement from Ben Nix,
Family member of Officer Mark McCullers:

While we still have hopes in the rescue of our beloved Mark McCullers, we understand that the elapsed time and circumstances are not on our side. My family and I would like to provide a statement to the public regarding one of the most devoted men we know.

Mark was devoted to his country as he served for nine years as a Marine. Mark was devoted to training proper gun control and combat techniques for the protection and service of others. He was devoted to the law as he served the last two years on the SMU police force and he was proud to call them family. Lastly and most importantly, Mark was devoted in his faith in God and to his family. My sister and Mark have an amazing love. For the last eight years they have dedicated themselves to each other and their blended family of six wonderful children who will cherish the time they were able to spend as a family.

We would like to personally thank the SMU police force for their outpouring of love and affection during this very difficult time. We would like to thank all of the services such as Dallas Fire & Rescue, Dallas Police, Highland Park Police and the countless others who have provided countless hours of their time to search for our amazing Mark. Thank you to all for your thoughts and prayers and we would appreciate privacy during this time as we focus our attention on bringing Mark home.

Thank you,
Ben Nix

Tiffany McCullers interviewed by WFAA News

July 6, 2016

Statement from SMU Police Chief Richard Shafer:

On behalf of the SMU community, we continue to offer prayers of support for Officer Mark McCullers’ family and friends.

We are grateful to Highland Park DPS, Dallas Fire-Rescue, the Dallas Police Department and other agencies for their tireless efforts to locate Officer McCullers, who was swept away by floodwaters early Tuesday while working off-duty as a security guard at a construction site. SMU officers will continue to offer their assistance to Dallas Fire-Rescue and HPDPS as they continue the search.

As his family has chosen to speak out about him, it’s appropriate to share that Officer McCullers, a Marine veteran, has served since February 2015 as a member of the SMU Police Department Patrol Division.

 One of our top concerns remains in addressing the needs of Officer McCullers’ family, and we ask that their privacy be respected.

The many expressions of support from the Dallas-area community and beyond have been heartening during this time, and we thank you.

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