His name was Terry Wayne Wingard.
Terry Wayne was how Maj. John Bean of the Jefferson County sheriff’s office often referred to the lieutenant, because when Wingard first joined the force, another Terry was on staff. It wasn’t because Wingard was in trouble, like a child being called out by his whole name, Bean said.
“He was not only a brother in blue, but someone I counted on for knowledge,” Bean said Thursday, eulogizing Wingard at his funeral at First Baptist Church of White Hall. “He was the smartest officer I knew.”
Wingard, 38, of Pine Bluff died last Friday. Authorities have not announced a cause of death.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Many law enforcement officers from Jefferson County and surrounding areas, including Pine Bluff and White Hall police and Pulaski County sheriff’s deputies, paid their respects to Wingard, who had worked in the Jefferson County sheriff’s office since Feb. 4, 2009. He started his public service career as a dispatcher for Jefferson County and joined Pine Bluff police on Jan. 2, 2007.
The officers lined up for Wingard as he was carried into an early-model hearse, a motorcade leading a private procession southward on Dollarway Road.
Wingard’s unit number, 106, was shaped by bouquets of blue flowers near the pulpit. Wreaths from the sheriff’s office, Emergency Ambulance Service Inc. and the White Hall High School class of 2004, among others, were on display as well. His casket, open before the service, was draped with the sheriff’s flag.
Wingard’s obituary refers to his love for the outdoors and spending many hours at a deer camp with his father and uncles, a love he shared with his own nephews, who joined Wingard’s brother-in-law Blake Connell at the podium during Connell’s remembrance.
Bean spoke of Wingard’s love for animals, reading off a long list of names for pets he adopted.
“Your honors, if I could present exhibits A, B and C,” Bean addressed to circuit judges Alex Guynn and Jackie Harris, sitting at or near the front of the congregation, “Andor (Wingard’s service dog), Rudy Two, AKA Two, Thor, Wall-E, Royce, She’ll-Bite-Ya, Ruby, Reece, Riley, Wookie, Torko, Siri, Bruno, Maggie, Peanut … Those are just the dogs.”
And that was just “exhibit A.”
Wingard also desired to get into unsolved cases, by Bean’s testimony. Bean told the story of the sheep dog, an animal who gathers sheep and protects them and confronts potential predators such as wolves.
“Sheep dogs are not immune to the battles they face,” Bean said. “Sheep dogs are not created. It’s not in their blood. A sheep dog chooses to be a sheep dog, and Terry sought to be a sheep dog from early on in his life. Terry was not content with being a sheep dog. He chose to be a sheep dog for the sheep dog.”
For example, Bean cited, Wingard was a member of a special response team and would go into unknown areas and dark places not knowing what he might face, all to piece together what wolves did and bring justice to the sheep.
“If I can ask anything of the sheep today, please do not ever pass a law enforcement officer, a fireman, a first responder, a medic, a dispatcher without telling them thank you,” Bean petitioned. “They do not need it. They deserve it.”
White Hall Mayor Noel Foster spoke of Wingard’s care for people and reminded the congregation of the environmental stress law enforcement officers and their families can suffer.
“Terry’s dad and I worked together closely for many years, and I knew early on Terry would choose law enforcement, following in his dad’s footsteps,” Foster said, adding Wingard’s goal was to work as a criminal investigation detective. Wingard was assistant commander of the sheriff’s Criminal Investigation Division.
“I remember one time Terry talked to me about being considered for a promotion,” Foster said. “I could tell Terry wanted my advice or recommendation to one of his superiors. I told Terry he didn’t need mine or his dad’s influence. Promotions would come when they were due. In fact, they did. He was extremely good at what he did. He took his responsibilities seriously. He cared about people. He really cared about people.”
First Baptist Pastor Paul Williams spoke from Psalm 34:18: “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”
“We need one another,” Williams preached. “We need to love and support one another … especially those who take care of the sheep.”
A radio transmission from the sheriff’s office honored Wingard with a moment of silence with only the bugle call “Taps” playing.
Memorials, in lieu of flowers, may be made to the Arkansas Chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention at afsp.org/chapter/arkansas or the Jefferson County Humane Society, P.O. Box 2233, Pine Bluff, AR 71613.
