North Texas first responders mourn firefighter and reserve officer killed in motorcycle accident

A North Texas firefighter and reserve police officer was killed in a motorcycle accident in Parker County on Tuesday afternoon.

Josh Brandes, an Irving firefighter and Decatur police reserve officer, died in the accident, Decatur Police Chief Delvon Campbell told the Wise County Messenger.

Brandes worked for the Decatur Police Department for about three years and served as a school resource officer at several Decatur ISD schools, Campbell said.

“This is a tragic deal for us, for his family and everyone who knew him,” Campbell told the Messenger. “He was full of energy and there was never a dull moment with Josh.”

Springtown police and other Parker County agencies responded to the fatal accident. Springtown police said in a Facebook post that the crash was reported on FM 51 South near Lynch Bend Road around 1:25 p.m. The road between Texas 199 and Browder Lane was closed for nearly three hours.

A procession of police officers and other first responders escorted Brandes' body to the Tarrant County coroner's office.

“He helped us a lot as an SRO,” Campbell told the Messenger. “He was just a good guy, a good family man and a great member of our community.”

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