HOUSTON
Officer Will lived on one side of Tomball with his family. His parents lived on the other side. Neighbors describe them as wonderful people.
He had been with HPD for about two years, assigned to the vehicular crimes division. Holidays such as this weekend are one of the division's busiest times of the year, and his family has learned first hand that it's also one of the most deadly.
There are flags outside the Will home and a sympathy card to a family now without a husband and father. Kevin Will was 38 years old. The Houston police officer was killed early Sunday morning by an accused drunk driver while he was investigating an earlier accident.
Today, his neighbors are still adjusting to his absence.
"He was always so nice. He loved that family more than anything. He loved his job," said neighbor Amanda Freel.
Compounding the circumstances of Officer Will's death is that the driver accused of killing him, police say, was under the influence. The suspect drove around a police barricade at the freeway entrance to the North Loop and hit Office Will, whose last act was to get a witness out of the path of the car.
The accused driver, Johoan Rodriguez, 26, was arrested and charged with intoxication manslaughter, possession of a controlled substance and evading arrest. Police say Rodriguez's blood alcohol level was nearly three times the legal limit at the time of the crash. They say he also had cocaine in his possession.
Rodriguez is also said to be in the country illegally and has an immigration hold placed on him in county jail.
Five years ago, HPD Officer Rodney Johnson was killed during a traffic stop by an undocumented immigrant. Today, his widow spoke out.
"I just hate that this keeps occurring, and police officers keep getting killed by illegal aliens," said widow Joslyn Johnson.
Officer Will leaves behind a wife and two stepchildren. The couple was expecting his first child in about three months.
Rodriguez did not appear in probable cause court earlier in the morning to hear the charges against him since he was still in the hospital at the time. He is due in court later this week.
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Help for fallen officer's family
The 100 Club announced that donations are being accepted to its "Survivor's Fund" which provides benefits to the dependents of peace officers and firefighters who are killed in the line of duty.
Officer Kevin Will, 38, died in the line of duty on Sunday morning, May 29, 2011, while working a hit-and-run motorcycle accident on 610 North Loop near Yale. A $10,000 check will be given to Officer Will's family to assist with any needs they may have. Additional financial support for the family will be provided, after a review is made by the Club, to include current financial and children's educational needs.
If you wish to help, contributions may be made at www.the100club.org, or mailed to 100 Club Survivor's Fund, 5555 San Felipe Street, Ste 520, Houston TX 77056-2733. One hundred percent of "Survivor's Fund" donations go to the dependents of law enforcement officers and firefighters killed in the line of duty.
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