There was a discussion in the newsroom of sending a crew down to Phoenix for relief since KTVK and KING 5 are both owned by BELO Corp. Our Belo brothers and sisters were hurting. I went to Pat Costello the News Director and insisted to be part of the relief. Reporter Jim Forman and I were on a flight at 7 a.m. the next morning.
When we arrived in Phoenix we took the shuttle over to the rental car facility. It was 10:30 a.m. and it was 100 degrees. My phone rang, it was Andy Mckinney assignment manager at KTVK: "Can you guys head to the west side for your story?" he asked. We were off to a quick start. There was a Phoenix police officer shot and killed overnight and that would be our story for the day. We told Andy we would load up the rental car and swing by the station for all the details first.

The smell of fresh flowers was overwhelming when we entered the lobby of KTVK - there must have been 200 bouquets lining the floors and on tables everywhere.
And delivery vans came one after another. Inside the newsroom was a mood of sadness, not even 24 hours had passed since the crash. Staff members were working away and it seemed like every desk had a fresh box of Kleenex on it. In a matter of minutes we were exchanging hugs and handshakes: "Thanks so much for coming down to help" people said. It was exactly where I wanted to be.
"The Jim Fry Photog Lounge" named after a great photojournalist from KTVK (now working at KNXV) is a glass window fish bowl room where the photographers hang out
between assignments. Under the counters are lockers for every photographer.
Jim Cox’s locker sat wide open, his camera on the floor in front of it and his press pass hanging on his camera, like a memorial for a fallen soldier. He normally would’ve had his camera with him in the chopper but on that day it was "Breaking News," a police chase and he just jumped in the chopper without it.
On the counters are machines for looking at video tapes. Reporter Jim Forman and I would spend a lot of time there looking at tapes and staff members would stop at Jim Cox’s locker, kneel and pray or lay down a card or flowers.
Five funerals in five days - four from the chopper crash and one for Phoenix Police Officer George Cortez.
At the service for KTVK's Jim Cox and Scott Bowerbank there was a procession of news cars with Jim Cox’s car in front and a big bright wreath of red flowers on the hood, his best friend behind the wheel with tears flowing down his face. KTVK Photographer Jaime Ontiverous shot the still photos. He told me it was the worst day in his 34 years at KTVK. Jim Forman and I did not attended any of the services. We were out doing stories so the staff could be there. I am sorry I couldn’t make it to Rick Krolak’s service. He was a great guy and fun to work with, never panicked under pressure and never stopped with the wise cracks.
KTVK is known in Phoenix as "Arizona’s Family." Their Web site is azfamily.com.
I can tell you in my 27 years in TV I have never seen a news staff with more love in the room! My heart and sympathy to all the staff.