By Stephen Green
The Huntsville Item
HUNTSVILLE — A crowd of onlookers stood outside the Walls Unit as the inmate inside was having his sentence carried out.
But unlike the normally loud groups protesting the executions, this group stood virtually silent for nearly an hour and a half.
More than 200 correctional officers with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice stood outside the prison Tuesday in support of Susan Canfield’s family, the officer killed during two inmates’ escape attempt.
Jerry Martin was executed Tuesday for his part in the prison escape and Canfield’s death.
Brandi Gidden, a former TDCJ employee of 10 years, said she and her family didn’t know Canfield personally but that wasn’t stopping her from showing her support. She attends many executions but this one was especially important for her.
“This to me is surreal,” Gidden said. “It brings tears to my eyes because this is what it’s about: showing the love and support for Susan Canfield.”
She said part of the reason she and others show up is because of the camaraderie.
“I bring my family out here,” Gidden said. “They’re (the TDCJ officers) are my family too. TDCJ is a family.”
The correctional officers were mostly clad in their traditional grey uniforms with some donning their white cowboy hats, which signifies their status as a field officer like Canfield. Those with hats eventually removing them when the families left the prison after the execution was complete.
They entered the street from the side of the prison unit in rows of two eventually lining up into eight full rows stretching across the majority of the building.
With all but the soft whispers, the group was not vocal when either the victim or offender’s family entered and left the facility.
However when the Canfield family was leaving to their vehicles – several in tears as they walked past the wall of guards - one member of the family stopped to embrace one of the officers.
Charles Canfield, Susan Canfield’s husband, told the press that the mass of officers didn’t go unnoticed by the family.
“I appreciate the fact they stood behind us,” he said. “They need to feel that if anything of a similar nature happens to them and there family suffers the loss of a loved one that the state of Texas will take care of it.”
Gidden said the act reminded her of Susan Canfield’s funeral where she said more than 1,000 officers attended.
After the execution was over and the family left, the officers were ushered off just as they came in: two rows and silent.