Video by Morgan Wilkins
Travis Francom said his brother, Jared Francom, was his best friend and example.
He said Jared taught him how to live life to the fullest, how to raise his children, how to be a provider, and how to protect and watch over loved ones.
When Jared was fatally shot while serving a search warrant in Ogden last week, Travis said he taught him one last lesson.
“He taught me how to be selfless by laying down his own life for what he believed and for those that he loved,” Travis said.
Travis said he was grateful to learn from agents in the Weber-Morgan Narcotics Strike Force that Jared died trying to protect his comrades.
“My brother is a hero and I love him with all my heart,” Travis said.
An estimated 4,000 people — hundreds of whom were service men and women — attended Francom’s funeral Wednesday afternoon in the Dee Events Center. After the services, citizens lined the streets for much of the four-mile stretch of road to honor Francom as his procession traveled to the Ogden City Cemetery Wednesday afternoon.
Family, officers and ecclesiastical leaders who spoke at Francom’s funeral Wednesday afternoon remembered him for his devotion to family, work and the Dallas Cowboys.
“I believe that Jared’s greatest desire that he accomplished was becoming a father to two beautiful little girls and then becoming a police officer to achieve his lifelong dream,” said Gunner Francom, another brother of Jared Francom’s.
He was called a giant of a man by his former LDS bishop — Troy Combs — and was remembered by his brothers for his good humor. Combs said Jared would visit him in his office to talk about his family and what he needed to do to be with them forever.
Shane Keyes, who worked with Jared on the strike force, said nothing could keep Jared from calling home every night to talk with his wife Erin and two daughters.
“He always ended every phone call with how much he loved his girls and that he was going to miss them and that he couldn’t wait to see them when he got home,” Keyes said.
He was a good brother, too.
Travis read a letter Jared sent him when he was in the first few weeks of his mission for the LDS church.
“I tell you it’s weird, not having you around . . . Even though it sucks that you are gone, I know it’s for a good reason and it’s definitely worth it,” Jared wrote. “I just wanted to tell you how proud I am to have you as my brother . . . you’re definitely stronger than me, I couldn’t do the mission thing.”
As Travis concluded his thoughts, he tweaked a few words and shared the letter again. This time it was addressed to his brother, Jared.
“Dear Jared, I haven’t received a letter from you yet, but I’ll be waiting. I tell you, it’s weird, not having you around,” Travis read. “The day you left I was upset and crying. Even though it sucks that you are gone, I know that it’s a good reason and definitely worth it. I just wanted to tell you how proud I am to have you as a brother. . . . You are definitely stronger than me. I couldn’t do what you’ve done . . . Take care of yourself and write back when you can.”
Jared was also remembered for his sense of humor. Troy Burnett, a sergeant several years older than Jared, said he was once struggling to restrain and handcuff a man.
“All of the sudden this big powerful arm reaches around me, grabs me by the neck and just lifts me up,” Burnett said.
It was Francom, pulling Burnett back so he could help.
Burnett said he didn’t have a chance to razz him that night but later got a county attorney to issue a fake summons for Jared with the charge of assault on a police officer.
“I was feeling pretty good about it until Jared was looking at the summons and said, ‘I feel lucky to only be charged with assault. I thought, due to your age, it would be abuse of the elderly,'” Burnett said.
Francom is survived by his wife, Erin, and two daughters.
“The Ogden City Police Department has lost a dedicated officer, and the strike force has lost a courageous agent, and we have all lost a brother and a friend,” Burnett said.
