In the final days before Tyler Murphy’s departure from The Evening Sun in May, he took me aside on more than one occasion to impart tidbits of wisdom and advice about the beat that I would be taking over. And, since I respected the fact that he had covered all things to do with police/fire/court for so long, I listened.

Often it was a litany of things to remember about court procedures and protocols, or who to call for what information. He also regaled me with more than a few tales of the things he’d seen, done and been privy to during his tenure on what is arguably our hometown daily’s most coveted beat. But in the last hour or so of his last official day on the job, he pulled me aside for a rather serious heart to heart.

Having worked side by side for almost three years, it’s safe to say that Tyler was well acquainted with the vagaries of my personality. He told me that he had no doubts the police/fire/court coverage would be in good hands. But he was concerned for me personally, about how emotionally I would handle the uglier side of the job.