United States Navy Mineman E5 Petty Officer Second Class & Bakersfield Police Officer Jason Michael White was born and raised in Bakersfield, California. Growing up, he lived with his parents, Ron and Kathy White, and his sister Stacey. As a child, he enjoyed riding bikes, camping, playing games and sports and spending time with his friends in the neighborhood and family on the holidays. In high school, White met his wife, Nicole. In 1999, they got married and have been together ever since.
White always admired those who served in the military and law enforcement. He always knew he wanted to become an officer, but he was young and found that he needed the military structure. He was honored to serve his country while learning valuable skills. He joined the Navy in 1998 and served for 8 years. To help in the greatest time of need, he became an officer and always felt strongly about serving his community and country. In 2006, he joined the Bakersfield Police Department for 17 years. He served as a police officer, field training officer, foot beat unit and community policing, which he taught classes on. While in the foot beat unit, he helped local companies establish an association and started a new unit to fight homelessness in the community, among other noteworthy achievements during his time. White’s goal was to become a detective. While serving, he enjoyed the friends he made and being there to help support people in their time of need. He wanted individuals to have positive experiences when they interacted with law enforcement. He took the time to listen to people a bit longer, explain things more clearly or in a new way, or even make them laugh.
In 2022, when White started experiencing trouble walking and talking while working on the new community police unit at the station, his coworkers realized something was wrong and took him to the hospital. After suffering brain swelling and 4 strokes, White fell into a coma for 4 months on a ventilator with a tracheostomy and feeling tube. He spent six weeks at an out-of-town long-term acute care facility before he was able to breathe on his own. For a year, White spent time in and out of hospitals, sub-acute units and rehabilitation facilities. For eight months, White wasn’t able to speak. He is diagnosed with contractures and spastic quadriplegia which prevents him from walking or using his hands. He repeatedly battles sepsis, COVID, pressure wounds, pneumonia and urinary infections.
White currently lives in Bakersfield, California with his family, supported by the ones he loves – his parents, Ron and Kathy, his wife, Nicole, their children, Justin, Bryce, Maggie and Cody, and his many friends and co-workers. White goes to physical, occupational and speech therapy up to 5 days a week, hoping to improve his mobility and activities of daily living. He enjoys being around the kids, watching movies, barbecuing with the family and visiting with friends. In the future, he hopes to volunteer for the department in some way. He also hopes that he will be able to stand or walk, feed himself, do everyday things and be more active. White is most excited to spend more time with friends, family and traveling. Especially, watching his children grow up and accomplish their goals. To White, receiving the support from T2T has been the greatest gift and unbelievable blessing to his family. Tunnel to Towers will provide the White family with a “forever home that we can all be comfortable in, and I can be more independent in,” says White. He is able to have peace of mind and not worry about a mortgage. White says the support is very humbling and hard to put into words what it means to his family. The most important thing US Navy Mineman E5 Petty Officer Second Class & Bakersfield Police Officer Jason Michael White would like people to know about him and his story is to keep fighting and trying. White knows that things don’t always go as planned, but to appreciate what you have and what you can do and just keep trying to get better.
The Tunnel to Towers Foundation has provided US Navy Mineman E5 Petty Officer Second Class & Bakersfield Police Officer Jason Michael White with a mortgage-free smart home through the Smart Home Program.