City Schools Go Pink to Show Support of Officer Jamie Hamrick as Latest Round in Cancer Battle Concludes
By Jeff Toquinto on March 24, 2025
Bridgeport Police Officer Jamie Hamrick, who serves as a Prevention Resource Officer (PRO), generally knows when something is going on in the school system. Today, she got fooled – in the best way possible – by over a thousand students and staff.
Hamrick, who has been battling breast cancer and just finished the last of 15 radiation treatments Friday at WVU Medicine Fairmont Regional 
Medical Center, arrived at school this morning to a surprise. One that she said caught her off guard.
Medical Center, arrived at school this morning to a surprise. One that she said caught her off guard.
“Either you’re looking at the best secret keepers in town or I’m the worst detective ever,” said Hamrick with a laugh. “I’ve been around long enough to know it’s hard for a kid to keep a secret, let alone this many kids.”
The secret was that today, Monday, March 24, all four Bridgeport public schools – Bridgeport High, Bridgeport Middle, Johnson Elementary and Simpson Elementary – celebrated Hamrick today by wearing pink. The celebration was due to Hamrick wrapping up her radiation treatment that came following her diagnosis and surgery for breast cancer.
“I get to the high school pretty early in the morning and for the last three weeks they have been adding pink stuff to my desk, so I wasn’t too surprised by that. Today, it was totally decked out,” she said. “I got suspicious when (BHS Principal) Renee (Mathews) came in with
pink and then (administrative assistant) Jennifer (Duarte) came in with pink and all she wears is black. I knew for sure something was up when I saw kid after kid in pink.”
pink and then (administrative assistant) Jennifer (Duarte) came in with pink and all she wears is black. I knew for sure something was up when I saw kid after kid in pink.”
Hamrick knew something was up and inquired. She was told “just wait.” And when she did, she found out that it was not just BHS doing the “pink out,” it was the entire city public school system.
“I’ve been to all four schools and, honestly, it’s quite humbling,” said Hamrick. “All the kids at the high school, for instance, took a photo with me that were wearing pink, and it took up the entire home side of the bleachers.
“I don’t get rendered speechless very often, but today I did more than once,” she continued. “When talking to the high school students, I had to compose myself to be able to thank them and it was a bit of a problem, in a good way, everywhere.”
Since her diagnosis, Hamrick said the school system, the police and city staff, and the entire community has been supportive in ways she could not comprehend. For that, she said, she is forever grateful.
“I’ve gone through this battle with unimaginable support,” said Hamrick who, essentially, was able to work through her radiation treatments. “I’m now considered in remission and will go back in May to my doctor, who is confident they got the cancer during surgery, for a follow-up. The support has made it so much easier.
“I want to give a big thank you to the entire community,” Hamrick continued. “From donations from the police department to school staff and students, to people stopping me everywhere I went to offer me support and so many more individuals, it’s been overwhelming and appreciated. I can’t begin to tell you what it has meant to me.”
Editor's Note: Top photo shows Officer Jamie Hamrick, middle, with Johnson Principal Heather Holbert and Assistant Principal Mark Jones. Second photo shows Hamrick at her now uninhabitable work desk at Bridgeport High School. Photo below is the Bridgeport Middle School contingent sporting their colors.
