FL - Deputy Matt Williams, 39, & K-9 Diogi shot to death, Lakeland, 28 Sept 2006

[Shadow205]

LAKELAND, Fla. — More than 4,500 people gathered Tuesday for the memorial service of a Polk County sheriff's deputy gunned down last week after a routine traffic stop.

Thousands of officers from as far away as Mississippi and Rhode Island stood at attention in neat rows as the casket bearing Deputy Vernon Matthew "Matt" Williams, 39, and the cremated remains of his German shepherd police dog Diogi were carried from Victory Church in Lakeland.

At a somber graveside service at Auburndale Memorial Cemetery, many wept as a dispatcher broadcast the police code that meant Williams and Diogi — unit 3655 Kilo — were out of service.

<snip>

Please don't mistake our tears of grief today for weakness," Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said. "The tears you see here are of frustration. Frustration that we could not be there for Matt or Diogi or Deputy Doug Speirs last Thursday morning."
Williams, 39, and his dog were shot and killed Thursday while pursuing a suspect who fled from a traffic stop. Speirs, also 39, was shot in the leg moments later during an exchange of gunfire with the suspect.

Williams was shot eight times, including one shot fired at close range to his temple and another behind his ear, authorities said. Diogi was shot once.

The gunman also traded shots with Lakeland police officers.

<snip>

Williams raised Diogi from a puppy. They worked together for six years.

"He never deserted Matt, even in his darkest hour," Polk County sheriff's Sgt. Jim Bryan said of the dog. "He gave his life trying to save his friend and master."

<snip>
Williams' wife, Nancy, and his three children, 19-year-old Christopher and 16-year-old twins Jimmy and Amanda huddled together in the front row of the church.

Authorities were unable to determine an exact number of people who attended the funeral. The massive church was filled to capacity and the crowd spilled out into the lawn. Police cruisers filled hundreds of yards in the parking lot and lined up for half a mile outside the church.

It took more than two hours for the funeral procession to travel 12 miles from the church to the cemetery. More than 200 police dogs joined more than a 1,000 officers who ringed Williams' grave. Nineteen police helicopters flew a missing man formation over the service, one helicopter peeling off to signify the slain deputy.

"It's a show of support. We're all in this together," said Port Richey Police Chief Bill Sager who came to the funeral with four of his department's 14 officers. "I've been to funerals — too many of them — and this one is particularly large."

more at the link http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,217739,00.html?sPage=fnc.national/crime

 

[j2mirish]

LAKELAND, Fla. — More than 4,500 people gathered Tuesday for the memorial service of a Polk County sheriff's deputy gunned down last week after a routine traffic stop.

Thousands of officers from as far away as Mississippi and Rhode Island stood at attention in neat rows as the casket bearing Deputy Vernon Matthew "Matt" Williams, 39, and the cremated remains of his German shepherd police dog Diogi were carried from Victory Church in Lakeland.

At a somber graveside service at Auburndale Memorial Cemetery, many wept as a dispatcher broadcast the police code that meant Williams and Diogi — unit 3655 Kilo — were out of service.

<snip>

Please don't mistake our tears of grief today for weakness," Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said. "The tears you see here are of frustration. Frustration that we could not be there for Matt or Diogi or Deputy Doug Speirs last Thursday morning."
Williams, 39, and his dog were shot and killed Thursday while pursuing a suspect who fled from a traffic stop. Speirs, also 39, was shot in the leg moments later during an exchange of gunfire with the suspect.

Williams was shot eight times, including one shot fired at close range to his temple and another behind his ear, authorities said. Diogi was shot once.

The gunman also traded shots with Lakeland police officers.

<snip>

Williams raised Diogi from a puppy. They worked together for six years.

"He never deserted Matt, even in his darkest hour," Polk County sheriff's Sgt. Jim Bryan said of the dog. "He gave his life trying to save his friend and master."

<snip>
Williams' wife, Nancy, and his three children, 19-year-old Christopher and 16-year-old twins Jimmy and Amanda huddled together in the front row of the church.

Authorities were unable to determine an exact number of people who attended the funeral. The massive church was filled to capacity and the crowd spilled out into the lawn. Police cruisers filled hundreds of yards in the parking lot and lined up for half a mile outside the church.

It took more than two hours for the funeral procession to travel 12 miles from the church to the cemetery. More than 200 police dogs joined more than a 1,000 officers who ringed Williams' grave. Nineteen police helicopters flew a missing man formation over the service, one helicopter peeling off to signify the slain deputy.

"It's a show of support. We're all in this together," said Port Richey Police Chief Bill Sager who came to the funeral with four of his department's 14 officers. "I've been to funerals — too many of them — and this one is particularly large."

more at the link http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,217739,00.html?sPage=fnc.national/crime

my husband has attended 2 of these as an officer----he said know one can even begin to comprehend- also said the hardest for him was the dispatcher indication they are " out of service"--