Matthew Gerald, one of the law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Sunday, was mourned today at his funeral by family, friends and colleagues.
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The funeral for Officer Matthew Gerald was held Friday at the Healing Place Church in the Baton Rouge area.
“The men and women who put on those uniforms, they respect you”.
“I think it sends a message to the officers that people in the community do appreciate what they do”, Johnson said.
Hundreds of police officers, politicians and members of the public gathered at Queen’s Park Wednesday night to pay tribute to officers recently gunned down in USA cities like Dallas and Baton Rouge.
“The chief offered up the chance to go, and these two volunteered”, Caldwell said. “They’re very impressed with it”. There will be a procession from the church to Louisiana National Cemetary where Gerald will be buried.
“My blue-eyed rock was a hero”, wrote Dechia Gerald, now a widow with two young girls.
The three were shot to death by Gavin Long, a black military veteran, who had posted rambling internet videos calling for violence in response to what he considered oppression. Several police officers and sheriff deputies were killed and wounded Sunday morning in a shooting near a gas station in Baton Rouge, less than two weeks after a black man was shot and killed by police here, sparking nightly protests across the city. He added that Garafola’s family plans to have him cremated after the funeral and will also receive a customized urn. He said he was checking up on Gerald after the Baton Rouge protests and told him to be careful and keep a cool head.
“I’m just numb. You just don’t think it would happen in our hometown”, Parent said, dabbing at tears. The two officers, white and black, began riding together on July 1, days before Sterling’s death.
“Knowing these guys were out there to protect and serve, I want to do my part”, said Trey Ganem, a Texas-based maker of custom caskets who designed and donated the burial boxes for the services.
On the day of the attack, the partners had been writing reports at police headquarters when Gerald said he was feeling exhausted, and was going for an energy drink at the B-Quick convenience store a few blocks away. Gerald radioed back to dispatch, and Mitchell and other officers raced to the scene, hearing gunfire as they arrived.
“We must not let this community be divided”, said Tory. “We are the sheepdogs protecting the sheep and we can’t get mad at the sheep because of what the wolf does”. Garafola had been with the sheriff’s office for 24 years when he was killed. “We must use tragedies like this to re-dedicate ourselves to make sure Toronto is the beacon of hope to the world that is has been and must continue to be”.
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