Thousands Attend Funeral For Slain Polk County Deputy

[Drew27k9]

LAKELAND, Fla. -- Thousands of mourners were expected to attend the funeral Tuesday of a Polk County deputy fatally shot after a routine traffic stop.

Deputy Vernon Matthew Williams, 39, and the cremated remains of his German shepherd police dog Diogi were to be buried together in the Auburndale Memorial Cemetery after a 1 p.m service at Victory Church.

Police and sheriff's deputies have kept a constant vigil for Williams since he was slain Thursday near Kathleen High School. Police motorcycles escorted his ambulance to the hospital after the shooting, and deputies have stood by Williams' body at the morgue and funeral home ever since.

"We feel we have a strong sense of not leaving our fallen deputies alone," said Gary Hester, chief of staff for the Polk Sheriff's Office. "We want to be there to the end."

Deputies have also stood guard outside the Polk City home of Williams' family and the home of Deputy Doug Speirs, 39, who was also wounded in last week's shooting.

Williams was shot eight times in his right leg and behind his right ear, among other places, according to an autopsy. Diogi died after being shot once in the chest.

Officers fired 110 rounds of ammunition at the man suspected of shooting Williams and Speirs, authorities have said.

Angilo Freeland - whose death Friday ended a nearly 24-hour manhunt that closed schools while hundreds of officers scoured the woods - was hit 68 times by the SWAT team members' shots, according to an autopsy.

Freeland also fled a 1999 traffic stop, eventually barricading himself in his home, according to court documents. He disappeared before his trial could begin, and prosecutors dropped his case after a warrant for his arrest sat unserved until March 2005, authorities said.

http://www.local6.com/news/9990990/detail.html

[Crow]

Watched his funeral on tv, it was sad. :(

[JD45]

One of my personal favorites:

The policeman stood to face his God, which must always come to pass.

He hoped his boots were shining, just as brightly as his brass.

"Step forward now, Policeman. How shall I deal with you?

Have you always turned the other cheek? To my church have you been true?"

The policeman squared his shoulder's and said. "No lord, I guess I ain't,

Because those of us who carry badges can't always be a saint."

I've had to work most Sundays, and at times my talk was rough,

and sometimes I've been violent, because the streets are awfully tough.

"But I never took a penny that wasn't mine to keep...

Though I worked a lot of overtime when the bills got to steep.."

And I never passed a cry for help, Though at times I shook with fear.

And sometimes, God forgive me, I've wept unmanly tears.

I know I don't deserve a place among the people here.

They never wanted me around except to calm their fear."

"If you've got a place for me here Lord, It needn't be so grand.

I never expected or had too much, but if you don't...I'll understand."

There was silence all around the throne where the saints often trod.

As the policeman waited quietly, for the judgment of his God.

"Step forward now, Policeman. You've borne your burdens well.

Come walk a beat in Heaven's streets, you've done your time in Hell."

[worknk9s]

As I read the poems and reading the articles, watching the news, and basically every since it happened I haven't replaced a heavy feeling that just hasn't went away.

I don't know the deputy personally, but this one hit me kind of hard. Maybe because Deputy Williams was a RP members good friend.

It was nice to see that Deputy Williams was laid to rest with his K9. It seems only fitting, I will continue to pray for his family and fellow deputies.