Along the 45-mile journey were hundreds waiting to honor the man who dedicated his life to protecting others.
Author: Lindsay Nadrich
PORTLAND, Ore. — Hundreds came out to watch the procession for fallen Cowlitz County Deputy Justin DeRosier.
Officers on motorcycles led the way, escorting Deputy DeRosier’s body and his family, from Longview to Portland. Along the 45-mile journey were hundreds waiting to honor the man who dedicated his life to protecting others.
“It really touches your heart that everyone comes out to show support for the amazing hero that DeRosier was,” said Abi Angel, the daughter of a police officer who came to show support for the DeRosier family.
A hero, larger than life, the heart of a protector. Those are just a few phrases people used to describe him.
Andrew Christiansen went to high school with DeRosier and said, even then, he was someone who looked out for others.
“Always someone to put a smile on your face and know you could go to him and count on him for anything,” Christiansen explained.
So Wednesday, DeRosier deserved nothing less than a hero’s salute. DeRosier’s patrol car and a horse without a rider were part of the procession.
“It’s an honor to be able to come,” said Seattle police officer Brandon Caille as he stood next to his horse named Justice. “We’re one of the last remaining mounted units in the region. We use the riderless horse as a symbolic gesture of a downed officer.”
On the horse was a blanket with DeRosier’s name and boots facing backwards, symbolizing a rider looking back on his fellow deputies for the last time. Deputies and officers came from across the country to support his family and his department.
“It’s amazing,” Angel said. “I mean we’re from Longview where the DeRosiers are from and we don’t always see it as that big of a town, but to see this big of a turnout from all kinds of places, I mean, we saw officers from Idaho, from Seattle.”
“Having the support here not only from the community, but all the partnering agencies, really, it means a lot to all of us,” said Washington State Patrol Trooper Will Finn.
“It’s a humbling experience to see people from all over Washington state, especially with this being in Oregon, so everyone drove from all over Washington, eastern Washington, to be a part of this,” Caille said.
Deputy DeRosier’s patrol car was also driven in the procession: pic.twitter.com/DIwaEctdQn
— Lindsay Nadrich (@LindsayNadrich) April 24, 2019
No matter the badge, they were all family grieving the loss of one of their own.
“We love all law enforcement. We’re always going to support you, and we’re all family no matter where you’re from,” Angel said.
More coverage of memorial and procession:
Community gathers at Longview church to watch fallen deputy’s memorial
‘Words fail to describe that loss’: DeRosier family speaks about fallen deputy
Watch: Memorial and procession for Deputy Justin DeRosier
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