Photos by William Crum
Slain Wyandotte County Deputies Theresa King and Patrick Rohrer were honored as heroes at a funeral service today at the Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kansas.
The two deputies were slain last Friday in a shooting near the Wyandotte County Courthouse, as they were transferring inmates from court to the county jail.
Speakers at the funeral service included Sheriff Don Ash, Chaplain Ken Nettling, Sister Therese Bangert, colleagues of the deputies, family members and Rob Richardson, representing the Scouts. Rohrer’s Scout troop from Lenexa, Kansas, was present.
Ash quoted from Vernon Geberth in his speech.
“You see, they died as rare and precious people, doing what they loved to do and doing it for the noblest of reasons,” Sheriff Ash said. “That is something we can never explain outside of our profession. You see, you can’t be a good cop simply because you couldn’t get another job. You could only be a good cop because you want it.”
Ash quoted Geberth who said his former sergeant once told him there were only three rules in war: Young men die, you can’t change that, and somebody has to walk the point. Those who walk the point are those who are far in front of everyone else, who spot the enemy and may make the first shot.
“It must be done, or there would be no protection for the rest, just more bloodshed, and more grief,” Ash quoted from Geberth’s book. The “point man” is there to save lives, even if he gives his own in the process, he said. He compared law enforcement work to military service, saying someone has to walk the point.
Ash continued his quote from Geberth, saying he wanted everyone to remember the deputies not just for what they did on their last day, but what they did for everyone day after day.
Ash repeated his statement of last Sunday, quoting from the Bible, “Be not overcome with evil, but overcome evil with good.”
“We will be the peacemakers God has called us to be,” he said.
Chaplain Ken Nettling quoted from the Bible, “Greater love has no one than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. Jesus did that first for us, and it’s that same love that allows us to celebrate these precious lives.”
Deputy Max Sybrant of the Wyandotte County Sheriff’s Department said, “On Friday, June 15, at 11:15 a.m., time stopped when a senseless act of violence ended the watch of two of Wyandotte County’s finest law enforcement officers.
“Our friends and brothers stepped up and did everything they could to help Patrick and T.K., not knowing who they were responding to help and what they needed to do. That’s what we do,” he said.
One of Deputy King’s children spoke, and said it all felt like a bad dream.
“You are and will always be our hero,” Bailey King said. “Now the entire world knows that.”
Sister Therese Bangert said the tenderness that moved the hearts of Deputy King’s children was in contrast to the event earlier in the day that took their mother’s life.
“This morning, I want to remind those of us gathered, that keeping this community safe is not just the job of Sheriff Ash and the deputies, Chief Ziegler and our police officers, DA Dupree and his office, and the public defenders,” Sister Bangert said. “I believe each of us have a duty to do our part to keep this community safe. And when we find meanness creeping its way into our minds and hearts, don’t give it a parking place, and do not let it reach our hands and mouth.”
Deputy Rohrer was remembered as one who always did the right thing, and memories were shared of how he had saved someone from drowning and had provided good advice for those around him.
