Clinton officer Gary Michael, killed in the line of duty, remembered during funeral
Apr 17, 2018Saturday morning.In silent rows, they passed by Michael’s casket ahead of the midday funeral to come inside the Benson Center in Clinton.Volunteers, motorcycle groups and Boy Scouts managed the heavy traffic that came from throughout the region under a warming sun over the dew-soaked grass.Tears came to Kim Newmann’s eyes as she saw how her Clinton community and its neighbors have come together.“I’m very proud,” she said. “When I came under that flag,” she said, gesturing back to the giant American flag hung high over Price Lane above the many more flags on vehicles lining the street below, “it was indescribable.”She and her husband, Steve Newmann, were two of hundreds of motorcyclists from around the country who are part of the Patriot Guard Riders.Saturday’s ceremonies carried forward a wave of mourning and support that built throughout the week since Michael was gunned down Sunday night by a driver he had pulled over for a traffic stop.The 37-year-old officer, who’d been on the force less than a year, was honored by a procession of police and fire vehicles Wednesday morning when his body was delivered home from Kansas City, and again that evening when hundreds gathered for a candlelight vigil outside the Henry County Courthouse in Clinton.Tributes to the fallen officer flooded social media throughout the week, culminating in a visitation service at the Vansant-Mills Funeral Home in Clinton Friday night, and then Saturday’s funeral.Patrick Quinn had come from Dixon, Ill., with his comfort dog, Shiloh, as part of the Lutheran Church Charities K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry.“This tells me there still a lot of people who support our law enforcement officers,” he said. “Fallen officers are dear to us. It’s wonderful to see the support of this community.”People who lived here, said Kim Newmann, were horrified by the shooting and then terrified for the two days the alleged assailant was on the run.Ian James McCarthy of Clinton was charged Monday with first degree murder in the shooting, even as legions of law enforcement... (Kansas City Star)
