HILLIARD, OH (WCMH)-Hundreds gathered along Main Street in Old Hilliard Tuesday to watch the procession carrying fallen Hilliard Officer Sean Johnson to his visitation at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church in Westerville.
“It hits home hard,” says Kyle Bickel of Columbus. “I like to pay my respects to the community officers out there and the family members as well.”
“It’s amazing,” added Hilliard resident Beth Berry. “It’s really hard not to get emotional about this everyone down the street is really just touched.”
Dozens of police vehicles made up the procession to honor the fallen officer. The ambulance carrying Johnson’s body was draped in a mourning shroud.
“It’s not a good feeling, but we’re here to support, said Ofc. John Shoopman, with the Columbus Division of Police Mounted Patrol. “We’re a big family, and that’s what we do.
“It doesn’t matter if you knew him, if you’ve shaken hands with him, or have been friends. It’s not important. What’s important is how we show our support and togetherness like this.”
Johnson was killed Thursday, May 19 during a training exercise for Hilliard’s motorcycle patrol. Many in the crowd Tuesday wore blue to honor the third local officer to die in the line of duty this year.
Danville Police Officer Thomas Cottrell was shot and killed in an ambush on January 17. Columbus SWAT Officer Steve Smith was shot during a standoff on April 10. That Tuesday, he was taken off life support.
Kyle Bickle has carried a flag marked with the Thin Blue Line to processions honoring each of those officers. He says the outpouring in Hilliard made him proud.
“It’s amazing, but it’s a sad moment as well,” he says.
The procession started at about 1:30 p.m. at Schoedinger Funeral Home and traveled west on Cemetery Road from I-270, north on Main Street through Old Hilliard. The procession passed First Responders Park before continuing east bound on Northwest Parkway passing the headquarters of the Hilliard Division of Police.
Officer Johnson’s body was in a flag draped coffin within a Norwich Township Fire Medic surrounded by pallbearers from Hilliard Police..
The funeral for Officer Johnson will be held at St. Paul Church beginning at 10:30 am. Immediately following the funeral service there will be a procession to and a graveside service with full police honors at Resurrection Cemetery, 9571 N High Street, Lewis Center.
The procession will go from St. Paul Church, west on County Line Road, south on Worthington Road, to south Worthington-Galena Road, west on Campus View Blvd. and north on U.S. 23 (N. High Street) to Resurrection Cemetery.
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