GREELEY, Colo.—More than 2,000 law enforcement officers from Colorado and Wyoming turned out Monday to honor a Weld County sheriff’s deputy shot and killed by a suspected car thief.
The officers, joined by Gov. Bill Ritter, filled the University of Northern Colorado’s Butler-Hancock Sports Pavilion for a memorial service for 43-year-old Sam Brownlee. He is the first county deputy to be killed in the line of duty in 70 years.
Brownlee died last week after he was shot during a struggle with a suspected car thief. The suspect, 20-year-old Rueben Reyes, was shot by other officers and later died.
The Greeley Tribune reported that the service was delayed by about a half hour because of the large crowd, which included the county sheriff’s posse.
Ritter ordered that all U.S. and Colorado flags on state and federal buildings be lowered in honor of Brownlee on Monday.
“We ask so much of officers throughout the state, and we as a state owe them a lot of gratitude,” Ritter said. “Lowering the flag is just a small token of appreciation for what they do.”
County dispatchers also conducted a traditional salute for Brownlee, calling his badge number over the air: “Dispatch calling 679. Recalling 679. No response from 679. You gave it your all, Sam. God bless. We miss you, brother.”
———
Information from: Greeley Daily Tribune,
