Member-only story
A Hero’s Farewell
A Decorated War Hero Is Laid to Rest
A Shattered Community Struggles to Find Answers to a Senseless Murder
They came in droves to say good-bye: artsy types, young professionals, military men and women, blue-collar workers, public officials. They were young and old, men and women, neighborhood locals and strangers from who knows where. I was there because I went to school with the deceased and wanted to pay my respects to a dear friend. I drove across four states to get there.
Old-timers from town said they’d never seen anything like the crowd that showed up. The line to get into the funeral home wrapped itself around the building and snaked its way down the long sidewalk. The funeral home’s big parking lot was filled to capacity, and cars were double-parked on side streets.
All to pay their respects to the town’s police officer Jon Petersen.
Officer Petersen was killed trying to thwart a bank robbery and rescue two bank tellers held hostage. Townsfolk were absolutely devastated by the news of officer Petersen’s death and called the shooting a tragic and barbaric act. While the thief got away, officer Petersen managed to rescue the two hostages unharmed. However, the price for his gallantry was steep and fatal.
