Law enforcement officers from across Ohio were among hundreds of mourners who paid their respects Thursday to a sheriff's deputy who was killed in a shootout on New Year's Day.
Clark County Deputy Suzanne Hopper died when she was shot at a mobile home park near Springfield in western Ohio. The suspected shooter also died, and a second officer was wounded.
At the visitation, many mourners waited in line for hours to pay tribute to the 40-year-old mother of two at First Christian Church.
Photos of Hopper rolled across two large screens above the altar. The Springfield News-Sun reports that a Clark County sheriff's sergeant clapped his hand over his mouth and tears welled up in his eyes when a photo appeared of the deputy as a young girl in pigtails.
Hopper's cruiser, adorned with red and white carnations, was parked at the entrance to the church.
Hopper's funeral will be held at the church Friday. Clark County Sheriff Gene Kelly says he expects law enforcement officers from across the state and nation to attend.
Law Enforcement personnel from all over the country are in Ohio today to attend the funeral. There was a long line of people standing alongside the street at the entrance to the funeral home. A police car from California was seen. Her killer had done the same thing before, and was still free to do it again. She had answered a call of "Shots Fired" and was taking photographs at the scene when she was killed. Any death is tragic, this one seemed to "strike a chord" with the entire community. A senseless killing of a community servant.
