The first of two Hattiesburg police officers killed this past weekend, was buried Thursday afternoon.
At the Temple Baptist Church, thousands showed respect to Benjamin Deen, including hundreds of law enforcement officers from as far away as New York.
“BJ was good people,” said Hattiesburg Assistant Police Chief Frank Misenhelter, who spoke at the service. “Saturday night I lost a brother.”
After the service, even more people stood along streets holding American flags, posters and blue ribbons in honor of the fallen officer, who was laid to rest at Military Baptist Church in Sumrall.
Deen and his co-worker Liquori Tate were shot and killed during a traffic stop just north of downtown Hattiesburg. Five people have been charged in connection to their murders.
Tate will be buried in Starkville Saturday after a service at West Point Baptist Church in Hattiesburg.