Jan 12, 2008 7:20 pm US/Eastern
Miami Detective James Walker Laid To Rest
Miami-Dade Crimestoppers at 305-471--TIPS
MIAMI (CBS4) ―
-
-
Det. James Walker Buried At Dade Memorial Park
CBS
Hundreds of officers from around the state provided a motorcade Saturday, taking the body of slain Miami Det. James Walker from Mt. Herman AME Church on NW 12th Ave. to its final resting place at Dade Memorial Park cemetery.
Broward Sheriff Officer Eric Bienkievitz explained "It's a way for us to come out to express our sympathy, and more importantly honor him as a person, as a law enforcement officer."
30-year-old Walker, who had been with the force since 2000, was found shot to death in his unmarked police car early Tuesday morning at 1801 Northeast 164th Street. The prime suspect in his murder, 21-year old Ricardo Ajuste, has yet to be charged in the officer's death.
Officers joined Walker's family at a public viewing held at the Jordan Grove Missionary Baptist Church at 5942 Northwest 12th Avenue, along with a public memorial service.
Saturday, the casket carrying Walker's body will be taken by a police motorcade from this church to the Mt. Herman Methodist Church, at 17800 NW 25th Avenue, for another public viewing and funeral, taking place between 10 p.m. and 1 p.m. The burial will then take place at Dade Memorial Park.
Members of Walker's family said they are overwhelmed by the support they been receiving.
"Just like to say thank you from the bottom of my heart you all have been so good to us, and we just thank you, said the officer's first cousin, Gwen Samuels . "And we will forever love you and we'll never forget what you done for us."
Colleagues have described Walker as a soft spoken man who had several commendations for his work in his personnel file.
"He was a compassionate man who was hard working, soft-spoken, but you could feel his presence when he was there," said Miami Detective Delrish Moss, who had worked with Walker.
"He was very quiet, very humble," said Sgt. Chiquita Thomas. "He had a very sweet spirit about him, always with a sweet smile on his face."Walker's death is the fourth fatal shooting of a South Florida law enforcement officer in the past six months.
Miami-Dade police officer Jose Somohano was fatally shot in shootout with a suspect in September.
Broward sheriff's deputy Chris Reyka was fatally shot in August while looking for stolen vehicles behind a drug store, and BSO deputy Paul Rein was shot with his own weapon while transporting an inmate to court in November.
If you have any informations regarding the shooting please call Miami-Dade Crimstoppers at 305-471-TIPS.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Click to enlarge
Click to enlarge
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
