Dallas Police Officer Darron Burks Honored as ‘Hero’ at Funeral

Dallas police officer Darron Burks, who was fatally shot in what the police chief called an execution, was remembered as a hero Saturday at a funeral service in Dallas.

“A hero who made the ultimate sacrifice … the grief is overwhelming,” Dallas Police Chief Eddie Garcia said during the nearly two-hour ceremony, which was often marked by applause for Burks’ mother, Cherie Jeffery, and laughter at memories of Burks.

“He loved me every day, he didn’t wait for my birthday” or holidays, Jeffery said, standing next to a portrait of Burks in uniform, adding that his son texted him every day. “Darron loved everybody.”

Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson said Burks was “tragically abducted and targeted” because he was a police officer.

Burks was “a hero … with a spirit of service and selflessness,” Johnson said.

Bagpipes played and mourners filed past his open casket, draped with an American flag and surrounded by uniformed police officers at each end, until the casket was closed for the service.

PHOTOS: Fatally shot Dallas police officer hailed as ‘hero’ at funeral

Burks, 46, was sitting in his patrol car on Aug. 29 when he was fatally shot by Corey Cobb-Bey, 30, who spoke briefly with Burks and recorded the encounter before pulling out a handgun and shooting Burks, police said.

“I know the word ambush has been misused … that’s not what happened here,” Garcia said after the shooting. “Officer Burks was executed.”

Cobb-Bey shot and wounded two other officers when they arrived, then fled and was pursued by police to Lewisville, Texas, about 25 miles (40 kilometers) northwest of Dallas, police said.

When Cobb-Bey’s vehicle stopped on Interstate 35, he got out with a shotgun in his hand and pointed it at officers. Six officers opened fire, killing Cobb-Bey, who was hit multiple times, police said.

Burks joined the force in December after graduating from the police academy. He previously spent 17 years as a high school math teacher.

Gov. Greg Abbott, at Johnson’s request, said the Texas state and U.S. flags could be lowered to half-staff Saturday to honor Burks.

“The First Lady and I extend our prayers of comfort to the Burks family during this time of grief, and we urge all Texans to remember and honor Officer Burks’ service as a dedicated and trusted law enforcement officer,” Abbott said in a letter to Johnson.