By St. John Barned-Smith
Source Houston Chronicle
Scores of Houston police officers lined the entrance to the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences Wednesday to honor their slain comrade, William "Bill" Jeffrey.
Jeffrey, 54, was killed earlier Monday morning attempting to arrest a man wanted on drug charges.
A member of the Houston Police Department's Major Offenders Division, Jeffrey and several fellow officers had been tasked with arresting 31-year-old Deon Ledet.
The squad arrived at the apartment where they believed Ledet was staying and knocked at the door. At that point, police previously said, a woman answered the door, at which point Ledet emerged from the apartment and shot at the officers. At least one of the officers with Jeffrey returned fire, striking and killing him. Jeffrey was flown to Memorial Hermann, where he was pronounced dead. Another officer, Sgt. Michael Vance, was also wounded in the exchange of gunfire and taken to the hospital but is now recovering.
Days later, many of Jeffrey's friends and other officers gathered at the Harris County IFS to honor Jeffrey and escort his body to the Klein Funeral Home in Tomball.
About 10:35 a.m., they snapped to attention.
Chief Troy Finner and another officer marched down the morgue's driveway as a hearse carrying Jeffrey's casket followed behind. A police helicopter flew overhead.
Slowly, the contingent of officers saluted, before their superiors gave the order to disperse.
Shortly before officers began the 40-mile drive to Tomball, Finner told reporters "we're standing together" as a department and city.
"Can you imagine going through this? A daughter, a wife, an extended family," he said. "and they got smiles. And its just strength and hugs. They have some anger, and we will deal with that a little bit later, but they're just exhibiting love and support to us when they are in such pain, and I think that is just a beautiful thing."
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