KANSAS CITY, Kan. — The memorial ceremony for two fallen Wyandotte County deputies on Thursday morning will feature guests from the metro and across the country.
Deputies Theresa King and Patrick Rohrer were tragically shot and killed last Friday while transporting inmates to the Wyandotte County Correctional and Court Services building.
The two will be honored during a ceremony at Children’s Mercy Park on Thursday morning.
James Fuqua and Alex Mottinger, both officers with the Columbus Division of Police, will be a part of the event.
The two officers flew in from Columbus on Wednesday after finishing their shifts early in the morning.
“We both got off at two or three in the morning so we’re pretty much on no hours of sleep,” Fuqua explained. “Even with no sleep, we felt it was important to get here as quickly as possible to show support to the department and everyone involved.”
Both Fuqua and Mottinger are members of the Honor Guard and said they had traveled to other parts of the country to honor fallen officers in the past.
They said the shooting last week struck close to their hearts states away.
“This definitely was a national story,” Fuqua said. “Back in Columbus, the biggest thing was trying to figure out the why.”
On Wednesday, the two officers went to the site of the tragic shooting.
Mottinger told 41 Action News that the deaths of King and Rohrer was a reminder of the dangers officers face.
“We’re all family no matter where we’re at. So it just kind of reopens old wounds,” he explained. “You have to keep your loved ones close and remember that anything can happen at any time.”
Both Mottinger and Fuqua said being able to take part in the memorial ceremony served as a special opportunity for them to honor a fallen brother and sister of the force.
“It reminds me that life is very short and it can be taken away from you at any point so really appreciate and enjoy your life,” Fuqua explained. “The most important thing to remember is we have to show respect and we have to show honor to the people who sacrificed their lives for protecting the public.”
Thursday’s ceremony will also feature members of the Boys Scouts.
With Rohrer once serving as an Eagle Scout with Troop 401 in Lenexa, scout leader Rob Richardson said it was important for members of the group to say "thank you" to the officers.
“We feel a lot of it too because they were part of our family as well,” he explained. “They understand how serious this is and they want to be part of something that helps somebody heal.”
Organizers said officers from six states are invited to the funeral, which is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. on Thursday at Children’s Mercy Park.
A memorial for Rohrer will also be held at the Shawnee Civic Center from noon to 5 p.m. on Thursday.
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