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PARKERSBURG -- Local law-enforcement officials will be sending representatives to the funeral of the Charleston Police Officer who died last week after being shot.
Cassie Johnson, 28, was shot during a routine response to a parking complaint on Dec. 1 in the city of Charleston. She passed away Thursday, Dec. 3.
The funeral is set for noon today at the Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center.
"We are going to send some people down to pay our respects," Wood County Sheriff Steve Stephens said Monday.
The sheriff, a deputy who went to the academy with Johnson and others will make the trip today to show their support.
"We feel it is important to show our support for our Blue Line Family and anytime an officer is down or is suffering that affects us all," Stephens said. "We are going to mourn and commemorate her life."
Parkersburg Police Chief Joe Martin said multiple officers will be attending today's services, "to show respect for the family that will be there in attendance and support our brothers and sisters from the Charleston Police Department."
The officers will be representing the city as well, Martin said.
"The bigger cities tend to stick together to support one another," he said. "I'm sure probably every department in the state will be represented."
Vienna Police Chief Mike Pifer said they will be sending three officers to the funeral.
It is important for them to show their respect for a fellow officer.
"When an officer gives the ultimate sacrifice, it is a show of absolute respect," Pifer said. "It is not only for her life, but her family's and her blue (police) family.
"Once you are part of the blue family, every police officer is a part of that family. We lost one of our own. Even though her patch says 'Charleston PD' and ours says 'Vienna PD,' she was one of us."
Williamstown Police Chief Shawn Graham said he and some of his officers will be attending the funeral.
"It is an honor to acknowledge her sacrifice," he said. "It is important to be there because it is a family, the Blue Line Family. It is a real thing.
"We find comfort with our brothers and sisters. I wouldn't miss that young lady's funeral for anything. It is the very least I could do."
Staff Writer Evan Bevins contributed to this story.
Contact Brett Dunlap at bdunlap@newsandsentinel.com