Slain Delmar Police Cpl. Keith Heacook Honored With Escort From Baltimore's Shock Trauma
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- A Delmar police corporal who was attacked and ultimately died in the line of duty was honored Sunday with a police escort starting in Baltimore and ending at his home in Delaware.
Corporal Keith Heacook was assaulted while responded to a 911 call in Delmar. His fellow first responders and his community paused Sunday to honor his service and his life.
The motorcade of police officers escorted him on his way home, saluting his 22-year service to the community.
"I need you to know that even with his sacrifice, he's still a hero for someone," said Delmar Police Chief Ivan Barkley.
Police said Cpl. Heacook was responding to a call for a fight at a home on the Maryland-Delaware line. That's when officials said he was assaulted by 30-year-old Randon Wilkerson, who had also attacked an elderly couple around the same time.
They are now recovering at home.
Wilkerson has been charged with attempted murder and assault.
Cpl. Heacook was taken to Shock Trauma where he died a few days later.
"Our community, my department, his family, we all mourn," Barkley said.
Ever since, there's been an outpouring of support and tributes from those who knew the corporal and even those who didn't.
"He was always a go-getter. He would make you laugh. If you were having a bad day, he'd try to make you smile," said a Delmar police officer.
Sunday's procession gave those who loved and admired the longtime police corporal a chance to say goodbye.
Corporal Heacook leaves behind his wife, Susan, and a 12-year-old son. In a Facebook post, his wife thanked the community for their outpouring of support and said "My heart aches for all the victims involved,"