Some Can't Wait For Public Memorial To Pay Respects To Fallen Officer
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EULESS (CBSDFW.COM) - Friends and family will gather today to remember and say goodbye to a fallen officer with the Euless Police Department. They will come together as people across North Texas honor the life and death of Officer David Hofer.
Hofer was killed in the line of duty this week. The 29-year-old was responding to a suspicious person and possible shots fired call at J.A. Carr Park. He was shot moments after arriving; in a crime officials are calling an "ambush."
Hours after Hofer's death people started a memorial outside Euless Police Department headquarters. Today the outpouring continues, with organizations and individuals showing their support in various ways including dropping off flowers, cards and balloons.
Even though the service today is private, auto repair shop owner Bob Parra closed his business for several hours. He told employees if they wanted time to pay respects to Officer Hofer, they were free to do it today. "It touched all of us to the core. We decided to pay tribute by delaying our opening this morning, so all the employees could come down."
Parra said when he extended the invitation he wasn't sure how it would be received. "I'm just shocked. They all showed up!" The 12 men added their touches to Hofer's memorial at Euless PD.
Seeing his employees take time to gather to pray for Officer Hofer and his family Parra said he knows the decision to close the business was the right one. "To see these grown men be able to show up and take the time off in the morning, knowing they had some time off, and to spend it here with a few moments in a tribute to Officer Hofer... it's very, very moving and very, very touching."
Employees with the shop aren't the only ones who can't wait to share their feelings at the public memorial being held Saturday. Park crews painted blue ribbons on ballfields and outside the police station, as their show of support.
Also at Euless police headquarters this morning was a simple, but meaningful, gift lying with the others -- a safety vest. Any police officer, firefighter or EMT knows that it is a common part of all their gear. The vest is symbolic of the show of the support for a man being remembered fondly, both professionally and personally.
Officers with the Saginaw Police Department went to pay their respects yesterday. They are among the many law enforcement officials who have taken time out for their fallen comrade.
Those arriving in Euless don't just come bearing flowers and plaques, Bedford firefighters dropped off food to help out the officers in mourning who are still working, doing their jobs.
Firefighter Lee Ferguson said, "We're all one big family it affects all of us especially a neighboring city we come together and be here for our brothers and sisters."
People from New York City are helping North Texans learn more about the man behind the badge. Officer Hofer spent five years on the force there. He worked in New York's 9th Precinct. His comrades say the beat in NYC could be very dangerous, but that Hofer was always "that guy" who kept spirits up.
"I laughed so much with him… everyone that we've worked with laughed so much with him!" explained Officer Brian Rozanski, who still works in Ne York's 9th Precinct. "And when situations arose, he was serious, he was game faced. He was ready to roll and he was on top of his game."
Officer Hofer eventually came to Euless two years ago for a slower pace -- which friends say he enjoyed.
City officials are asking the public to honor the family and department's privacy during the private funeral today.
There will be a public 'celebration of life' service held Saturday, March 5 at Pennington Field located at 1501 Central Drive in Bedford. That memoriam begins at 1:00 p.m. Hurst police will shut down Precinct Line Road, from Bedford-Euless Road to Airport Drive, between 9 a.m. and 12 p.m. as members of law enforcement line up to lead the funeral procession to Pennington Field.
The Euless Police Benevolence Organization has set up a GoFundMe page and opened an account for donations in memory of Officer Hofer and in support of his family. The account is at -
My Credit Union
1014 N. Industrial Blvd. (at the corner of Industrial and Harwood)
Euless, Texas 76039
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