Detroit Police Retire Car Code To Honor Fallen Officer
DETROIT (AP) - The scout car code that had been assigned to an officer killed in the line of duty three years ago was retired during a solemn pre-dawn ceremony Friday.
Officer Brian Huff's car number 5-14 will not be used again, and crews assigned to that vehicle will revert to 5-13.
The emotional early morning memorial service was attended by fellow officers and Huff's family, including his teenage son, Blair.
"I want to be a police officer," a teary Blair Huff told reporters. "I want to make this world a better place."
Brian Huff's wife, Melissa, said their son "is the young man his father wanted him to be."
Officers listened on their police radios and offered prayers and a moment of silence was observed during Friday's gathering near the home where Huff was slain.
"No one else will use 5-14 again," said Huff's commander, Steve Dolunt. "It's never happened before. It's a great idea. I don't know whose idea it was, but it's a great idea."
Huff, his partner and several other officers responded to a May 3, 2010, 911 call about lights shining in a vacant residence. As the other officers took up positions outside the house, Huff announced "police" and kicked in the front door.
Huff's gun remained in its holster when he was gunned down by Jason Gibson, who ran from the rear of the house after Huff was shot, firing at the other officers.
Four other officers were shot or injured, but they recovered.
Gibson in 2011 was ordered to serve a mandatory term of life in prison with no chance of parole for killing Huff, a 12-year police veteran. Click here to read more.
© Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
