Officer Jake Wallin's funeral procession met with stunned silence, tears in Pequot Lakes
PEQUOT LAKES, Minn. -- Officer Jake Wallin supporters lined up for miles, as the procession headed north to Pequot Lakes High School. People held back tears in their show of support.
"I just can't even believe this," said Lisa Urseth.
Officer Jake Wallin was fatally shot while responding to an accident last Friday. Two other officers -- Andrew Dotas and Tyler Hawes -- were critically wounded before the gunman was killed by a fourth officer. All three officers were from Minnesota originally.
Wallin had only been on the job as a full-time Fargo police officer for three months.
Squad cars poured in one by one before a crowd of hundreds as they waved flags Saturday morning, leading Officer Jake Wallin's procession toward his service at Pequot Lakes High School.
"I'm here to support the Wallin family and to show support for all law enforcement," said Christina Niedfeldt.
Niedfeldt has lived in Pequot Lakes her entire life.
"The Wallin family has been here as long as I have been alive," said Niedfeldt. "To know that he was tied to this community just kind of made me feel that the community has to come together and show support."
Lisa Urseth is also very familiar with the Wallins and their ties to the community.
"In the area, especially the Nisswa area, they call it Wallinville, said Urseth. "Because there's just so many, many, many Wallins and you just can't meet anybody without them being a Wallin or related to a Wallin."
She like many others in town, has been devastated since she heard the news.
"I think he just represents all our kids all our families," said Allison Collins.
"We shouldn't all be here today, we should just be going about our business and he should be at work," said Urseth.
As Wallin's casket is moved up the highway it's met with stunned silence.
"Everybody's crying it's just really kind of unbelievable," said Urseth.
Those looking on have a renewed understanding of the importance and also dangers that come with the job.
Wallin was only 23 when he died, but he packed a lot into his too-brief life. He was deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq with the Minnesota National Guard. He grew up in St. Michael.
A celebration of life event is also scheduled for the Fargo community on Wednesday, July 26 at 1 p.m. at Scheel's Arena. More details on that are expected in the near future.
Donations are encouraged to be made to Soldier's 6, in lieu of flowers.
