Officer funeral draws hundreds

WARSAW, Ind. (WANE) - Family and friends paid their last respects to Sgt. Jeff Shaw on Tuesday morning.

The 40-year-old Kosciusko County Sheriff's Deputy was killed last Thursday when a truck carrying scaffolding went off the road, over-corrected, and crashed into Sergeant Shaw's squad car on State Road 14.

Friends say his wife, Angie and two children, 7-year old Isabella and 9-year old Nickolas, were the most important things to him. Fellow officers say he was a laid back leader who was always good for a joke.

Sergeant Shaw's funeral was held at Warsaw Community Church. Perhaps more than any other moment during the ceremony, the presentation of Shaw's badge to his son, Nickolas moved mourners to tears.

Kosciusko County Sheriff Rocky Goshert made sure there was room for laughs between sobs, though. He told a story of a complaint he'd gotten about Shaw. It was from a woman whose son had just been served a warrant by Shaw.

"She was ticked off, " said Goshert, explaining the woman was so angry at her son, and was disappointed that Shaw had not been harder on him. Goshert said he didn't know what to say, and that he'd never have to deal with a complaint about someone being too nice. "I told her, 'we'll talk to him,'" said Goshert, which got a quite a laugh from funeral goers.

Goshert's predecessor, former Sheriff Alan Rovenstine gave the funeral eulogy.

"Jeff was always extremely proud of serving Kosciusko County as a deputy," said Rovenstine, addressing more than 350 police officers and fire personnel, among the crowd of more than 900 people. "He considered his fellow deputies as his brothers. He was a good husband, a good friend, and a most dedicated and doting father."

Shaw had been with the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department since 1994. According to state police, Shaw was the third Kosciusko County Sheriff's deputy to be killed in the line of duty.

A processional to Oakwood Cemetery followed Tuesday's funeral.

Patrolman Brad Keller of the Winona Lake Police Department sang Amazing Grace-Policeman's tribute during the ceremony. 

Watch the performance by playing the video.