Fallen Livonia Officer Remembered

PLYMOUTH, Mich. (WJBK) - Family, friends and hundreds of fellow officers have said a final goodbye to Livonia Police Officer Larry Nehasil. He was killed in the line of duty. Friday, his life and service to his community were honored and remembered.

The funeral procession passed under an enormous, American flag, the stars and stripes Officer Nehasil pledged to serve and protect, and past the police station where he worked for two decades as people lined the streets in frigid weather to pay their respects.

A man saluted, children waived their flags and a woman held her hand over her heart as another wiped away a tear.

On Monday, Officer Nehasil was killed in a shootout with a suspect in a string of home invasions. Both men died. He's the first officer in the history of Livonia's police department killed in the line of duty in that manner.

On Friday, his flag-draped casket was brought to Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church in Plymouth for a final goodbye surrounded by hundreds of officers from around the state, across the country and Canada.

Inside, Nehasil's sons spoke of loving and missing their father. Livonia Police Chief Robert Stevenson told them they have a police department full of dads who will always support them and their mother.

Stevenson also reminded everyone of how much Officer Nehasil liked to smile.

Outside the sounds of taps could be heard as family and friends fought back tears and mourners remembered a good friend, a cop's cop and a man who died doing what he loved.

"It is very important to come together and share in a day like this. It's very tragic the police officer loses his life in the line of duty," said U of M Police Officer Gary Veld.

"I never seen so many police officers, and you had to be in there to see it. It was really nice. It was a tragedy, but they're a strong family and hope everything will be okay for them," said Lenore Law, Nehasil's childhood friend.

On Monday, the Livonia IHOP restaurant will be giving 15-percent of its total day sales to the Larry Nehasil Memorial Fund. Guests will also be able to make donations at the restaurant in the lobby from 7:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m.

Donations can also be made at any Huntington Bank branch.

The Livonia IHOP is located at 14200 Middlebelt Road, one block north of I-96.