People line Boulder streets to honor slain police officer
Hundreds lined the streets as a hearse transferred his body from the coroner’s office to a funeral home in Aurora. Many placed their hands over their hearts and some held American flags. Many public safety vehicles joined the procession.
Also on Wednesday, Talley’s patrol vehicle was parked in front of the police station. It quickly became a shrine as mourners stopped by throughout the day to pile flowers, wreaths, cards and other tokens around and on top of it.
John Sullivan said he was thinking of Talley’s wife and seven children.
“I’m wondering how his family will make it without him for the rest of their lives and I’m wishing them the strength to cope,” Sullivan said.
“Because when you lose somebody suddenly, there may be some things you didn’t get to say that you want to say, and some things you didn’t get to do that you wanted to do.”
Deborah Greene said she was thinking of Talley’s family.
“How many more officers need to face down a madman with a gun?” Deborah Greene said. “These lawmakers, they don’t do anything. I know it’s the job of a police officer to run into danger, but shouldn’t we make the world safer for them?”
Mayor Sam Weaver said he talked on the phone Wednesday with President Joe Biden and they discussed Talley.
“He started off by expressing his condolences and sympathy for the victims. He particularly called out Officer Talley for his heroism,” Weaver told CNN’s Pamela Brown. “He asked what he could do for Boulder. I told him, that as far as what we’re needing to take care of in the next few days and weeks, we’ve probably got that handled here in the city and the region.”
Members of the Boulder Police Department line road as vehicles escort Talley to a funeral home.
Other vigils will be held Wednesday throughout Boulder. Law enforcement officers held a rolling vigil Monday night when Talley’s body was moved from the grocery store.
Talley had been a member of the Boulder police force since 2010, Chief Maris Herold said. He was the first Boulder police officer to be killed in the line of duty since 1994.
Herold said Talley was “willing to die to protect others” and embodied “everything policing deserves and needs.”
