AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — Members of law enforcement agencies from across the nation joined friends and family of Trooper Timothy O'Neill to honor the fallen Michigan State Police motorcycle officer.
O'Neill died in a crash last week while on duty near Rockford. He was due to be married Oct. 7.
"It's a huge loss for our agency," said MSP Sgt. Duane Zook. "It definitely saddens our agency. Everyone's taken it very heavy."
O'Neill's family released a statement Tuesday ahead of his funeral in Auburn Hills, offering thanks for an outpouring of support from around the country. It specifically thanks state police, the Michigan State Police Troopers Association and the Athens-Clarke County Police Department in Georgia for the "overwhelming care they have shown all of us."
The statement says it's "been a very difficult time for our family, but knowing we have care and compassion from people around the nation brings us comfort in our pain."
A celebration of life for O'Neill will be held in West Michigan on Friday, Sept. 29. The event will be at the Fraternal Order of Police Gerald R. Ford Metro Lodge #97 at 1753 Alpine Avenue NW. The event will include music, food and entertainment. The event will also raise money to help off-set costs associated with his wedding which was scheduled for October 7.
The Associated Press contributed to this report
