ATLANTA (AP) — Hundreds of police officers turned out Monday for the funeral of an Atlanta police officer who died on duty after being struck by a car driven by an alleged drunk driver.
Atlanta Police Chief George Turner thanked the officers for coming out Monday to honor Senior Police Officer Gail D. Thomas. Many participated in a motorcade that included more than 100 motorcycles.
The impressive show of support "just shows the large family of law enforcement and that when one falls, all of us are affected," he said. "It's all part of the opportunity for us to kind of heal through the process and grieve through it and allow that process to be completed."
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports (http://bit.ly/w8Ewe5 ) that Thomas, a 20-year veteran of the department, was the second female Atlanta officer killed in the line of duty.
The 46-year-old was killed Jan. 24 when she was struck by a car as she got out of her patrol car to help investigate a wreck on an interstate ramp. Police have charged Chastity Jones, 22, of Stone Mountain with first-degree homicide by vehicle, driving under the influence and reckless driving.
A visitation for Thomas was held Sunday. Her funeral was Monday morning, followed by burial at Mount Harmony Cemetery on Veterans Memorial Parkway in Mableton.
Humble Heroes and Fox Bros. Bar-B-Q plan to hold a fundraiser Wednesday to benefit Thomas' family. Thomas' 22-year-old daughter Jasmine is a student at Georgia Southern University.
Police said Saturday that donations to a trust for Thomas' daughter can be made at Bank of America in the name of "Senior Police Officer Gail Thomas' Daughter's Trust."
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Information from: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, http://www.ajc.com