Montgomery Police Department
The Memorial Service for Montgomery Police Officer Keith Houts was held yesterday.
After the service, a procession brought Officer Houts to Birmingham for burial. The line of Police Officers stretched for 4 miles.
I know Officer Houts' family had to be comforted by the overwhelming show of love and support.
God rest his soul. He will be missed.
From AP:
Hundreds of people attended the memorial service Wednesday morning for slain Montgomery police officer Keith Houts at Frazer United Methodist Church.
The 30-year-old officer was shot in the head during a traffic stop last Thursday. He died of his injuries Saturday night at Jackson Hospital
The service started shortly after 10 a.m. The mourners included dozens of law enforcement officers from across the state. Houts' wife, Ashley sat in the front row between her parents. Keith Houts' parents sat next to them.
Speakers included Montgomery Mayor Bobby Bright, Police Maj. Kevin Murphy, Police Chaplain Eric Jackson, and the Rev. John Schmidt, who delivered the eulogy.
"We are here to honor a man who was cut down in his prime by a gunman," Schmidt said. "It would be easy for us to give in to the anger and grief of the circumstances. I do not come to you with a message of anger, bitterness or anger. I come to you with a message of hope."
Schmidt added that Houts' sacrifice will be commended by God.
Murphy, of the police department, said Houts was an "outstanding" officer.
"Thank you for sharing Keith with all of us," he said. "His memory will never be extinguished from our lives. The seasons of his life will remain with us forever."
Jackson, the police chaplain, said the Montgomery Police Department was grieving and fighting to hold back tears.
"The Montgomery Police Department is not weaker because of Keith's death, we are stronger than ever before because of his life," he said.
Following the service, a procession took Houts' body to Birmingham for a private family funeral.
Dozens of Montgomery residents lined up on bridges over Interstate 65 to pay tribute to Houts as the motorcade of police cars and motorcycles passed.
In addition to being a police officer, Houts was also a reservist who served in Iraq.
About 50 airmen from Maxwell-Gunter Air Force Base stood on the Bell Street overpass and along the shoulder of I-65 during the procession.
The man suspected of shooting Houts, 32-year-old Mario Woodward of Montgomery, is being held without bond in the Montgomery County Jail on a capital murder charge after being captured Friday in Georgia.
These are just a few of the pictures I took from the Mt Olive Rd. exit ramp. There's just no way I can post a picture of all 400 vehicles in one story but I will post more in the near future.
A special thank you to the Gardendale and Fultondale Firefighters who let me stand with them.
This was just one of the Garrison Flags along the route from Montgomery to Birmingham...
Fultondale Fire Department : Ladder 1...
Gardendale, Fultondale and Mt. Olive Fire Departments...
Fultondale Fire Department...
There were approximately 30 Motorscouts leading the motorcade...
Montgomery Police Department Motorscout remembers...
Officer Keith Houts : 1775...
Montgomery Police Department : 3555...
Montgomery Police Department : 3556...
Montgomery Police Department : 3570...
Montgomery Police Department : 3474 / 3475...
Montgomery Police Department : 3722 / 3724...
Patriot Guard Riders...
Patriot Guard Riders...
Alabama Capitol Police...
Alabama State Troopers : N154SA...
Alabama State Troopers : Motorscouts...
Alabama State Trooper...
Alabama Revenue Enforcement...
Bessemer Police Department : K-9...
Calera Police Department : 57...
Citronelle Police Department : 4453...
Elba Police Department : 7...
Elmore County Sheriff's Office...
Gulf Shores Police Department : 48...
Hanceville Police Department...
Helena Police Department...
Homewood Police Department : 23...
Hoover Police Department : 939...
Hueytown Police Department...
Irondale Police Department : 145...
Jefferson County Sheriff's Office...
Louisville, KY Police Department...
Madison Police Department : 157...
Midfield Police Department : 559...
Millbrook Police Department : 15...
Montgomery County Sheriff's Office : Motorscouts...
Montgomery County Sheriff's Office : Motorscouts...
Montgomery County Sheriff's Office...
Montgomery County Sheriff's Office : K-9...
Montgomery Fire Department...
Montgomery Fire Department : District Chief...
Mountain Brook Police Department : 42...
Pleasant Grove Police Department : 306...
Pike County Sheriff's Office...
Shelby County Sheriff's Office : 2603...
Shelby County Sheriff's Office : K-9 2302...
Tallassee Police Department : 335...
Troy Police Department : 44...
United States Air Force Police...
United States Department of Homeland Security...
Vestavia Hills Police Department : Motorscout...
Fultondale Fire Department : Ladder 1...
