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Sgt. Cory Wride laid to rest among outpouring of support

Posted at 10:43 AM, Feb 05, 2014
and last updated 2014-02-06 00:29:18-05

SPANISH FORK, Utah -- A sergeant with the Utah County Sheriff's Office was laid to rest Wednesday after he was shot to death while on duty last week.

Funeral services were held for Sgt. Cory Wride were held Wednesday at the UCCU Events Center at Utah Valley University in Orem.

A large funeral procession, including hundreds of law enforcement vehicles, then traveled to Spanish Fork Cemetery.

Sheriff Alden Orme of Juab County was one who attended, and he spoke about the outpouring of support from the community.

"For the citizens to be lined up in that procession was quite overwhelming," he said.

One of those citizens was Katrina Ellis of Utah County.

"Just to let the family know there's people out here who care for them and we're praying for them," she said of her reasons for attending.

Upon arrival at the cemetery, Wride's casket was transferred from the hearse to a horse-drawn carriage, which took the casket to the grave site.

Graveside ceremonies included a performance of "Taps," a flyover and a "last call" ceremony.

For the last call ceremony, a dispatcher attempted to make radio contact with Wride, followed by a few comments about the fallen officer and a dismissal from duty.

A portion of the last call: "Sgt. Cory Wride, we thank you for your dedication and service to the citizens of Utah County, the Utah County Sheriff's Office, the state of Utah and the United States of America."

Lt. Cory Slaymaker of the Spanish Fork Police Department spoke about the loss.

"To lose somebody as special as Cory is heartbreaking to everybody," he said.

Wride, who worked for the Utah County Sheriff's Office for nearly 20 years, died of gunshot wounds on January 30.

Downloads:
Click here to download a copy of the funeral program.
Click here to download a map of the procession route.