VANCOUVER, Wash. (KOIN) — More than 400 emergency vehicles formed a procession from a Vancouver church to the memorial service in a show of solidarity and support for Vancouver Officer Donald Sahota, who was shot to death January 29 while off-duty at his home.
The memorial service at the ilani Casino Resort was packed with mourners, many of them uniformed law enforcement officers from around the entire Pacific Northwest.
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee came to the area. The Vancouver police chief said the governor met privately with the Sahota family.
Family and friends spoke about the 52-year-old husband and father’s love of the outdoors commitment to law enforcement and his selflessness.
His daughter, Kylie Dacunha, said he taught her to be “a strong, honest woman, telling me to just get right back up on that horse.”
“Above all, Don was a family man. That was clear to anyone who knew him,” friend James Reinhardt said. “His motivation all revolved around his family and their well being.”
The procession
People stood on the roadside and overpasses to pay their respects as the procession went by.
Kelly Thomas was among those who gathered in Salmon Creek at the NE 139th overpass.
“It is very emotional,” she said. “It breaks my heart, the story.”
Thomas said she wanted to come out to show her respect for all the first responders. “This last two years has been hard on everybody, especially for them.”
Jackie Purvis felt the same way.
“It’s been a really tough few years and they give everything and their families sacrifice so much,” Purvis said. “So I’m very proud of them and thankful for them.”
“I just appreciate the hard work of the officers and just the way they go above and beyond on a daily basis,” said another supporter, Sharon McShea. “I am thankful for the community of officers that we have here that are very dedicated to their job and they work hard for our community every day.”
Law enforcement from all over Washington and Oregon drove in the procession. Several different fire departments, including Clark County Fire District 6, also took part. Firefighters saluted as the procession passed and said it’s been tough to see so many of these funeral procession in the past few years.
“We work really closely with law enforcement. We depend heavily on them and we want them to know that we appreciate everything they do,” said Dave Schmitke with Clark County Fire District 6. “So anyway we can show respect, especially for the officer who died, we’re going to take that opportunity.”
Donations
Anyone wishing to make a donation to the Sahota family can do so through the official account — the Officer Sahota Memorial Fund at Chase Bank.
Any cards sent to the Sahota family will be forwarded to them. The mailing address is:
Vancouver Police Headquarters
605 E Evergreen Boulevard
Vancouver, Washington 98661