Richmond police officer Daniel Ellis has been laid to rest. Thousands gathered Wednesday to pay tribute to the 33 year old who died last Friday after being shot while investigating a robbery. Support for Ellis reached far beyond the central Kentucky community.
An estimated 5,000 people sat inside EKU’s Alumni Coliseum as Richmond police officer Casey Scott opened the ceremony with a rendition of ‘My Old Kentucky Home.’
Daniel Ellis and his wife Katie both graduated from Eastern Kentucky University. President Michael Benson welcomed law enforcement and safety personnel from Kentucky and beyond who gathered to remember and celebrate the life of Ellis. “And Katie I can tell you from this vantage point, this is quite a site," Benson said. "You’re surrounded by people who love you and your family.”
Reflections during the service came from Daniel Ellis’ chief, Larry Brock. “We have lost our Daniel, Richmond police officer badge number 457," said Brock. "Today we honor his memory and the way he lived.”
Chief Brock said when Ellis came onto the force seven years ago, department leaders thought he could be a good officer. Brock said Ellis turned out to be a great officer; a fact he said was evident in more than how Ellis fought crime. “How he helped stranded motorists, how he gave an elderly woman rides home from work at night because she was afraid to walk, how he treated a person suffering from mental health issues as a human being rather than a police problem,” added Brock.
Hannah Ellis, Daniel’s cousin, took a deep breath before singing ‘How Great Thou Art.’ She was followed by Pastor Phillip Shumake who spoke about the close knit profession of police work. “Among us are those who have worked during long shifts and hard days,” said Shumake. “They have formed bonds of trust and comradery that cannot be broken.”
Cables holding half staffed flags beat against their poles as helicopters hovered overhead. Fred Ramono, an officer from Ohio with 30 years of experienced said this is what those in law enforcement do, honor brothers and sisters. “A brother passed away," Ramono said. "It’s one of our brothers so, we come here to honor him.”
“That speaks quite a bit of the profession doesn’t it?” asked WEKU’s Stu Johnson.
“I think so; I think it’s still a brotherhood,” replied Ramono.
As Ellis’ body was placed in the hearse, people gathered all around the coliseum. Just across the street Paula Daily looked on. “I didn’t know him personally, but I’ve heard so many awesome stories to support his family and the police department,” said Daily.
‘Have you been surprised at how much support there’s been?’ asked Johnson.
“Yes," Daily said. "I mean, it’s awesome. Touching. Very emotional all day, well, all week over this.”
Daily was there on the street corner during the funeral and then more than an hour later when the long procession of police cars, well over a hundred, began the trip to take Ellis to his final resting place in Adair County. In addition to his wife, Katie, Ellis is also survived by their son, Luke.
