Family, friends and law enforcement gathered Monday morning to honor an SMU officer killed in flash floods earlier this year.
Southern Methodist University police officer Mark McCullers, a U.S. Marine, was buried with full military honors at the Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery Monday morning.
"He's home. I'm blessed and I'm thankful that they never gave up and all the searchers found -- stayed so dedicated and that we brought him home. That's the most important thing because he deserves to be home," said Tiffany McCullers, the officer's widow.
On July 5, McCullers was working an off-duty private security job at a construction site along Turtle Creek in Dallas when he notified Highland Park police that water had submerged the hood of his car.
Surveillance video recorded McCullers' vehicle being swept into the creek at the Fitzhugh Avenue bridge. McCullers was presumed to have drowned before his body was recovered nearly two months later.
"Officer McCullers was a beloved member of our University community, a skilled and dedicated officer and a proud U.S. Marine veteran," said R. Gerald Turner, SMU President, in a statement.
"We thank the many heroic men and women who searched in difficult conditions for Officer McCullers, including members of the Highland Park Department of Public Safety, Dallas Fire-Rescue, the Dallas Police Department, University Park Police Department and Texas Parks & Wildlife," Turner said.
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A memorial service for McCullers was held July 28 at SMU's McFarlin Auditorium. The McCullers family has established the Officer Mark McCullers Memorial Account.
Donations may be made at any Wells Fargo bank to account number 9976436577, or online on PayPal.
