Friday evening marked the beginning of a sad goodbye to Dallas Police Officer Darron Burks, who was murdered a week ago. Family and friends attended a visitation at Watermark Church in Dallas to honor the fallen officer.
Burks’s squad car sat in front of the church, with a black bow on the front, a portrait, and flowers beside it. It was a somber day, and people in attendance said it felt surreal.
People came from all over North Texas and beyond to pay their respects. Burks was 46 years old when he was shot and killed in the line of duty last week in Oak Cliff.
Funeral services were held at Watermark Church in Dallas on Saturday, Sept. 7, for the fallen officer.
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Before the event, Dallas Police Chief Eddie Garcia spoke to the media about the community's support.
"It is an incredible sight to see. The support," Garcia said. "It means a lot to us. It means a lot to my men and women."
"Today reminds of the sacrifice and it reminds why we all raised our right hands to answer our calling," Garcia said during the presser.
There have been countless stories about him and how he served his community. Burks was raised in Dallas, a former teacher, and a volunteer with Boy Scouts of America before becoming a police officer, which friends told NBC 5 he said was a calling. He had been a Dallas police officer for less than a year, but his impact can be felt.
His obituary said he leaves behind a legacy of courage and service. People who knew him best told us this loss is felt across the community.
“You wish it were a dream and you feel like you’re in this state of disconnect in a way, but you’re having to face it like this is real,” said college classmate Jenee Boston.
“You could see Christ in his life. His mother planted a seed in him at a young age and this is the fruit it produced. It’s real, but the way he left, it just seems unreal, and I’m still trying to wrap my head around it,” said Carrie Smith, a longtime family friend.
Tributes have poured in over the past week honoring Burks's life in many ways – who he was as an educator, a fitness fanatic, a graduate of Paul Quinn College, a member of Omega Psi Phi fraternity, and a police officer. Mostly, those who knew him said he was a good and decent person.
