Funeral For Fallen Limon Officer Heavily Attended

LIMON, Colo. (CBS4) - Emotions ran high at Tuesday's funeral for Officer Jay Sheridan in eastern Colorado.

Sheridan was shot on March 9 at a mobile home park in Limon when he was trying to serve a warrant to Dennis Hasty, a sex offender from Tennessee. Hasty apparently killed himself during the 4-hour standoff with police that followed.

Sheridan's funeral was held at Limon High School and it was open to the public. His wife Heather and a child were in attendance, as well as Gov. John Hickenlooper, who ordered flags lowered to honor Sheridan.

"As a husband, father, son and brother, your loss is certainly too great," Hickenlooper said. "I was in about 2 minutes supposed to be sharing the stage with (Homeland Security Secretary Janet) Napolitano … it's actually ironic. She certainly understood why I wouldn't be there. She certainly wouldn't hear of me being anywhere else but here."

At the end of the service Limon Police Chief Lynn Yowell and Sgt. Russell Lengel took the stage and played a recording of the last call for Sheridan over the radio. Heather Sheridan broke down to the recording and was consoled by family.

The streets of Limon were full of blue ribbons, flags and banners.

Others who took the podium said Sheridan was a true family man who cared deeply for his wife and his 21-month-old daughter.

Law enforcement officers from across Colorado caravanned to Limon for the funeral.

The funeral was followed by a graveside service.

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