The family of a slain Virginia State trooper is expressing thanks for the love and support they have received over the past week.
Trooper Chad Dermyer was killed last Thursday afternoon after he was shot multiple times by an Illinois man he approached at a Greyhound bus station in Richmond while conducting a counterterrorism training exercise.
The man who shot Dermyer, an ex-convict identified as James Brown III, was shot dead afterwards by two other troopers.
Dermyer left behind a wife and two children. In an open letter posted on Virginia State Police's Facebook page, the family wrote in part:
"That is why we want to acknowledge and express our deep appreciation for the tremendous compassion and patriotism displayed by the community this past week, exactly mirroring those traits that made Chad exceptional. Our family felt the warm embrace, compassion and respect for him as we grieved his death.
"The outpouring of affection was evident not simply in the streets lined with people, but also in the everyday stories that people shared with us--kind words of how Chad lent a hand, told a joke, or how he simply showed up. Everyday. They served as validation to us and to his legacy. It has been our honor to stand with you and salute Chad."
The 37-year-old officer joined Virginia State Police after graduating from the academy in 2014. He previously served as an officer with the Newport News Police Department and the Jackson Police Department in Michigan. The Michigan native also served four years in the Marine Corps.
Trooper Dermyer's funeral was held on Tuesday at Liberty Baptist Church in Hampton. He was laid to rest in Gloucester County.
An Open Thank You Letter From the Dermyer Family...The family of Trooper Chad P. Dermyer would like to extend their...