BROWNSBURG, Ind. -- Boone County Sheriff Mike Nielsen has been brought to tears coming to grips with the death of one of his deputies, Jacob Pickett.
But his personal outreach over the last week has been special, and his words at Deputy Pickett's funeral were no different.
The Sheriff honored Deputy Pickett with words about the kind of man he was, telling a short story about when he was asked if he needed anything before going out on a traffic stop, he said "It's a beautiful day, what more do I need?"
Sheriff Nielsen then read a poem: "Killed in the Line of Duty".
Below is that poem. You can watch Sheriff Nielsen's full remarks in the video above.
A poem: "Killed in the Line of Duty"
They always knew they could be
They never thought they would be
God knows none ever should be
Killed in the line of duty
Some made their final stand
Their profession’s last demand
They fell with gun in hand
Killed in the line duty
A routine to many a cop
Some made one final stop
Someone’s Mom or Pop
Killed in the line of duty
Others answered one last call
To a robbery, theft, or brawl
They arrived only to fall
Killed in the line of duty
Some were dressed in brown, some blue
Some in gray, and plain clothes too
Some were dressed like me and you
Killed in the line of duty
May their souls be forever blessed
For they who are now at rest
Died doing what they loved best
Killed in the line of duty
Forgotten they never could be
Forgotten they never should be
Thought they never would be
Killed in the line of duty
God bless all those who fell
They are missed and loved so well
Let us pray and toll the bell
Those killed in the line of duty
Amen
READ MORE | Deputy Pickett's K-9 will live with his surviving family, when the time is right | PHOTOS: Deputy Pickett's funeral | PHOTOS: Deputy Pickett's 52-mile procession | Sheriff Nielsen arrests man accused of fatally shooting Deputy Pickett | What led to the fatal shooting of Deputy Jacob Pickett? | Deputy Pickett's cruiser memorialized in front of Boone County Sheriff's Office | Sheriff pens heartfelt letter to the community | Former addict says Deputy Pickett saved his life | Fallen deputy's K-9 will live with his family when the time is right