Aiken, SC (WLTX) - More than 1,000 people attended the funeral for Master Corporal Sandra Rogers, the first female officer killed in the line of duty in South Carolina.
"It's tough. We'll get through it. Not today, not tomorrow but soon," said Scott Gay of the Richmond County, Georgia Sheriff's Office. "Time heals a lot and as a brotherhood we come together and support each other especially in a time of need. This is one example of that. You can look around and see the law enforcement from all over the country paying their respect to a fallen sister."
Rogers worked for the Aiken Department of Public Safety for 28 years.
"It's very important to the community to show that people outside of the community care," said Patriot Guard Rider Joe Padgett. "We've got people here today from Charleston, from Taylors, from Greenville, Columbia, some from Florence, and all over the state."
Joshua Tremaine Jones shot Rogers when she responded to a suspicious activity call. He's charged with murder. Jones is also charged with killing his ex-girlfriend Cayce Vice before shooting Rogers.
"The mood's always somber anytime we have a mission like this," said Padgett. "It's just to show honor and respect for the fallen officer in this case."