CLAYTON COUNTY, Ga. — Officers from all over the state gathered in downtown Atlanta to make their way to the funeral.
Car after car, motorcycle after motorcycle lined up early Saturday at the orange lot outside Turner Field.
All here for one common purpose: Riverdale police Major Greg Barney.
"In our efforts today to somehow show our respect to him, his family and his city for a job that is thankless, but we are thankful we are part of this family," Chaplain Marc House with the Atlanta Police Department said.
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No matter what department they come from, officers consider this a high honor.
A little after 10 they all lit up their blue lights and pulled out in procession.
One spectator was left nearly speechless seeing officers from all over the metro and all corners of the state.
"It's an unfortunate circumstance, but to see all come together, all the police officers ... wow, absolutely amazing," neighbor Mark Carroll said.
The men and women in blue say they support each other no matter what.
And Saturday is one of those times when they honor a hero.
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"From around the country people will come here to show support for a fallen brother. It's a family ... we're a family," House said.
Channel 2's Steve Gehlbach talked to some who saw officers at visitation services Friday from as far away as New York City, Chicago and Louisville.
Gehlbach is told the hundreds of officers didn't include many who didn't make it in time or left from different staging areas.
That doesn't including dozens of cars from the Clayton County Police Department or Barney's department in Riverdale.
Barney was shot and killed while assisting Clayton County police serving a drug warrant at the Villages on the River apartment complex last week.
A crowd greeted the body of fallen Riverdale police Barney as his hearse arrived at the Riverdale Town Center Friday afternoon.
For three hours, a line stretched into the parking lot as people packed the visitation room.
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Speakers shared memories and talked about Barney's impact on the community. Law enforcement officers from across the state attended the service.
Waynesboro Police Chief Agustus Palmer told Channel 2's Matt Belanger he used to work with Barney at the Riverdale Police Department.
[READ: Wife of fallen police major thanks community at vigil]
"He was more than just a major. He was a policeman. And that means getting down and dirty when you needed to," Palmer said.
After the service, the procession passed by the department one last time as Barney's colleagues lined the streets for a final salute.
"This young man gave it all," said former Atlanta Police Chief Eldrian Bell.
Bell said Barney will be remembered as a dedicated public servant whose memory will live on through the community he served.
"It's incidents like these across America that will keep us closer together," Bell said.
"It's love, a lot of love and I'm glad Riverdale came out to show their love," said Riverdale resident Ann Mack.
Some never knew Barney personally, like Ashley Singley. She told Belanger that her children asked to come to the visitation after learning of Barney's death on the news.
"Because they understand that not all police officers are bad police officers," Singley said.
Others who waited on the side of the road were among the countless people Barney impacted for the better.
Demarcuse Thompson said he remembers Barney as a school resource officer.
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"He took me down to Foot Locker downtown and used his discount to get me shoes because I was kind of underprivileged. He was a real good dude," Thompson said.
"He was a great officer. Riverdale will miss him," Mack said.
She held several white roses as she waited. Mack told Belanger she felt it was her duty to be there.
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[READ: Officer remembers fallen major who helped after serious wreck]
"With him being lost in the line of duty, it's very important that I'm here to show my love and support," Mack said.
Earlier in the day another visitation was held in DeKalb County.
A video montage of Barney shown during the visitation highlighted what was important to him. His family, his wife and two kids, and his job, serving and protecting.
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Barney's sister-in-law, Gail Barney, composed herself enough to say the family has noticed all the positive comments about their loved one.
“We're grateful for the prayers and support, and it's just an amazing outpouring,” Gail Barney said.
Barney was laid to rest Saturday at noon at the St. Philip African Methodist Episcopal Church at 240 Candler Road in Atlanta.
WSBTV
