COBB COUNTY — Police, family and friends held a private funeral today to honor a Smyrna police officer who was killed in the line of duty.
Officer Christopher Ewing died April 20 when his patrol car was struck by a suspected drunk driver on South Cobb Drive near I-285.
The police department he served for two years honored the father and Air Force veteran on Friday with a special memorial service at Truist Park.
“Time stopped on April 20 because we lost a hero,” Smyrna Deputy Police Chief Robert Harvey said. “You will forever be loved and missed by us all.”
With blue lights on, officers from all over metro Atlanta made their way to the home of the Atlanta Braves to honor Ewing.
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“To the family, we are indebted to you for allowing us the honor of having Chris in our life, even for a breath of time,” Harvey said.
Time is a reminder that life is precious.
“There are no words to describe how much he meant to me,” said Kimbra Ewing-Beskin, Ewing’s older sister.
Holding back tears, she read a letter from Ewing’s daughter.
“Dad, I was just want to say I love you. I’m proud of you. And I miss you every day,” Ewing-Beskin read.
She described her brother as a “girl dad.”
Ewing leaves behind three daughters.
“Chris was a street cop that had the pulse of his beat. If there was a bad guy moving, he knew it and he was relentless at finding them,” Harvey said.
Ewing died serving the community where he grew up. It's one that he loved and proudly called home.
“Rest easy, little brother. I’ll take the lead from here,” Ewing-Beskin said.
For the city of Smyrna, this is the first time in 40 years an officer has died in the line of duty.
Because he was a veteran, Ewing will be laid to rest Monday at the Georgia National Cemetery.
You can watch the entire service here
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