WILLIAMSON, W.Va. — There were tears on the “Thin blue line” Wednesday in Mingo County as a community said goodbye to West Virginia State Police Sgt. Cory Maynard.
Maynard, 37, was killed in an ambush-style shooting last Friday. Several hundred police officers from more than a half-dozen states traveled to Mingo Central High School to pay their last respects at Maynard’s funeral.
Leading the memorial service was Maj. Jim Mitchell, State Police chief of staff.
“Sgt. Cory Maynard wasn’t just an excellent trooper, but a great human being,” Mitchell told the large crowd.
Amazed, but not surprised, Mitchell said he couldn’t get over how many people came to show their support and love to the Maynard family and the state police. Most of them had never met Sgt. Maynard, but that didn’t matter to them.
Maynard wanted to be close to his family. That’s what Interim State Police Superintendent Jack Chambers said, one of a few who spoke during the service. Maynard was originally posted in Martinsburg before being transferred back closer to home.
Chambers said Maynard was a hero.
“We lost a member of our ranks that can never be replaced,” Chambers said.
Gov. Jim Justice also spoke. He said wasn’t hard for anyone to notice the outpouring of support displayed by those who came near and far to honor the fallen trooper.
“If you’ll just look around, you’ll see the very fabric of just who we are,” the governor said.
People from just down the road in Mingo County neighborhoods, or some from multiple states away, came to pay their respects.
A Missouri State Highway Patrol Officer said he drove more than nine hours. Luke Benke said Maynard was a law enforcement brother.
“I got a call a couple days right before I left, I was asked if I wanted to come down here and I said ‘absolutely,'” Benke told MetroNews. “I think it’s good to show the family that even though we work states apart, we’re all in this together.”
It’s a harsh reality that those in law enforcement face every day.
Kanawha County Chief Deputy Joe Crawford said Maynard was a respected officer who rose quickly through the ranks of the state police. He believed Maynard would’ve gone on to even higher ranks had this senseless tragedy not happen.
“I think he was a rock star,” Crawford said about Maynard. “There’s no doubt in my mind he would’ve went a lot farther.”
For the many that came from across the state of West Virginia, and from other states including Georgia, Iowa, Wisconsin, and the patrolman from Missouri, Crawford said it’s a huge sign of respect.
“To respect and honor him, Sgt. Maynard deserves that,” said Crawford.
Procession silences large crowd
Several hundred residents of Williamson and nearby Belfry, Kentucky lined the streets of downtown Williamson to watch the procession snake its way along the border between West Virginia and Kentucky.
Procession is over—lasted about a half hour pic.twitter.com/C0mN5veYYO
— Jeff Jenkins (@JeffJenkinsMN) June 7, 2023
The procession, which included approximately 200 West Virginia State Police cruisers. lasted about 30 minutes. Almost every county in West Virginia was represented and many municipal police departments. Police from Missouri, Wisconsin, Virginia, Pennsylvania, New York, Florida, Kentucky and others were on hand.
Williamson resident Catherine Scott had her three young children, one of them in a stroller, to watch Maynard’s body and dozens of police cruisers roll by. She didn’t personally know him, but said she only heard good things about him.
“All around he was a good guy and very respectful.” Scott told MetroNews. “We wanted to come out here and show our support for him and his family. I think it’s important that they (her children) learn that.” Scott said.
Belfry, Kentucky resident Sheila Schwerin was holding a sign that another woman had given her. To her, it doesn’t matter where you’re from, respect should be given to public servants like Sgt. Maynard.
“It doesn’t matter Pike (County) or Mingo, we still support all law enforcement,” said Schwerin.
Danessa Lockard, of Williamson, didn’t know Sgt. Maynard either, but that didn’t matter to her. She watched the procession roll through Williamson as an unusual silence filled the air.
“It was silent but it was loving at the same time. In the silence you can feel the support and care, but you can also feel the sadness,” said Lockard after waving a tiny American flag for the entire procession.
Maynard, a 15-year veteran of the state police, leaves behind his wife Rachel and two children, 13 and 9.
The man charged in Maynard’s murder, Timothy Kennedy, 29, of Beech Creek, is being held without bail in the Southwestern Regional Jail. He is scheduled to appear for a preliminary hearing in Mingo County Magistrate Court Thursday morning.
MetroNews reporter Jarett Lewis contributed to this story.