LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A Hodgenville police officer who was killed in the line of duty last Sunday was laid to rest Friday afternoon.
Hundreds of mourners lined the funeral route and paid final respects at the Hodgenville Civic Center.
Taulbee's body was placed inside the civic center -- a former church -- on Thursday. The roads near the center were closed and people lined the streets with American flags to pay their respects. The Kentucky Patriot Guard Riders converged on the center along with representatives from various police agencies.
Sometime during the early morning hours of Sept. 16, Taulbee slammed into an embankment and died after his police cruiser flipped and he was ejected from the car. He had been pursuing Jason Avis on State Route 210.
Police say Avis had taken a woman's car after a domestic disturbance, and Taulbee spotted him in the car and started chasing him. Police were about to notify Taulbee to break off the chase just before he crashed.
Avis surrendered later in the day.
Although Taulbee had been on the Hodgenville police force for just over a year, we're told he made quite an impact.
"Every officer recognizes that, but for the grace of God, there go I," said Eric Johnson with Supporting Heroes. "It could have been any one of them. It's a dangerous business, and they've had many close calls in their career. So they're showing up in force from across the Commonwealth and beyond ... to come here and pay their respects to him and to honor his service and sacrifice."
Avis is charged with fleeing and evading and wanton endangerment, but could face more charges. The investigation is expected to take at least two weeks.
Taulbee leaves behind a wife and two children.
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