LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Residents across Louisville came out Saturday morning to begin paying their respects to fallen LMPD Detective Deidre Mengedoht.
A procession began in south Louisville and carried the officer's casket to the Resthaven Funeral Home.
IMAGES | Procession held for fallen LMPD Det. Deidre Mengedoht
As the casket made its way to the funeral home, there was a stop along the way at LMPD's Second Division where Mengedoht worked as a detective.
"It's wonderful to be in the blue family, and it's hard to be in the blue family," said Vicki Yates, who watched the procession and whose daughter and son-in-law are LMPD officers. "You don't want the call in the middle of the night, but I'm so proud of them for what they do."
She spent over seven years as a Louisville Metro Police officer.
Mengedoht died in the line of duty on Christmas Eve when an MSD truck driven by Roger Burdette crashed into the back of her police cruiser on Interstate 64. He is charged with murder and DUI.
The Saturday morning procession also gave Gill Stotts the chance to honor his granddaughter. When the hearse stopped near him, he tearfully touched it.
"She was a pretty girl on the outside, and she was very pretty on the inside," he said afterward. "She done something that my wife couldn't do in 60 years to me. She took me out to Southeast Christian and had me baptized, and she was working for God, and He had to take her in such a violent way. That's why it's so hard."
Though the pain is immense, he said he's eternally grateful to both LMPD and the community for their support.
Mengedoht, a 32-year-old Eastern High School and University of Louisville graduate, leaves behind a 9-year-old son.
A public visitation is scheduled for 2 to 8 p.m. on Sunday at Arch L. Heady at Resthaven 4400 Bardstown Road.
Mengedoht's funeral will take place at 11 a.m. on Monday at Southeast Christian Church on Blankenbaker Parkway.
Burial will immediately follow the funeral at Hebron Cemetery in Bullitt County at the intersection of Highway 61 and East Hebron Lane.
LMPD said public parking for the visitation will be at the Eastland Shopping Center located at the corner of Bardstown Road and Watterson Trail. Shuttles will be provided by LMPD from the shopping center to the funeral home.
The public is asked not to park at Resthaven, which will be reserved for family.
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