It's not unheard-of for a police officer to die while doing their dangerous job. But it's rare for such a loss to be mourned by an entire community -- as it was this week in Seattle.
Sheriff's Deputy Steve Cox, later described by area residents as a "superman," was shot in the head while trying to apprehend a murder suspect in south Seattle last week. Cox, who had given up a law career in order to fight crime as a street cop, apparently touched thousands of residents of the White Center neighhborhood. He spent his off hours helping to build the community, became a stabilizing force to residents and shopkeepers, and was even elected to lead the neighborhood council.
After a long procession through the area Friday morning, about 2,400 turned out for the funeral. Representatives from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police came from British Columbia, along with counterparts from Oregon and Idaho. It makes you wonder who are the other heroes in our midst who don't get recognition until they're gone.