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April 19. 2012 3:35PM

Thousands attend funeral procession for fallen chief


Manchester Police Chief David Mara shakes hands with Officer Dan Doherty after he arrived at the funeral of Greenland Police Chief Michael Maloney. Doherty was shot last month but was recently released from the hospital and attended the funeral in a wheelchair. 
Linked articles:
Voices crack as speakers pay tribute to Maloney's life and his valor under fire
AG Holder among speakers at chief's service
Classmates, friends, family reunite at chief's wake


HAMPTON – Newly sworn-in Greenland Police Chief Tara Laurent carried his hat. Sgt. Dawn Sawyer held his helmet.

The two were composed as they marched down Route 1 Thursday, surrounded by more than 5,000 police officers and thousands more who lined the street holding flags, signs, ribbons, and flowers for slain police Chief Michael Maloney.

The funeral procession began promptly at 10:30 a.m. from the area of Remick & Gendron Funeral Home, where the body of the fallen chief killed in the line of duty exactly one week ago left in a hearse surrounded by the Greenland police officers who must carry on without him.

As law enforcement officers from across New Hampshire, New England and the nation prepared to line up for the procession, wounded Manchester police Officer Dan Doherty arrived and was helped into his wheelchair by fellow officers.

Doherty was shot multiple times on March 21 by accused shooter Myles Webster. He survived and was recently released from the hospital.

“If I had to crawl I'd be here,” Doherty said. “There was no question about me being here. It's uncomfortable, but I'm here.”

Laura Briggs, the wife of fallen Manchester police Officer Michael Briggs, was also in attendance. Briggs was shot and killed in 2006.

Doherty led the more than 60 Manchester police officers who joined the procession, along with others who rode police motorcycles and marched with the Color Guard.

“Obviously my heart and prayers are with the families of the victims,” said Doherty, who visited the bedsides of two of the officers wounded in last week's shooting — Newmarket Detective Scott Kukesh, 33, and Rochester Detective Jeremiah Murphy, 34.

Maloney suffered a fatal gunshot wound to the head when shooter Cullen Mutrie opened fire from his house. Kukesh and Murphy were among the four officers assigned to the Attorney General's Drug Task Force who were shot when they showed up at his home to serve a search warrant in a drug case.

Dover Detective Gregory Turner, 32, and University of New Hampshire Detective Eric Kulberg, 31, suffered non-fatal gunshot wounds.

Maloney's funeral began around noon in an athletic field at Winnacunnet High School, where he attended school and played football.

His flag-draped coffin was carried onto the field around 12:30 p.m., with Laurent, the new chief, following behind.

Gov. John Lynch, Attorney General Michael Delaney, other members of state agencies, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, and numerous state and national political leaders joined the thousands of mourners in attendance.

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