Thousands honor slain San Diego police officer, Marine 2 tour Iraq veteran

Thousands honor slain San Diego police officer
by Associated Press

Police Chief William Lansdowne stops in front of the casket of Jeremy Henwood, Friday, Aug. 12, 2011 in San Diego. Jeremy Henwood went to Iraq twice as a Marine and returned in February from a combat tour in one of Afghanistan's most troubled regions. But it was at home in San Diego where he was killed, shot in the head in an unprovoked attack during routine police patrol. (AP Photo/ Nelvin C. Cepeda, Pool)

SAN DIEGO — A Marine combat veteran who was shot in the head while patrolling San Diego streets as a police officer was remembered Friday as a generous and upbeat leader whose dedication to public service inspired those around him.

Jeremy Henwood, 36, was posthumously promoted to major in the Marine Corps Reserve at a funeral service attended by more than 3,000 mourners, including California Gov. Jerry Brown.

Henwood died six months after returning from Afghanistan when a motorist flashed his headlights behind his patrol car, as if to seek help, then pulled alongside and shot him.

Police Chief William Lansdowne said a surveillance video taken at a fast-food restaurant two blocks from the shooting showed the officer had just bought a meal for a 10-year-old boy who was watching him in awe.

"You see this little boy with a giant grin, saying 'thank you, thank you, officer,'" Lansdowne said.

Robbie Henwood Jr. told mourners that he tried in vain to get his older brother to follow his footsteps into federal law enforcement, which promised better pay and an opportunity to move around. He didn't understand why Jeremy — at the time a Marine with two tours in Iraq on his resume and a chest full of military medals — wanted to be a rookie police officer.
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