PHOTOS: Fallen Austin officer laid to rest
Credit: Quita Culpepper / KVUE News
AUSTIN -- Hundreds of uniformed APD officers are preparing for the Austin memorial service to honor fallen officer Jaime Padron. It's an event that takes hours of planning. Organizers want everything to fall into place perfectly.
"It's exhausting preparing for something of this magnitude," said Sgt. Tim Kresta.
Sgt. Kresta formally notified Padron's family and daughters about his death a few hours after it happened on Friday April 6.
"That was a 36-hour day that day. It takes a toll on you but as police officers we like to fix things. What happens when an officer is killed, is a sense you can't do anything, you feel helpless," said Kresta.
He's urging everyone in Austin to avoid the memorial's routes this afternoon as traffic will be congested. He says anyone who wishes to pay their respects to Officer Padron is welcome to come.
"This is always a time where we do pull together, we don't have a choice. Everything still goes on. The city of Austin still deserves a well-functioning police department. We still have to protect and serve our community. There's been an outpouring of support and we are beyond thankful," said Kresta.
Highway enforcement command will escort Padron's casket to his final resting place in San Angelo. A funeral is planned there for Friday. That's where Padron is from and where most of his remaining family lives.
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