OWENSVILLE, Mo.–Hundreds of people packed the gymnasium at the Owensville High School Sunday to bid a final farewell to Hermann Police Det. Sgt. Mason Griffith.
A procession of hundreds of cars, including dozens of police cruisers, made their way along the procession route to Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery in Rosebud, Mo., Griffith's hometown. Hundreds of other mourners lined the route to show their support.
Griffith died following an altercation at the Casey’s General Store in Hermann earlier this month. Kenneth Lee Simpson has been charged with Griffith’s murder and also the shooting of Officer Adam Sullentrup, who is still recovering from the incident.
He was also the police chief of Rosebud and wanted to be an officer since the age of 12. The governor ordered flags be lowered to half staff Sunday in Gasconade County to honor Griffith.
Griffith leaves behind a wife, and two sons. His 10-year-old son wore a police uniform and helped carry his father’s casket.
Law enforcement from across Missouri and the U.S. took part in the funeral Sunday. Patches from these departments were collected and now an effort is underway to collect more. The patches will go to Mason’s son Karson.
Mason loved to collect patches from different departments and he shared that passion with his son, according to the City of Hermann Facebook page. The city is looking to collect patches from every state in the U.S., every county in Missouri, and every first responder department in Gasconade County. You can learn more about this effort here.