WAYNE COUNTY, N.C. — Sgt. Matthew Fishman was laid to rest on Tuesday in Wayne County. He died last week after he was shot while serving involuntary commitment papers in Dudley.

What You Need To Know

  • A celebration of life, procession and funeral were held for Sgt. Matthew Fishman on Tuesday

  • Fishman was fatally shot last week while serving papers in Dudley

  • Hundreds of cars joined Tuesday’s procession to honor Fishman

There was a line of cars as far as the eye could see during Tuesday’s procession, and many of them were driven by law enforcement as departments from all across the state showed up to honor Fishman. It would be an understatement to say there was an outpouring of support for the 38-year-old.

"We’re paying honor and tribute to Wayne County Sheriff’s Office fallen Deputy Sgt. Matthew Fishman,” Kenneth Black, a former co-worker and friend of Fishman, said. “Matt was also a big Jeep guy. This is his Jeep family. We’re out here to pay honor the best we can.”

Even people who didn’t know Fishman braved the summer heat to pay their respects.

“Our heart just went out to the family so much and all of our departments, police departments, sheriff’s departments. We just wanted to be here to show our support and give a little bit back of what they gave us,” Frankye Watson, of Dudley, said.

The people who knew Fishman, or “Fish” as some call him, say he was incredibly humble.

“I’ve seen Fish on several occasions pray for people he arrested, pray with people he arrested. He was a man of God. You couldn’t ask for a better person in this world,” Black said.

“Every shift he ever worked on, he was the first guy in. ... He was the first guy to console you if you ever had an issue. Matt was a friend to just about everybody he worked with, including people he worked with on the street,” Black said.

As Fishman’s casket was brought into the cemetery, some people couldn’t help but think of how grateful they are for the sacrifice that first responders make.

“When something like this happens, it makes you stop and think because every day they put that badge on, they step outside and they take a chance. Their family doesn’t know when or if they’re coming back. We have to show our love and support when we’re around them,” Watson said.

Fishman leaves behind a wife and two children. The nonprofit Back the Blue NC started a GoFundMe page to raise money for his family.

Two other officers were also injured during the shooting last week and they have since recovered.

The Gofundme.com site is not managed by Spectrum News. For more information on how the site works and the rules, visit http://www.gofundme.com/safety.