FORT SMITH (KFSM) -- On Thursday (Aug. 11) a procession was led down Interstate 40 to Little Rock.
The purpose was to get fallen Sebastian County Deputy Bill Cooper's body to the Arkansas State Crime Lab in Little Rock.
"Going to Little Rock this morning, it was an honor to go down there but it was very heart breaking. At times I would be driving and tears would roll down my eyes," said Sebastian County Deputy Coby Miner.
As the procession was led to Little Rock dozens of law enforcement officers with agencies across the state pulled over to watch Cooper's body go by. They paid their respects with their lights on and prayers in their hearts.
"It means we do have a community that is behind us," Miner said.
Even on the way back to bring Cooper home to Sebastian County those paying their respects continued.
"When we came back several law enforcement agencies across the state of Arkansas were on Interstate 540 and Interstate 40 and they helped us out a lot," Miner said. "People were pulling off the road standing there watching the whole thing and that shows support right there."
Outside of the Sebastian County Sheriffs Department is a memorial in Cooper's honor.
People have left balloons, flowers and notes. The sheriff of Sebastian County Bill Hollenbeck invites everyone to fill up the area in front of the sheriffs department with more balloons and flowers. He said he wants the deputies to know every time they walk out the front door how much this entire community stands behind them.
A memorial fund has been set up at Farmers Bank. All of the funds will go to Cooper's family. If you would like to make a donation at a Farmers Bank you can make it in honor of the Bill Cooper memorial fund.