Read more: Local, Missouri State Highway Patrol, State Trooper, Brookfield, Kirksville
BROOKFIELD, MO --
The Missouri State Highway Patrol said goodbye to one of their own Wednesday.
Hundreds of state troopers and public service officials paid their respects to Corporal Dennis Engelhard, 49. He was killed in the line of duty on Christmas Day when struck by a vehicle while responding to a crash near St. Louis.
Funeral services were held in the Corporal's hometown of Brookfield, Missouri.
“Corporal Engelhard was one of those corporals, supervisors that did his job and did it well. He was very easy going, always smiling, always worried about his people, taking care of his people, “said Corporal Jeff Wilson, Missouri State Highway Patrol.
Corporal Engelhard graduated from Kirksville High School and Northeast Missouri State University, now Truman State University, and worked as a paramedic in Kirksville before joining the Highway Patrol in 2000.
“The patrol is one big family and as we do our daily work we are always worried about each other constantly. After the death of Corporal Engelhard, you know we did gather together especially Troop C. We had a great response out of General Headquarters,” Corporal Wilson said.
