Thousands Attend Funeral for Fallen Virginia Trooper

HAMPTON, Virginia -- The motto of Chad Dermyer's state trooper training class was "the pride lasts longer than the pain."

Virginia State Police Superintendent Col. Steven Flaherty bid family, friends and colleagues of Dermyer's to remember that motto Tuesday, as an estimated 3,500 gathered at Liberty Baptist Church in Hampton to mourn the trooper.

Dermyer was gunned down during a training exercise at a Greyhound bus station in Richmond March 31.

"Chad was doing what he loved to do -- protect and serve others -- and man, was he good at it," Flaherty said.

Dermyer, who became a state police trooper in 2014, was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and had served as an officer with the Newport News Police Department and in his hometown of Jackson, Mich.

He is survived by his wife and two children, ages 14 and 11. He was 37.

Flaherty praised Dermyer's professionalism, intuition and experience as a police officer, saying he rose through the ranks quickly -- he was assigned to the state police's counterterrorism unit after less than two years with the agency.

Dermyer was shot and killed by James Brown III of Aurora, Ill. during training for that counterterrorism unit. The training involved approaching people who seemed suspicious.

"His power of observation, his instinct, played out that day. He identified a murderer ... unfortunately, he paid the ultimate price," Flaherty said.

Dermyer spoke with Brown, who was at the Richmond bus station en route to Chicago from Raleigh, for about 30 seconds before Brown produced the handgun and fired at the trooper, state police said.

Brown was shot and killed by two nearby troopers. He was carrying more than 140 rounds of ammunition in his luggage. Police have not yet released a possible motive for the incident, which remained under investigation Tuesday.

A procession of motorcycles lead a procession for Trooper C.D. Dermyer down Route 17 next to Harwoods Mill Dam in York County on Tuesday, April 5, 2016.

Dermyer's former partner from NNPD, Cyndi Grace, said she was lucky to meet Dermyer. The two just clicked.

"How do you explain someone so exceptional they make you a better person just by being in your life?" Grace asked.

They were inseparable during their 4 years on the force together, earning them the joint nickname "Gracemyer" within the department.

The pair performed "patrol car karaoke" and took joy in the day-to-day of patrolling, even as they were serious about their police work, sometimes debriefing for hours after an encounter to improve their performance and safety.

"I couldn't believe we were getting paid to go out and have fun together," Grace said.

She became emotional when she described his "megawatt smile."

"When you were the recipient of that smile it was like food for your soul," Grace said, fighting back tears.

Grant Ethridge, a senior pastor at Liberty Baptist Church, recalled several anecdotes about Dermyer relayed by his family and friends that showed Dermyer's pervasive sense of humor.

Dermyer was brought home to his parents in the back of a police car for loudly oinking at an officer when he was young. In another case, Dermyer had a coughing fit while standing in a crowd and loudly told a friend a doctor had said it was "extremely contagious."

He said Dermyer met his wife, Michelle, at Mitty's in Newport News when she was headed to the bathroom and accidentally stepped on his foot and apologized.

"After she came back, Chad walked over, stepped on her foot and asked her out," he said.

The two were married for 15 years, Ethridge said, and had just built their dream home on 5 acres in the country in Gloucester.

Ethridge told Dermyer's children their father was a hero.

"Being a hero isn't just something he did. It was who he was," he said.

A funeral procession left Liberty Baptist about 12:30 p.m. for a cemetery in Gloucester, where Dermyer lived. The procession included nearly 250 troopers and other law enforcement members on motorcycle.

Captain David Townsend with Abingdon Volunteer Fire Department, along with Hunter Calaway and Forrest Conner both of Gloucester Volunteer Fire and Rescue, secured a flag to two ladder trucks over Providence Road in Gloucester just outside the cemetery where Trooper Chad Dermyer was laid to rest Tuesday afternoon.

"It's an unfortunate situation," Townsend said. "It's an honor to be a part of this service."

Joyce Mitchell, a resident of Providence Road, took five of the children she watches out to the corner of Providence Road and George Washington Memorial Highway to watch the funeral procession.

"It's just to show our respects. To honor him," Mitchell said. "We're all showing our support and respect."

Signs were displayed throughout Gloucester up in honor of Dermyer reading "RIP Trooper Dermyer," "We love you Trooper Dermyer" and "Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of Trooper Dermyer."

Officials estimate there were more than 80 troopers from 23 state police and highway patrol agencies outside Virginia at the funeral. There were about 75 agencies participating with honor guards and flag details/color guards. Members from Dermyer's Virginia State Police academy class, the 122nd Basic Session, as well as hundreds of local and state law enforcement and other public safety members also attended.

Murphy can be reached by phone at 757-247-4760. Ketchum can be reached at 757-247-7478. Reporter Frances Hubbard contributed to this story.

Donations for Dermyer family:

The Virginia State Police Association is accepting donations for the Dermyer family. Checks should be addressed to "VSPA Emergency Relief Fund." Note "Trooper Dermyer" on the memo line.

Mail donations to: Virginia State Police Association, 6944 Forest Hill Ave. Richmond, VA 23225

Tribune News Service