SOUTH SALT LAKE, Utah, Dec. 5, 2018 (Gephardt Daily) — After a life of service, cut short in the line of duty, South Salt Lake Police Officer David Romrell was remembered and celebrated with funeral services on Wednesday.
Romrell died while investigating a burglary on Nov. 24 after he was struck by the fleeing suspects’ car.
Romrell, 31, was a former Marine who joined the South Salt Lake Police Department in January of this year. He was the first officer to die in the line of duty in the department’s history. He leaves behind wife Elizabeth and infant son Jackson, 4 months old.
“Jackson will know that his daddy was a warrior,” said a note by Romrell’s wife, read by a friend at the funeral. “He will know how brave and strong his father was.”
South Salt Lake Police Chief Jack Carruth spoke about Romrell’s ready sense of humor, his joy at being a husband and father, his dedication to police work, and his courage.
“When an officer’s heart is larger than their courage, there shall be no other guardian worthier of wearing a badge,” Carruth said.
Master Sergeant Scott Hall, who served with Romrell in the Marines, remembered Romrell for his tireless work and positive attitude.
“No matter how much negativity came down with adverse things that we faced, it didn’t matter,” Hall said. “He was ready to deal with it.”
The gravesite service will include a rifle volley by Romrell’s Marine friends, and a last-call ceremony, a final-goodbye tradition at many police funerals.
Gov. Gary R. Herbert issued the following statement regarding Romrell’s death:
“Jeanette and I join the entire South Salt Lake Police family in mourning the death of one of our finest, Officer David Romrell. He was exemplary in every way, and I feel humbled by the service he gave his country as a Marine, as well as the service he gave our communities here in Utah. We mourn with and for Officer Romrell’s dear family, and we pray that they may find peace in the midst of this heartbreak.”
The governor will order the lowering of flags to half staff Wednesday across the state of Utah.
Gephardt Daily will be covering the funeral throughout the day Wednesday.
My entire family mourns the loss of Officer Romrell. He will not be forgotten.