INDIANAPOLIS -- Deputy Jacob Pickett was taken off life support and passed away early Monday morning after his heart was harvested to give new life to a patient at St. Vincent Hospital.
Deputy Pickett was fatally wounded while assisting the Lebanon Police Department with a pursuit and foot chase on Friday.
"Jake is with his savior," The Boone County Sheriff's Office posted on Facebook early Monday. "You will be missed by so many...but will live through us all. Carry on Deputy Pickett, we will take it from here..."
Public safety agencies from Boone County and across the region escorted Deputy Pickett's body from the hospital to the Marion County Coroner's Office Monday morning. Hundreds of officers came out for the procession and hundreds more stopped to line the route and pay their respects.
"We encourage everyone to continue to show their support for Deputy Pickett's family, both blood and blue, over the coming days," the Lebanon Police Department shared on their Facebook page Sunday evening.
PHOTOS | Procession for Deputy Pickett draws hundreds
“Jake had a huge heart that continues to live on this morning, which really blesses many people. It makes me happy, it comforts me. As a law enforcement family, we are all hurting. When these things happen, we all come together as a public safety community. That is the most important piece to understand. We have to get each other through this. That’s the only way we will make it through," said Boone County Sheriff Mike Nielsen.
"Today is the beginning of a long and sorrowful process, not just law enforcement officers but the residents as well," said Rick Snyder, President of the Fraternal Order of Police.
"We seem to be going through this so often now. What our communities do in central Indiana is huge. We still get it in Indiana ... the service and sacrifice means something. Time and time again our residents come out and show their support. They really show their respect for what has occurred," Snyder said.
The visitation for Deputy Pickett is being planned for Thursday and his funeral will be on Friday but the Boone County Sheriff's Office says the Pickett family is still finalizing the details.
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READ | Sheriff Nielsen arrests man accused of fatally shooting Deputy Pickett | What led to the fatal shooting of Deputy Jacob Pickett? | Deputy Pickett's cruiser memorialized in front of Boone County Sheriff's Office | Sheriff pens heartfelt letter to the community | Former addict says Deputy Pickett saved his life
