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CTX police officers to attend funeral for DPS trooper

Posted at 6:22 PM, Nov 09, 2017
and last updated 2017-11-09 19:25:34-05

Hundreds are expected to show up for the funeral of DPS Trooper Thomas Nipper. Nipper was killed in the line of duty while conducting a traffic stop on I-35 on Nov. 4.

Officers from both the Hewitt Police Department and the Waco Police Department will attend the funeral to say  "thank you" and "farewell" to a man they never knew.

"Not many professions do you put on body armor before you go to work," said Sgt. Swanton with the Waco Police Department. "It's a life that we've chosen and we're going to honor and respect those that die in the line of duty for doing just that."

Being in law enforcement is no easy task. You put your life on the line daily to protect entire communities. You're also there when it's time to lay a fellow brother in blue to rest. 

"There will be hundreds of officers and they'll come from all over the state," said Sgt. Swanton. "I would not doubt if we don't get officers from out of state as well."

According to Texas DPS, Trooper Nipper was in his vehicle when a pickup truck struck it in the rear. The spokesperson for the Temple Fire Department said the trooper's car was on fire when they arrived.

He was transported to Scott & White Medical Center Temple, where he was pronounced dead.

"This trooper had a pretty significant career, 35 years," said Chief Jim Devlin with the Hewitt Police Department. "We find that it's important to honor the legacy of him and remember the good things he did while he was doing this job."

Both agencies agreed that it's important to stand together, even on the most somber of days.

"This could've been any one of a number of people, from any agency, that this could've happened to," said Chief Devlin.

"Each one in and of itself is a beautiful experience for the family and to be there in support, but man is it emotional," said Sgt. Swanton. "It's tough."

The funeral for Trooper Thomas Nipper will be held at the Temple Bible Church on Friday, Nov. 10 at 1:00 p.m. A graveside service will follow at the North Belton Cemetery. 

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