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Earlier today, surrounded by his grief-stricken family and loved ones 鈥� but not the King County Sheriff鈥檚 Office Honor Guard 鈥� Deputy Ryan Gallemore was laid to rest.

No Honor Guard for King County deputy who died of COVID?

Prevented by King County Sheriff Mitzi Johanknecht from participating in the service, KCSO Deputy and 10-year Honor Guard member Jesse Herrera came on my show this afternoon to describe why the sheriff’s move not only makes no sense, but 鈥渋t hurts.鈥�

It all started shortly after Gallemore鈥檚 passing from COVID-19 on Oct. 22. Even though the Honor Guard was 鈥渞eady to go,鈥� Herrera told my listeners, 鈥渨e were asked to stand down.鈥�

Why?

鈥淒ori, I wish I had the answer for that,鈥� Herrera shared. 鈥淚t was devastating, not only to the three of us [KCSO Honor Guard members], but the Gallemore family.鈥�

According , nearly 500 officers around the country have died from complications arising from COVID-19 over the past year. Without certainty regarding where they contracted COVID, all of these officers鈥� deaths have been attributed as line-of-duty losses.

Why not Gallemore 鈥� a husband and father of four?

Herrera 鈥� who has since learned that Johanknecht鈥檚 office is investigating him and two fellow Honor Guards 鈥� felt a personal and professional responsibility to perform 鈥渃asket watch,鈥� a tradition for fallen officers to stand sentry while friends and family come to the funeral home to grieve. Despite the sheriff鈥檚 refusal to authorize this duty, Herrera used his own time to perform this tradition for Gallemore and his family.

Dori: King County Sheriff Mitzi Johanknecht鈥檚 Office, where death gets no dignity

Today, because a KCSO Honor Guard was not authorized at Gallemore鈥檚 funeral, Herrera offered security to the family at their home. Another agency not under Johanknecht鈥檚 command did attend and assisted with Honor duties.

Could speaking out like this get Herrera in trouble, or perhaps even get him fired?

鈥淗e (Gallemore) deserves to be honored — that is why I鈥檓 sharing this,鈥� Herrera said. 鈥淩yan was a good cop.鈥�

As a 20-year law enforcement officer, Herrera says he felt he had to 鈥渄o the right thing鈥� by exposing this story.

鈥淭here are a lot of people in this department who won鈥檛 come forward because they feel like they鈥檙e walking on eggshells,” he said. “I鈥檓 prepared for whatever comes down. This weighs heavy on my shoulders. It鈥檚 not right. It鈥檚 just not right.鈥�

Hear my whole interview with Jesse Herrera below:

Listen to the Dori Monson Show weekday afternoons from noon – 3 p.m. on 成人X站 Radio, 97.3 FM. Subscribe to the podcast here.