SAN DIEGO -- Thousands of Marines and police officers paid their respects to a fallen hero during a memorial ceremony, Aug. 12, honoring a reserve Marine and local police officer who was killed in the line of duty.
Jeremy Henwood, a captain in the Marine Corps Reserves and police officer for the San Diego Police Department, was shot and killed, Aug. 7. He had walked into a fast food restaurant to buy something to eat and also buy a meal for a 10-year-old boy who happened to cross his path. Moments later, while sitting in his patrol car, a man drove up beside him and fired the fatal shot. Henwood was 36. Â
Henwood served as an enlisted infantryman before going on to Officer Candidate School to receive his commission with the Marine reserves. The Canadian-born hero became a United States citizen in order to receive his commission with the Marines.
He deployed twice to Iraq, and after his third deployment – this time to Afghanistan as a company commander with Combat Logistics Battalion 2 – Henwood returned to the U.S. in February to continue serving as a police officer with the SDPD.
During the memorial ceremony, Henwood was posthumously promoted to the rank of major. Brig. Gen. John J. Broadmeadow, commanding general of 1st Marine Logistics Group, presented the parents, Robbie and Beverley, with the promotion citation.
Family members, friends, and commanders gave words during the tearful ceremony, sharing stories and expressing sorrow.
“I didn’t say it enough,” said Emily, Henwood’s sister. “Jeremy, I love you, and I always will.”
Henwood will be flown back to his hometown in San Antonio, Texas, to be buried.
Hundreds of police cars lined the street for the procession, and a color guard made up of Marines and police officers presented arms during the 21-gun salute.
Henwood is survived by his parents, sister Emily, and brother Robbie.