Utah law enforcement headed to NYPD funerals courtesy JetBlue


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SALT LAKE CITY — Plenty of people are flying over the holidays, going to visit family and friends. But a group of Utah men boarded their flight Thursday evening for a very different reason.

Utah Highway Patrol Sgt. Christian Newlin, Centerville police officer David Boucher and Weber County Sheriff's Sgt. Danny Driggs are heading to New York City to be at the funerals for the two NYPD officers who were murdered on Dec. 20. The men were shot and killed while sitting in their patrol car; the gunman later killed himself.

Newlin, Boucher and Driggs are flying roundtrip for free, thanks to a generous offer from JetBlue Airlines. The Utah-based company is offering free flights for law enforcement agencies across the country that want to send officers to the funeral, with a limit of two officers per department.

Utah's guys said they're happy they can go to support the brotherhood all law enforcement officers are a part of.

"Anything we can do to get back out there and support them is ... we have to. We have to 'cause we know that they'd do the same for us," Newlin said. "And when we have funerals for our officers here, they always come and support us. So, it's something you can't pass up."

"It'll be very humbling," Boucher said. "Anytime we have to go to one of these events, it is very humbling. We realize that, you know, it could be us someday. Hopefully not, but it is what it is."

"People ask, 'You didn't know them?' And I say, 'No, I didn't know them. But they wore a badge so we're family,'" Driggs said. "It's a great honor, and we're thankful to JetBlue for the opportunity to go."

Funeral services for the NYPD officers are set for Friday and Saturday. Up to 14 Utah officers are expected to attend courtesy JetBlue.

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Alex Cabrero

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