Hundreds pay tribute to slain officer on 1-year anniversary of death


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EAGLE MOUNTAIN — Hundreds of people gathered Friday for special tributes on the one-year anniversary of the death of Sgt. Cory Wride.

On Jan. 30, 2014, the Utah County sheriff's deputy, 44, was shot twice without warning and killed while sitting in his patrol car as he stopped to assist who he thought was a stranded motorist along state Route 73 in Eagle Mountain. Wride was just a year shy of serving 20 years with the sheriff’s office when he was killed.

The day of remembrance started in Eagle Mountain first with a police procession through the city. Then city officials renamed Mid-Valley Park to the Cory B. Wride Memorial Park.

"What a neat thing,” said Nanette Wride, Wride’s widow. “Cory not only loved this area and its beauty, but the people are so family-oriented, and they have rallied around us, and to have a park dedicated to him where families can get together just means the world, because Cory was all about family so this is a great honor.”

The walk was to honor Wride's memory, and it was also to show support to law enforcement for their service to the community.

City leaders and elected officials also paid tribute to Wride, remembering his service and for making the ultimate sacrifice to protect the public.

“I am glad I am able to be here, No. 1, and honor Cory,” sheriff’s deputy Greg Sherwood said. “It is amazing how the community has come together and supported us as law enforcement and that is what we need right now, the support of others, and we are grateful we can be here and be a part of it.”

Shortly after Wride was killed, Sherwood was shot in Santaquin by the same man. He spent several weeks in the hospital recovering from his wounds.

The community has worked to support the Wride family, including renaming state Route 73 to the Cory B. Wride Memorial Highway, which stretches west about 15 miles from Redwood Road in Saratoga Springs to the Tooele County line.

(Photo: Aaron Thorup)
(Photo: Aaron Thorup)

Hundreds more people gathered for the “Wride Walk” late Friday afternoon. It was a short quarter-mile walk from the American Fork police station to Robinson Park, where a monument to Wride stands.

The walk was led by Nannette Wride and their children, as well as Blake and Kathy Wride, Cory Wride's parents. Fellow deputies from the Utah County Sheriff's Office and other law enforcement officers, members of the community and students also participated in the walk.

“It is very touching,” said Blake Wride. “It is amazing this many people turned out, and it is neat what the kids have done for this.”

“We are really proud of the community and the students and honoring all law enforcement, and really appreciate their attitude of taking a positive step forward,” added Kathy Wride.

That walk was organized by the student council at American Fork High School. Wride grew up in American Fork and graduated from the school in 1987.

Both families of Sherwood and Wride are pushing for bulletproof safety glass to be installed in patrol cars in Utah. More information can be found on Facebook at Utah Code 4.

Contributing: Viviane Vo-Duc

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