LINCOLN COUNTY, Wash. — The Lincoln County Sheriff's Office (LCSO) honored the life of one of its own on Wednesday.
A processional of first responders led Deputy Luke Mallon and his family from Davenport to Spokane on Wednesday morning. Airway Heights Police Department shared Monday LCSO reported Mallon passed away at the age of 40, leaving behind a wife and three-year-old and five-month-old daughters.
Rhonda Rogers Christian, Luke's mother-in-law, said her family is working through a tremendous loss.
"Luke was a good man who always treated his job with the utmost respect and allowed people struggling to keep their dignity. He loved his little girls very much and leaving them behind will be tough," Christian shared in a statement to KREM 2.
She said, "it will take a village watching over them." In that village is Sean Davis, Luke's friend of 13 years.
Davis told KREM 2 losing Luke is like losing a brother. The two met in 2010 while training at the Parks Law Enforcement Academy.
Davis said following their training and brief service at Yellowstone National Park, Luke went on to work in, what his friend called, "Big Sky Lincoln County" as a sheriff's deputy.
"He served there for nine years, with pride and honor and with higher moral regard," his fellow law enforcement officer shared.
His impact on the community showed through the dozens of first responders that escorted his body to Spokane Wednesday.
"When you're in law enforcement, they often say the line is thin, with that thin, blue line, and I think that thin line, while it is bending, it won't break," Davis shared. "And right now, the community has wrapped around that thin, blue line. And it has even more of a deeper meaning and value to anybody that knew Luke and that was in that profession of law enforcement and public service."
Davis said the loss is felt by many, including the community Luke loved to serve.
"He was a gentle giant, a selfless person and he'll be greatly missed," Davis said. "There is definitely a void that is very large that Lincoln County is going to have a hard time filling, along with the friends and family he leaves behind."
Davis said Mallon had a one-of-a-kind laugh and loved the outdoors. He said he's planning on keeping Luke alive by living life to the fullest.
"That's, that's the kind of life that he lived," Davis said.
A GoFundMe was organized by Davis for Mallon's surviving family members. In just two days, more than $16,000 has been donated. If you're interested in donating, click here.
"It really shows what "small town, USA" is all about," Davis shared. "Coming together for a family in need, to honor and respect a man that served his community, for so long, with such passion, that he just, he fiercely loved. He loved his job. He loves his family, he loved his friends in the community, in Lincoln County. And it blows me away, seeing the response that people want to give."
Davis said next steps will include a formal funeral service, as well as, a law enforcement memorial service put on by Lincoln County and the surrounding agencies.
Luke Mallon's cause of death has not been released. LCSO and Davis declined to comment on the cause at this time.
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