POST FALLS, Idaho — Saturday proved to be somber day in Post Falls as the friends and family, plus hundreds of law enforcement officers, came together to celebrate the life of Post Falls Police Officer Nicholas McDaniel.
"I miss you already. You are a lot of things to me," McDaniel's friend Aron Tomota said during the funeral.
During the funeral service at Real Life Ministries in Post Falls, his family, friends and co-workers shared stories about a man they'll miss.
"It was a true honor to welcome you to our ranks," Post Falls Police Chief Greg Mclean said.
Outside, many waited in the rain to do their part in celebrating the officer's life during the procession following the service.
"I'm here to support the men and women that support us," former firefighter Todd Nelson said, who was one of dozens of people lined along North Spokane Street to watch the procession.
"It's just a big family," Nelson said. "And I believe that these people that come out here, share the same love that we all do for these people that take care of us."
For others like Jim Pope, standing in Saturday's rain was a small price to pay for taking part in the procession.
Pope said, "I figured the very least we can do is, is come out here and pay our respects to somebody that is on duty 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year."
Pope lives in Post Falls. He held out his American flag during the entire procession.
He said, "He's on duty out here patrolling the streets of post falls and, unfortunately, didn't go home that night. And that's just a very, very sad thing."
The Post Falls Police Department says Officer McDaniel is the first officer in their department's history to pass away while on duty.
The department says there's a plan to put up a permanent memorial for Officer McDaniel. The department says they still need to discuss when and where that might be.