What to Know
- Livestream of the memorial service held at Prestonwood Baptist Church to begin at 11:00 a.m.
- Sr. Cpl. Earl "Jamie" Givens, 55, was a 32-year veteran with Dallas PD
- Entrance ramps for Interstate 35 will be closed between 4 and 5 p.m. Thursday
Family and friends of Senior Cpl. Earl "Jamie" Givens said their goodbyes at a funeral service Thursday morning.
Givens was on duty escorting a funeral procession for a fellow officer when he was struck and killed by a suspected drunken driver.
At Preston Wood Baptist Church, friends and fellow officers reflected on Givens' commitment to the profession.
“He was a community police officer before it was cool," Dallas Police Department Sgt. Lawrence Nichols said.
Nichols and others say Givens was always restrained and kind to all he met on the job.
“Heart, caring for his fellow man.. call to serve and protect.. Jamie embodied those core values,” Shannon Beshears, special agent with the Department of Homeland Security said.
Following the service, a motorcade escorted Givens' body to Purcell, Oklahoma, for a second funeral service and burial in Washington, Oklahoma on Friday. Entrance ramps for Interstate 35 will be closed between 4 and 5 p.m. for the procession.
Givens was a 32-year veteran with the department, most recently serving with the motorcycle unit.
The 55-year-old was known for his tall stature, larger than life personality, welcoming smile and big heart. He leaves behind his mother, sister and two sons.
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The candlelight vigil for Givens took place Monday night at the central division at 334 S. Hall Street. A motorcycle was setup as a memorial in his honor.
Since July 2016, six Dallas police officers have been killed in the line of duty, two in the past three months.
