Fallen Officer Laid to Rest

It was a sad day today for law enforcement as El Paso's finest said goodbye to fallen officer Karl McDonough.

Funeral services were held today for Karl McDonough, who died last week at the hands of a suspected drunk driver.

LeeAnn Wells knows the feeling of waiting up at night for her husband to come home. Her husband works the same graveyard shift that McDonough worked. In fact, her husband was one of the first responders to the accident that killed McDonough.

"You have that worry, that fear, you don't know if your husband's coming home," Wells said.

People poured in to St. Mark's church to pay their respects. Family, friends, and law enforcement from across the region. The motorcade from the church to the cemetery was three to four hundred cars strong.

The procession traveled to Fort Bliss National Cemetery, where McDonough was laid to rest.

"As a department, we're coming together," said detective Mark Fernandez. "The outpour of support from fellow law enforcement agencies here in town - we really appreciate it."

McDonough was killed last week, when he was in the passenger seat of a patrol car. Investigators say a 19-year-old man who was drunk ran a red light, 'T-boning' the police car. McDonough died at the scene. His partner, Ricardo Lopez, is still recovering from the crash. McDonough leaves behind a wife, and four children.

"Nothing but good things to say about him, hard working, very dedicated, very loyal," Fernandez said.

This tragedy reminds officers and families alike of the risks they take every day to protect El Paso.

"We go to a call, we go out to a situation, we may not come back," Fernandez said.

If you would like to donate to the family, an account has been set up in their name at GECU.