More than 100 law enforcement officers paid honor to Deputy Jeremy Meyst. Many say he always wore a smile and was committed to the sheriff's office.
In a letter written by deputy Jeremy Meyst's two young sons, Joshua and Eric, the boys thank their father for always being there for them, always playing with them-- even if he was tired.
The service was a tearful goodbye for Deputy Meyst's wife Sarah, his family members and friends..
"I can't begin to tell you how many times Jeremy and I would be working together and we'd just start laughing uncontrollably for no reason till we both had tears running down our face," Tulare County Sheriff's Deputy Steve Taylor said.
"The most influential thing that Jeremy's ever told me and something I'll never forget is what kind of Christian would I be if I didn't think like this," Meyst's cousin Scott Thiessen said.
Deputy Meyst was killed in the early morning hours of Christmas Eve when the inmate transport van he was driving crashed near Exeter. Sheriff Mike Boudreaux and State Attorney General Kamala Harris said. Deputy Meyst wore his badge with honor and was a hero.
"Jeremy was focused and committed, strong. Everyone knew Jeremy and he had no enemies. He lived his life with a smile," Tulare County acting Sheriff Mike Boudreaux said.
"A life of sacrifice, a life of service- that was Jeremy," State Attorney General Kamala Harris said.
As Jeremy's casket was taken out of the church more than a hundred officers from across the state saluted him. Then at the Visalia cemetery his father, full of tears, also saluted him during the playing of taps.
"Always laughing I've never seen that man mad angry upset he was all about his family just generally a nice guy to know," Meyst's former neighbor Adrian Anaya said.
Sheriff Boudreaux said Jeremy Meyst's name will soon be added to the Tulare County peace officer's memorial, where he will be honored this May.
