KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Independence Police Department gathered Friday at the Community of Christ Church's The Auditorium in Independence to lay fallen Officer Cody Allen to rest along with his family, friends and other community members.
Allen was killed Feb. 29 in a shooting that also took the life of Jackson County Civil Process Server Drexel Mack in northeast Independence.
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4:12 p.m. | After the procession, Allen's casket arrived in Odessa for graveside services where he was laid to rest.
2:30 p.m. | Allen's body was being moved to his grave site.
2:04 p.m. | KSHB 41's Elyse Schoenig spoke with a business owner in Odessa who put flags up outside his business to honor Allen.
A store manager in Odessa put flags up outside his business in honor of Officer Cody Allen. His store is along the procession route once it reaches Odessa @KSHB41 pic.twitter.com/PjupjpSthM
— Elyse Schoenig (@ElyseSchoenig) March 8, 2024
1:57 p.m. | The procession for Allen began and will make its way to Odessa, the hometown of Allen.
1:32 p.m. | After a funeral service, an Independence police honor guard moves slain Ofc. Cody Allen's body to a hearse for a procession to where he'll be laid to rest on Friday, March 8, 2024.
1:18 p.m. | Allen's colleagues and fellow officers paid their respects and saluted Allen at his casket after the funeral.
12:48 p.m. | Independence Officer Mark LaFramboise, a colleague of Allen's, shared stories of their time serving the department together.
"He was a true warrior, and true example to all of us on how we should carry ourselves as police officers and human beings," LaFramboise said. "Cody set the bar for what a hero looks like. He lived it everyday, and he walked the walk."
12:33 p.m. | Independence Police Sgt. Jeremie Stauch, who worked with Allen in the department's Accident Investigation Unit, explained that fallen Allen called crashes "McChickens" among other unique aspects of the hero's personality during a eulogy.
12:27 p.m. | Independence Police Sgt. Roger Lane eulogized Allen, describing his “battle cry” and other funny stories from his time with the department.
“Cody, my life is better because you were in it,” Lane concluded. “We love you, brother.”
12:25 p.m. | Independence Police Deputy Chief Jason Petersen relayed stories about Allen’s personality, his love for his children and family, and his approach to being a police officer during his funeral service.
12:13 p.m. | Students at William Yates Elementary made signs, which have been placed along the procession route on 39th Street.
A Jeep club also has lined up across the street to pay respects to Allen.
12:11 p.m. | Allen's friend Andrew Pennington delivered a eulogy recalling how they met in class at college and how their sense of humor brought them together.
"I'm not sure if it was his brutal honesty or his slightly twisted sense of humor that meshed with mine that by the end of that semester, Cody and I had started hanging out quite a bit," Pennington said.
11:59 a.m. | Allen's sister reminisced and talked about the adventures they had as kids.
"Cody never lost track of me, and he made sure to help me through the woods," Corie Allen, the sister of Cody Allen, said. "We'd splash in the shallow creek beds for hours, talking about everything under the sun, sometimes nothing at all."
11:50 a.m. | Allen's parents reminisced about their son during the service.
“I’m very sure that when he got to that house, he was laying it right on that line,” Tim Allen, the father of Cody Allen, said while fighting back tears on Friday. "He only knew one thing, he was going to go help that man that was on the ground. And that’s what he did, because that’s Cody."
11:40 a.m. | Independence Police Chief Adam Dustman paid respects to Allen and his loved ones, speaking on the kind of person Allen was.
"What I would give to see you smiling her today," Dustman said at the funeral. "You will forever be my hero."
Dustman later relieved Allen from duty.
"Independence police Officer Cody Allen, you're internally relieved from duty," he said. "You have served with honor and integrity. Rest easy, brother, we have the watch from here."
11:04 a.m. | The service began with bagpipers leading the Independence police department and Allen's family into the auditorium.
11:00 a.m. | Prior to the start of Allen's funeral, Scott Mosher, the father of fallen Overland Park Ofc. Mike Mosher, joined KSHB 41 to pay his respects to the Allen family.
Mike Mosher died in the line of duty on May 3, 2020.
"It's heartbreaking," Scott Mosher said. "It takes me back and you know, he was a true hero. He died doing what he loved doing. Officer Allen is no different. I understand what the family is going through."
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