Michigan Police Pack Detroit Church to Honor DPD Officer Loren Courts
Tribute to the life of DPD officer Loren Courts
Nearly two weeks since Loren Courts was killed on the job in Detroit, the deceased police officer was laid to rest in front of thousands of police officers and his family.
DETROIT (FOX 2) – On Monday, Loren Courts’ body was laid to rest as his family – both biologically and the men and women in uniform – honored his life as a Detroit police officer.
It’s been 12 days since Courts’ life was cut short when he found himself in a shootout with a suspect in Detroit. On Monday, his family said goodbye to their “Batman”.
Chaplain to Detroit Police Commander Yolanda Stinson summed it up well, saying there is no way to repay her family for her life.
“For Loren Courts and his family, this is a debt we cannot repay,” Stinson said during the nearly 3-hour service.
Hundreds of officers lined 7 Mile on Monday outside the Great Grace Temple and they came from all over the country and even international borders.
“When one of us is injured, when one of us passes, it affects all of us, it could have been any of us,” the Chikaming Township Sergeant said. Brandon Jones, who traveled from outstate.
In the front row of the church were Courts’ wife of 11 years, Christine, his 15-year-old son, Darian, and his 9-year-old son, Devyn. They were all wearing red ribbons and her brother, Larry, was shaking as he spoke.
“He wasn’t just my brother, he was my best friend and we (had) been united at the hip (from) when we were kids until now,” Larry said.
Her aunt, Lisa Littleton Cox, said she fell in love with Loren as a baby and finally gave her eulogy which came way too soon.
“He called me Aunt Lisa and I called him Lorney,” she said. “(I will miss) seeing him every day – because I live next door, I won’t be seeing my nephew anymore. I will miss him.”
Officer Courts had been with the department for five years and followed in his father’s footsteps.
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For Detroit Police Chief James White, it was his first address for the funeral of a deceased officer since he took over as chief a year ago.
“It’s a very tragic day for the city. Everyone should feel this loss,” White said.
The chief hailed the actions of the courts and said he was everything a policeman should be – and, more importantly, everything a man should be.
“It shouldn’t have happened. They’re a good police department, a good officer, and our police department was rocked by that,” White said.
Officer Courts was interred at Woodlawn Cemetery on Woodward in Detroit.
