Family, friends honor life of fallen DPD Ofc. Darren Weathers

DETROIT (WJBK) - Family, friends and city leaders honoring the life of fallen Detroit Police Officer Darren Weathers Tuesday.
  
He was just 25 but had already proven himself to be a hero. He died last week after his car crashed during a training exercise.

A joyful song lifted spirits in the midst of unbearable sadness today at the funeral for Weathers, full of stories of one officer's bravery and kindness - an officer they called Lucky.

"It's no surprise that Lucky quickly became one of the Detroit Police Department's rising stars," said DPD Chief James Craig.

"We want to say today that the city of Detroit is so proud of everything Darren Weathers stood for and the kind of man that he was," said Mayor Mike Duggan.

Officer Weathers, just 25 years old, is the man who rushed in to save his partner and shoot the suspect when Officer Waldis Johnson was ambushed last April.

It was Weathers who stopped his scout car and started playing basketball with neighborhood kids in a video that went viral.

Weathers received numerous medals for his service with DPD and before that on the front lines in Afghanistan. On this day he was promoted posthumously, to neighborhood police officer.

"My brother was 10 years ahead of the game," said Darnell Johnson. "My brother earned and deserved each and every accolade 
that he got."

Darnell Johnson honored his brother with a beautiful tribute but Weathers' wife, carrying their little girl, was unable to finish her speech.

"I can't stress enough how much of a good father he was and still is to me," she said.

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So much sadness and so much emotion as Officer Weathers' mother addressed those gathered to say goodbye to her son killed in a car accident during a training exercise one week ago.

"Before he even became an officer or a father, he was my son," said Chonita Johnson, his mother. "Before he became a US Army soldier, or a Detroit police officer, before he wore any uniform, he was my son."

The casket closes, the choir sings, and the legacy of Officer Darren Weathers lives on.