Sea of blue honors Michael Krol, Dallas officer killed

A sea of blue is honoring a Michigan-born police officer killed in the line of duty.

Michael Krol was one of five police officers murdered in Dallas earlier this month. The 40-year-old was murdered on July 8 while working a protest in Dallas.

He was once an officer with the Wayne County Sheriff's Department and worked in the jails from 2003 to 2007. Sheriff Benny Napoleon said the best they can offer is comfort for the family.

"All we can say is that we love you. We're here with you, whatever we can do to ease your pain at this time and comfort the family, that's what we offer," Napoleon said.

Napoleon met with Krol's mom and was one of the many law enforcement officers from across Metro Detroit to offer condolences. It also included former Pontiac police officer Ray Felice.

"I just feel that it's my obligation. I have time to put my name in the book and pay my respects," Felice said.

Felice spent 26 years on the force and knows what it's like to lose a fellow officer.

"It was devastating, he was just a young guy - he'd only been on the department a year, year and a half - he was cut down in a section where he thought it would be a routine deal. He was on prisoner watch in a hospital," Felice said.

He's not alone. Sheriff Napoleon also remembers officers he lost during his years of service.

"I've been through this way too many times and I've had the unfortunate responsibility of meeting with families - when I was in Detroit - that have lost a loved one who is a member of the police department," Napoleon said.

Now, those members of police departments are standing strong and together in the wake of too many attacks on law enforcement.

"There is absolutely no excuse for the citizens to rise up against the very people that are sworn to protect them - these are innocent police officers. There's nothing that would say these officers have done anything to remotely warrant the kind of assault on them that has been on them or on officers in general," he said.

Visitation is from 3-8 p.m. at Harry J. Will Funeral Home in Redford Township on Monday.

On Tuesday, there will be a one hour viewing period from 10-11 a.m. at St. Robert Bellarmine Catholic church in Redford Township.

The funeral mass will immediately follow.

Krol be buried with honors at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Southfield.