LAKEWOOD, Wash. — On Thursday, a procession was held for Pierce County Deputy Daryl Shuey, who died in 2020 of a heart attack while moving bags full of evidence while on the job.
The service comes three years after the 57-year-old died, as the deputies' family asked the service be postponed until all could gather in person.
“I’m glad that we’re all here and we’re not wearing masks and we’re doing this right and we’re going to continue to fight all the honors and respect that Daryl deserves,” said Pierce County Sheriff Ed Troyer.
Since his death, Shuey’s widow, Karen Shuey has seen her late husband’s name engraved on the fallen officer memorial in Spokane and added to the national law enforcement memorial in Washington DC.
But despite her efforts, it won’t be added to the Washington State Law Enforcement Memorial in Olympia.
The group Behind the Badge, which oversees the process, says his death doesn’t qualify for the monument.
“Where is his name? I don’t see his name. He deserves to be on that wall,” Karen Shuey said. “It just breaks my heart, I feel so bad for him because he worked so hard and gave so much.”
During the service, loved ones focused on his life and legacy.
“He was always upbeat always positive he never complained he was always fun to be around and he could always find something funning in no matter what you were doing,” said Dep. Todd Johnson a former partner of Shuey’s.
Shuey spent 26 years with the sheriff’s department, raced cars in his free time but above all else was a father and husband, and that’s how they say he’ll be remembered.
“He was a family man and he wanted to be home with his family and that’s where he wanted to be,” Johnson continued.