news-record.com

It is always sad when a police officer loses his or her life while helping others. But sometimes a tragedy such as an officer's death can mobilize the community to serve.

Ryan Seals' story details how local law enforcement officials are extending their hands to assist the Winston-Salem Police Department following the death of Sgt. Mickey Hutchens on Monday.

The support includes everything from peer support services, patrol units to cover Winston-Salem during Hutchens’ funeral and officers to assist with funeral traffic.

His funeral has been set for 2 p.m. Friday at Wait Chapel on the campus of Wake Forest University. The family will recieve vistors from 2 to 5 p.m. Thursday. A private burial will be held after Friday's ceremony.

Hutchens, 50, died from injuries he sustained from a gunshot wound to the face he last Wednesday when officers responded to the Bojangles on Peters Creek Parkway.

Since then, Triad residents have held open prayers. Students at Hutchens' alma mater, Forbush High School, hosted a blood drive Tuesday. And people from afar have honored Hutchens in their own way. 

Chris Cosgriff created The Officer Down Memorial Page Inc., (ODMP), an online memorial Web site and non-profit organization, in 1997 to honor America's fallen law enforcement heroes.

Hutchens' biography has been added to the most recent line-of-duty deaths.The site also lists the names of fallen officers across the nation. To see a list of North Carolina's fallen, click here.