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GREENSBORO — Area law enforcement officials are extending a helping hand to the Winston-Salem Police Department following the death of Sgt. Mickey Hutchens on Monday.

“Anything they need, we have offered it,” said Greensboro police Chief Tim Bellamy , a sentiment reflected by other agencies.

“We are like one big family here in the Piedmont — Winston-Salem, Greensboro, High Point and the sheriff’s offices. We’ve worked a lot together in the past few years and have gotten to know each other on a personal and professional basis. This touches us all.”

The assistance includes services such as peer support, honor guards, patrol units to cover Winston-Salem during Hutchens’ funeral and officers to help with funeral traffic.

The funeral is at 2 p.m. Friday at Wait Chapel on the campus of Wake Forest University; it will be open to the public. The family will receive visitors from 2 to 5 p.m. Thursday.

Hutchens, 50, died from injuries he received when he was shot in the face Oct. 7 while responding to a call at the Bojangles’ restaurant on Peters Creek Parkway.

The call was made after Monte Denard Evans, 35, of Winston-Salem showed up at the restaurant to confront his former wife. Officer Daniel Clark, 28, and Hutchens responded and chased Evans outside the restaurant. Evans was then killed in a shootout.

Clark was struck in his bullet-

proof vest and in the neck. He was released from Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center on Friday.

The State Bureau of Investigation and the police department are investigating the shooting.

Hutchens, a 27-year veteran of the force, spent five days in critical care before his death.

“My understanding was that he was a fine man not only with the Winston-Salem Police Department, but in the community as well. Those things make an impact,” Guilford County Sheriff BJ Barnes said.

“It’s a loss for everyone when something like this happens.”

Winston-Salem police Chief Scott Cunningham said Hutchens dedicated his life to protecting the city’s residents.

“His sacrifice was not in vain. He believed in what he was doing,” Cunningham said when announcing Hutchens’ death Monday night.

Hutchens’ help extended beyond his death, too; many of his organs were donated to save the lives of others.

The city of Winston-Salem has declared a period of mourning through Friday in honor of the officer. The city also has asked the White House to declare that U.S. flags be flown at half-staff.

Contact Ryan Seals at 373-7077 or ryan.seals@news-record.com