VALDOSTA, Ga. (WTXL)--The Lowndes County deputy killed in the line of duty receives law enforcement honors.
Deputy Chris Butler was carried to his funeral by the North Carolina Troopers Association Caisson Unit made up of horses and an Amish-built wagon
Deputy Chris Butler was honored by the caisson unit, that carried him to Morningside Baptist Church for his funeral Thursday afternoon.
Butler traded his banking career for a badge because he was so passionate about law enforcement.
His life ended Saturday night after a crash with a semi-truck.
The caisson unit is no stranger to dealing with tragedy.
Troopers volunteer their time, and when they're called they are ready to go in 24-hours notice honor fallen law enforcement officers.
" We have a six-member team," said North Carolina Highway Patrol Master Trooper Dennis Tafoya. "We'll use four for the mission today. We have a Morgan-Percheron cross and Percheron horses. We come from Monroe, North Carolina. That's where the horses are stationed. We travel anywhere in North Carolina and adjoining states of North Carolina."
Tafoya says it's an honor for them to be invited to Valdosta to remember deputy Butler's life that he gave.
The NTCA Caisson Unit went on nine missions last year, seven of those were in Georgia.
The unit is a non-profit organization, operating on donations. You can read more on the organization by clicking here. Here's a link to the unit's Facebook page.
