INDIANAPOLIS -- There was a silence in downtown Indianapolis Monday, broken only by the humming of news helicopters and an eventual salute from Indianapolis firefighters as the hearse carrying fallen Howard County Deputy Carl Koontz drove by.
The procession escorting fallen deputy Carl Koontz has left for Kokomo.
Posted by RTV6 (WRTV - Indianapolis) on Monday, 21 March 2016
The people standing across from the Marion County Coroner's Office didn't make a sound. Not even the dozens of squad cars escorting Koontz home made much noise.
What was not said, was felt. A rare type of sadness that put a pit in the stomachs of those who watched as deputies lined up on the street and police officers from multiple agencies slowly walked to their cars to start the journey from Indianapolis to Kokomo.
The quietness continued along the route.
In Carmel, one after another, after another came together to pay their respects to Deputy Koontz.
"We can't imagine this happening in our community and really all the hearts of all the people in Indiana are breaking right now. We're just praying for the family and the Howard County Sheriff's Department," Carmel Fire Chief David Haboush said.
PHOTO GALLERY: Dep. Carl Koontz memorial & procession
Tears were shed, prayers were said, as the state paused to support not just Deputy Koontz's family, but all first responders who put their lives on the line every day.
Members of Carmel PD, FD & other first responders awaiting Dep. Koontz's procession to Kokomo... @rtv6 @IndyThisWeek pic.twitter.com/afrTgjZtNz
— Jason Fechner (@jasonfechner) March 21, 2016
"Very somber. No one ever likes to think about it, but it is a reality and it's part of the process. It's a shame that this is part of society, but unfortunately things like this happen, so I'll be thinking about their families," Haboush said.
And for nearly 15 minutes, no one said a word as the procession of law enforcement vehicles arrived in Kokomo. The silence said it all, capping off a day many people will remember forever.
Procession bringing body of Howard County Sheriff's Deputy Carl Koontz to Kokomo funeral home @rtv6 pic.twitter.com/JBZ72HL7EZ
— Mike Pelton (@MikePeltonRTV6) March 21, 2016
"He helped me through a lot of the days I was stressed out, I didn't know really what I was doing," Scott Stewart said.
Stewart, a co-worker and friend to Deputy Carl Koontz, said Koontz showed him the ropes when he became a corrections officer three years ago.
"He did and multiple days. If I was having issues he didn't hesitate," Stewart said.
"He was always there."
On our way to bring Noah and i's hero back home where he belongs!!! Please pray and listen to the scanner to know where we are to pay your respects Carl deserves.
Posted by Kassandra Koontz on Monday, March 21, 2016
Many people, some who had never met Koontz, lined the streets in Kokomo.
"Deserves more respect and love than anyone in this town or any town can give him and I feel like it's my job to tell people who didn't know Carl how unlucky they were to not have known him," Koontz's friend, Jessica Franz said.
Stories of what Deputy Koontz did and who he was now beginning to fill the silence.
PREVIOUS | Howard Co. Sheriff: 'Deputy Carl Koontz was one of our family' | Local police support Howard County Sheriff's Department | Community remembers Deputy Carl Koontz
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