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Community has mixed emotions after Deputy Koontz is laid to rest

KOKOMO, Ind. (WISH) — For people working and living in Howard County, Deputy Carl Koontz’s death and funeral have presented a wave of emotions.

Even if they didn’t attend the funeral, many still came together to honor the deputy killed in the line of duty.

Many people said they are overwhelmed with emotions after seeing the support from the community this past week.

“It just doesn’t surprise me and it makes me very proud to be from Kokomo,” said Cindy Moor.

Cindy Moor lives in Kokomo with her husband John. He said he can’t help but to feel pain and pride all at the same time.

“Pain that would be backed up with pride and support for his family, for the department, for the community,” said John Moor. “Pain is the one word that everyone has been feeling. It’s just not the pain for the deputy, it’s the pain for his family and the community. It’s the lost.”

It was quiet in downtown Kokomo on Tuesday evening. You can still see the blue ribbons outside of the Howard County courthouse. Business owners said customers have been coming in with Deputy Koontz on their minds.

“Most of the people that have come through today have either been part of the procession or been along the route or you know have at least acknowledge the situation today and have watched the coverage with us while they’ve eaten lunch,” said Blake Kinder, owner of Cook McDoogal’s Irish Pub in Kokomo.

The Moors’ dined at the pub and watched the funeral coverage on WISH-TV. They said the turnout from the community is amazing to see.

“Even though there’s sadness, there’s a big feeling of pride that our community turned out in force and came together and we have such a support group for his family for his fellow officers and for each other,” said Cindy Moor.

The couple lives near Northwestern High School and said they could see the activity of the funeral from their home.

“When you see something like this happen you just think, ‘it’s always somewhere else’ and now we know that it’s not always somewhere else. It’s here, it happened,” he said.

People are still making donations for the deputy’s family.

More than $60,000 is now raised for the deputy’s wife and eight month old son Noah.