VIDEO: Thousands Gather to Honor Slain Utah Officer

As widow Erika Barney spoke before thousands of law enforcers who had traveled from across the nation to pay their respects to veteran officer Doug Barney who was shot and killed in the line of duty, it was she who offered thanks, reports KSL.com .

"I love Doug. I never doubted his love for me. I know this is the greatest honor of his life," she said. "I'm so proud of him. … I'm proud of you from the bottom of my heart. I thank you for your service."

Doug Barney, an 18-year veteran police officer and a cancer survivor, was working an overtime shift a week ago Sunday morning to help pay for medical expenses. Barney was shot and killed while looking for a man who left the scene of a traffic accident at 2160 E. 4500 South. His partner, Officer Jon Richey, was also shot, with one bullet going through both his legs.

Richey was in attendance Monday along with thousands of other officers who gathered at the Maverik Center to honor the fallen Unified police officer.

But the most touching moment came after the funeral service had just concluded. As the crowd started to file out, Doug Barney's 13-year-old son, Jack, walked to his father's American flag-draped casket, leaned over it — at one point resting his head on it — and then glided his hand along the flag. He then folded his arms, possibly saying a prayer.

At the Orem City Cemetery, hundreds of officers stood saluting as Doug Barney's body arrived at the gravesite. He was given a 21-gun salute, three helicopters flew in the missing man formation over his gravesite, and emergency dispatchers gave him his "final call," marking the end of watch for the longtime officer.

Unified Police officers all had black bands over their badges with Doug Barney's dispatch number, "96K," written on them.