ORLANDO, Fla. – Officers with Orlando Police Department on Wednesday escorted the body of Officer Kevin Valencia from Lake County to his final resting place.
Valencia was shot in the head on June 11, 2018 as he tried to enter an Orlando apartment where a man had barricaded himself and four children inside.
The Orlando Police Department announced Monday that Valencia had died of his injuries. He is survived by his wife, Meghan, and their two sons.
The procession began around 10 a.m. Wednesday in Leesburg and concluded at Baldwin Fairchild funeral home in Orlando.
During the 55-mile journey, the vehicle carrying Valencia was escorted by a formal procession of vehicles, motorcycles and officers to honor the fallen police officer.
“We’ve had this experience before. It hurts, but our officers are strong,” Orlando Police Chief Orlando Rolon said. “We’re grieving, we’ll have our time to celebrate his life on Wednesday, but we’ll continue to serve our citizens like we always have, it’s tough.”
Officer Valencia died Monday after an almost three-year battle trying to recover. He was shot back in June of 2018 responding to a hostage situation. The suspect ended up killing himself and four kids inside.
A public funeral for Valencia will take place at 11 a.m. Wednesday, March 24, at First Baptist Orlando Church on South John Young Parkway.
Orlando Police Department officials said there will be a livestream of the funeral.
In lieu of flowers, the Valencia family is asking donations be made to the Orlando Police Heroes Foundation nonprofit.