Funeral honors life, legacy of Independence Officer Cody Allen
INDEPENDENCE, Mo. — A tribute to a hero. Hundreds of law enforcement officers, sheriffs and personnel, along with a community paused to honor the life and the legacy of Officer Cody Allen after he was killed in the line of duty.
“You will forever be my hero, your service, your sacrifice and the example you set for others will be the foundation of your legacy, you will never be forgotten,” Independence Police Chief Adam Dustman said.
Funds set up created for fallen Independence Officer Cody Allen’s family
One of Officer Allen’s friends and fellow officers who spoke, read the definition of hero, a person admired for their courage. That couldn’t better describe Cody Allen, a man, a father and a husband who did what needed to be done.
They say he was the very best representation of a police officer and more importantly of a human being.
“He only knew one thing, he was going to go help that man that was on the ground and that’s what he did – because that’s Cody,” Allen’s dad Tim Allen said.
Friends and colleagues say the fallen officer was the description ‘selfless’ – it’s who he was, to his core. A man called to do what he did, what he loved, being a police officer.
Jackson County executive orders flags at half-staff Monday to honor Drexel Mack
“I want you both to know that your dad was a superhero just like the ones you see in the movies – he showed up and everything was alright,” Dustman said to Cody’s children.
Now a family, a city and a department, as Dustman put it, left with a Cody sized whole in their hearts.
“Some of those lifelong friendships don’t happen very often, I just really thought that this one would last longer,” Matt Earnest, one of Cody’s friends said.
“Cody never hesitated to sacrifice his own time to help a friend,” said another friend.
The father of two said to have a smile incapable of being wiped off his face and a smile with the ability to make you smile.
Oh, and he loved his peanut butter, he ate it every day. As dedicated to it as he was to the career he paid the price for.
“Cody was a hero before he ever answered the call for service he’ll remain a hero for time eternal,” Earnest said.
Friends also say Allen had some tricks up his sleeve, if you needed a friend, you could only hope it’d be him because he’d show up, in good times or bad. Consistent and just a little crazy.
“I Know right now may not be the best time to bring up a bachelor party, but if you take away the explosives, Cody’s party was pretty tame,” friend Andrew Pennington said.
Badge number 1598, 35 years young, a heart of gold, with a passion to help and to protect. Badge number 1598 gone entirely too soon.
Download the FOX4 News app on iPhone and Android
“Independence Police Officer Cody Allen you are eternally relieved from duty, you have served with honor and integrity, rest easy brother, we have the watch from here,” Dustman said.
Dustman said the road to recovery will be long, it will be bumpy, they may even stumble but they’ll get through it, with a watchful eye from above.
