A Fallen Hero: Family & Community Grieve

Police Officer David A. Tinsley died in the line of duty on Sept. 11, 2018. The 16-year veteran of the Fort Wayne Police Department was 50.

Tinsley was in pursuit of an assailant on foot with a colleague and canine. They successfully apprehended the suspect. However, when Tinsley returned to his squad car, he collapsed. Colleagues immediately administered CPR, but were unable to revive him. Tinsley was pronounced dead on arrival to hospital.

"It's a reminder of the selfless nature of police work," Jarod Steffen , partner-director of FairHaven Funeral Home, said. Steffen, who is seen leading the casket out of Emmanuel Lutheran Church in the frame above, officiated the well-attended, high-profile ceremony.

"Few of us go to work each day with that level of risk, the thought that we may not come home that evening. We honor what David Tinsley did for our community to protect us, and we want to make sure he is properly and proudly remembered."

After the church service, the procession made its way to Lindenwood Cemetery, where a riderless horse and a 21-gun salute made further impressions of the magnitude of the loss for family, friends and colleagues. Afterward, carnations, worn throughout the day by fellow officers, were placed on Tinsley's grave.

"The ceremonies are incredibly touching and beautiful," Steffen said. "They don't diminish the sadness or the loss we feel, nor the sympathy for the family and his colleagues. In fact, the stirrings of heartbreak and loss possibly go a little bit deeper for those who serve others, the way David Tinsley did."

FairHaven Funeral Home is determined to bring authentic, affordable, high-quality end-of-life care to families in Fort Wayne. We are a community-minded provider with local ownership and a sense of commitment to our citizens. To learn more about our people and our services, please explore our website or call us at (260) 424-5000 .