DETROIT (WXYZ) — On Wednesday, the community said their final farewell to Wayne County Sheriff Benny Napoleon.
The private funeral service was held this morning. Many said their final goodbye, as they celebrated his legacy.
RELATED: WATCH: Funeral service held for Wayne County Sheriff Benny Napoleon
Whether it was in person at the Swanson Funeral Home, video messages or messages on social media, as the service was live streamed, it is clear this titan in law enforcement will be missed.
Napoleon’s daughter Tiffani Jackson spoke at the service.
“This man lying here today truly is the greatest of all times,” she said.
Officials also remembered him as a dedicated public servant.
Governor Gretchen Whitmer explained, “Benny always made time for me and gave me his counsel. He’d reach out when he saw an issue I needed to address.”
PHOTOS: Remembering Wayne County Sheriff Benny Napoleon throughout the years
Wayne County Executive Warren Evans said, “I wish I could have told him a few more times how much I appreciated the man he was, the leader he was and he was going to be sorely missed.”
Napoleon died after battling COVID-19 on December, about a month after testing positive for the virus.
He was re-elected as Wayne County Sheriff this past election.
Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan remembers the last conversation he had with Napoleon.
“He talked about how angry he was with what was going on in Washington,” Duggan explained. “He said something that really surprised me. He said, ‘I think I might run for Congress.’”
But the mayor said Napoleon explained he wanted to spend more time with his family instead.
“I said, ‘Benny you got the best life of anybody I know.’ He said, ‘I really do.’ And that was the way we ended,” Duggan added.
While many will honor him for his contributions to the community, Tiffani will remember him as a dedicated father.
“That’s just how deep the bond was that he and I shared,” she said. “There was nothing that we would not do for one another.”
Even in death, Napoleon will be helping the community. That’s because in lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Napoleon’s name for the Wayne County Sheriff Youth and Senior Education Fund.
IN LIEU OF FLOWERS, DONATIONS CAN BE MADE OUT TO:
WAYNE COUNTY SHERIFF YOUTH AND SENIOR EDUCATION FUND
4747 WOODWARD AVE.
DETROIT, MICHIGAN 48201
