Officers travel from across US to say farewell to fallen sergeant
"It's about a two-and-a-half-hour drive," said Lt. Michael Schoenbrod from the Flagler Beach Police Department. "I saw people from New York. I think there's some from Chicago, Arizona, from all over the country."
Schoenbrod was one of thousands of families, friends and colleagues who attended the funeral service.
"Anytime we lose a fellow brother or sister in law enforcement," Schoenbrod said, "it really hits hard to the community and to the agencies."
Outside the hangar, a flyover and a 21-gun salute concluded the service.
Schoenbrod said it was an emotional experience.
"I've never met this officer, but we feel like the brotherhood, the sisterhood," Schoenbrod said.
While many law enforcement officers who attended the service didn't know Sweeting-Mashkow personally, Schoenbrod said the service will help them never forget her.
"You could just tell by the turnout, by the way they were speaking, that she was definitely loved in this community and well respected in her agency," Schoenbrod said.
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