SPRINGFIELD TWP., Ohio — "As we leave here today, let's honor Tim in the way he lived his life: by making people better."
That's one of the last things Springfield Township Police Chief Rick Bley said at Officer Tim Unwin's funeral Thursday. The public funeral service was held at Spring Grove Funeral Home to honor the officer who was killed in a North College Hill car crash March 31. A procession went from the funeral home, up Spring Grove Avenue, north on Winton Road, west on Compton Road, ending at The Arlington Memorial Gardens Cemetery.
The 31-year-old Springfield Township officer was responding to a officer needs assistance call when he crashed along Hamilton Avenue. William Dunson, who was just days away from his 51st birthday, was also killed in the crash.
Dunson's family was seen at Unwin's service embracing family and other officers. The father of four will be honored at his own funeral on Saturday, April 15. The department shared a fundraiser for Dunson's funeral expenses. To donate, click here.
Unwin's funeral service was packed wall-to-wall as friends, family, multiple police departments and more celebrated his life.
Throughout the funeral, those that spoke remembered not only Unwin's four years of police service, but his overall presence and humor.
"Everybody knows, Tim had an infectious way of weaving into everybody's life," said Jake Gilbert, Unwin's friend. "People just loved Tim."
The service was emotional, but also filled with laughter as people told stories about Unwin and his larger-than-life personality.
Bley also touched on how Unwin's presence has been loud and clear since his death.
"Tim, we saw you in that rainbow over our PD last Friday when you died," Bley said. "We heard your thunder yesterday at church. We get it. We know you love us, and we love you too, but rest easy because we all got this."
The procession involved dozens of police agencies, stopping at The Springfield Township Police Department for a moment on its way to Unwin's final resting place.
His graveside service was adorned with a horse and carriage carrying the casket to the grave site, surrounded by bagpipers. An end of watch call was made over the radio, along with a 21-gun salute, the playing of Taps, and a flyover. The ceremony concluded with the playing of "Amazing Grace" by the bagpipers.
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