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West Valley City • When Jessica Le started dating West Valley City police Officer Cody Brotherson, she often would cook him dinner at his home before his night shift began.

As they left his neighborhood, she would drive away, turning right. He would turn left.

Le recalled one time, however, that he turned right, flashed his police lights and pulled her over for not using a signal. He had called it in to dispatchers, she said, but let her off with a warning.

He thought he was funny, Le told a crowd of more than 1,000 who gathered Monday at the Maverik Center to remember the officer, who died Nov. 6 in the line of duty.

"He was the love of my life," Le said of her fiancé. "Our love for each other was so unique and honest. … He had the most beautiful smile that would just make you feel good."

The 25-year-old officer, who had worked at West Valley City for three years, was killed last week after he was struck by a car, believed to be stolen, that he was trying to stop with tire spikes.

Brotherson was remembered Monday as a young officer who beamed with pride every time he put on his uniform, a man who was the protector of his family and who loved working in the city where he was raised. He was also remembered as a jokester, the type of person who would name his mustache "Wilson" and could make those around him laugh.

West Valley City police Officer Chris Freestone said Monday that he had a "bro-mance" with Brotherson, though he initially thought he was the "polar opposite" of his friend when they met at a police academy a few years ago. Freestone was older and cynical, he said, while Brotherson was "bright-eyed and bushy-tailed."

But they eventually became best friends.

"We drank one too many, laughed until we cried and drove our Harley-Davidsons for hundreds of miles — not in that order," Freestone told the crowd of mostly law enforcement.

Before the start of the services, police and members of the public saluted as Brotherson's flag-draped casket was brought into the Maverik Center.

The officer's mother, Jenny Brotherson, said her son was "loyal to his core," and added that her family members were lucky to live in West Valley City and have their son working in that area. Her loved ones always felt like they had someone watching over them when he was on duty, she said Monday.

Braydon Brotherson praised the police officers in attendance for their service Monday, and lauded his older brother for being a role model.

"Thank you for being the one to teach me how to climb trees to get on the roof of our shed," Braydon Brotherson said. "Thank you for laying in the snow in your underwear just to make me laugh, even if it was to get me to stop crying before Mom came home. Thank you for showing me what you called 'tough love,' even if it felt like punching. Thank you for showing me that the majority really do love cops and those who don't are simply louder."

Braydon Brotherson also asked people to thank law enforcement "loudly and publicly," and not let tragedy be the only time to think of their sacrifice.

Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox said Cody Brotherson "gave his life serving his community ... a community he loved," and also urged the crowd to remember Brotherson, as well as other fellow officers slain in the line of duty, long after Monday's funeral service is over.

Cox encouraged people to follow Brotherson's example of service and help someone around them.

"We talk often about never forgetting those who have sacrificed for us and then we go out and we forget," Cox said. "I hope that we will hang on to that memory and that sacrifice."

During an interment ceremony at Valley View Memorial Park in West Valley City, bagpipes played as Brotherson's casket was carried to its final resting place. Law enforcement officers from throughout Utah and the nation filled the cemetery as speakers praised the officer for his service and prayed for peace for the officer's family and finacée.

New York City police Officer Thomas Podd described the law enforcement community as "one huge family."

"It doesn't matter where you're from," he said. "Blue is blue."

At the end of the brief graveside service, a final call for Brotherson from a dispatcher came over a police radio.

"Officer [8]444 from dispatch," the dispatcher said, calling Brotherson's badge number.

"Officer Cody Brotherson was senselessly and suddenly killed while serving his community of West Valley City in the early morning hours of Nov. 6, 2016. Cody's personality, his passion for the job and his work ethic exemplified the traits that every officer should have."

The dispatcher also talked about Brotherson's ability to become fast friends with everyone around him and to reach "beyond his badge to touch the lives of the citizens of the city he loved."

"Cody, your brothers and sisters in blue in West Valley will never forget your ultimate sacrifice and will serve proudly in your honor," she said. "We are so thankful to call you our brother and our friend and we will always cherish the short time we had with you.

"Officer [8]444 will now send a 10-42 [end-of-watch call] for the last time. It's been a pleasure."

Events leading to Brotherson's death began a little after 3 a.m. on Nov. 6, when officers saw a car they believed to be stolen and gave chase.

It appears that Brotherson was attempting to lay down a set of tire spikes when the suspects' car hit him. The chase lasted less than a minute, and ended after the vehicle was run off the road and became disabled. Brotherson died at the scene.

Two 15-year-old boys and a 14-year-old boy ran from the car after it crashed, but were arrested. They are being held at a juvenile-detention facility as investigators determine where Brotherson was struck intentionally. No charges had been filed as of Monday.