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Former Metro Nashville Police Chief Joe Casey buried with 21-gun salute





Metro Nashville Police officers fire a 21-gun salute at the burial of former police chief Joe Casey last Saturday.Ashley Perham / Main Street Nashville

Metro Nashville Police officers fire a 21-gun salute at the burial of former police chief Joe Casey last Saturday.Ashley Perham / Main Street Nashville

Former Nashville Police Chief Joe Casey was buried with with honors including a 21-gun salute last Saturday.

Casey, who was chief from 1973 to 1989, died on July 31, his 96th birthday.

Several law enforcement departments were represented at the funeral at Parkway Baptist Church in Goodlettsville, including Berry Hill Police, Belle Meade Police, the Dickson County Sheriff’s Office, Ashland City Police and Vanderbilt University Police.

Former police chiefs Emmet Turner and Steve Anderson and current police chief John Drake spoke via a video message. Grammy Award winner Vince Gill also sang on a video message.

“He taught us all that fostering personal relationships is very important during our time on this earth,” said Drake. “Chief Casey cared about people, and, quite frankly, don’t we need more of that today?”

Two of Casey’s pastors at Parkway Baptist shared reflections on Casey’s life.

They told of Casey’s humility in being known around the congregation as simply “Joe.” Health permitting, he never missed a Sunday service and served as a greeter for the congregation.

A bagpipe player leads the pallbearers for former Nashville Police Chief Joe Casey out of Parkway Baptist Church last Saturday.

A bagpipe player leads the pallbearers for former Nashville Police Chief Joe Casey out of Parkway Baptist Church last Saturday.

“Even though he had met governors and congressmen and presidents and even the pope, he was the same person always wherever he was – humble, sensitive, compassionate and considerate,” said Rev. Ken Castleberry, former pastor of Parkway Baptist Church.

Much of Briley Parkway South was shut down for the lengthy funeral procession.

At the internment at Woodlawn Cemetery, Casey was buried with a 21-gun salute, four-helicopter flyover, a bugler and bagpipes. Dozens of motorcycle officers and seven equestrian officers on horseback were also present.

 

 

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