Deputy Remembered As 'Embodiment Of A Hero'

OAKLAND COUNTY, MI — Funeral services for Oakland County Sheriff Deputy Eric Overall were held Tuesday with thousands of mourners attending, including dozens of uniformed officers from around Michigan. Services were held at Mt. Zion Church in Independence Township.

Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard spoke and described the funeral as difficult for everyone, according to a Detroit News report. He praised Overall, a 22-year veteran of the force, for having a huge heart but being tough when he needed to be.

“It’s impossible to make sense out of something senseless, but he was doing what defined him: dying while trying to make sure no one else got hurt,” Bouchard said, the News reported. “That is the embodiment of a hero.”

Overall was killed early Thanksgiving morning while attempting to stop a pursuit. Christopher Joseph Berak, of Macomb Township, was arraigned Saturday at 52-3 District Court in Rochester Hills on first degree premeditated homicide and murder in connection with Overall’s death.

Overall, 50, had placed stop sticks at the intersection of M-15 and Seymour Lake Road in Brandon Township when Berak allegedly struck him, according to a Sheriff's Office news release. The Oakland County Medical Examiner ruled Overall's death a homicide and that he died of blunt force trauma, reports said.

Overall was struck at about 12:30 a.m. Thursday morning. The pursuit went westbound on I-69 from the Thumb Area Jail to southbound M-15 and then entered Oakland County into Brandon Township, reports said. The Oakland County Sheriff's Office said Overall was well off the roadway and that the suspect hit him on purpose.

Since Overall’s death, more than $64,000 has been raised for his family via a GoFundMe campaign. A goal of $100,000 has been set.

Oakland County is planning to raise funds of its own for Overall’s family. A bake sale will be held at the Oakland County Animal Shelter and Pet Adoption Center Christmas Bazaar on Dec. 16 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

“We’re asking the public to come out to support Deputy Overall’s family who are facing the many challenges that come with losing a loved one,” Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson said.

“When the baked goods sell out, the Oakland County Animal Shelter and Pet Adoption Center will certainly accept donations for Deputy Overall’s family,” he said.

The animal shelter is located at 1200 N. Telegraph Road, Building 42 East, in Pontiac.

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