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Citizens and emergency responders lined the streets of the Denver suburbs to give slain Boulder Police Officer Eric Talley a hero’s sendoff Wednesday.

Talley’s hearse was flanked by flashing lights as the procession covered about 35 miles of empty highways from the Boulder’s coroner’s office to an Aurora funeral home.

The 51-year-old father of seven was one of 10 people slaughtered at a King Soopers grocery store Monday.

Talley was one of the first officers on the scene and rushed inside to confront the lone gunman and aide shoppers trapped in the line of fire, officials have said.

The heroic officer gave up a lucrative IT job at the age of 40 to pursue a law enforcement career after a friend was killed in a DUI accident.

Talley was training to be a drone operator so he could avoid the front lines for the sake of his large family, his father Homer Talley told Denver’s ABC 7.

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A procession of law enformcent vechiles escorting the body of Officer Eric Talley to a funeral home on March 24, 2021.
A procession of law enforcement vehicles escort the body of Officer Eric Talley to a funeral home on March 24, 2021.Photo by Michael Ciaglo/Getty Images
People lined up on the street to pay respects to fallen Boulder Police Officer Eric Talley on March 24, 2021.
People lined up on the street to pay respects to Officer Eric Talley on March 24, 2021.Photo by Chet Strange/Getty Images
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People lined up on the street to pay respects to fallen Boulder Police Officer Eric Talley on March 24, 2021.
Mourners pay their respects to Officer Talley on March 24, 2021.AP Photo/David Zalubowski
People lined up on the street to pay respects to fallen Boulder Police Officer Eric Talley on March 24, 2021.
People lined up on the street to pay respects to fallen Boulder Police Officer Eric Talley on March 24, 2021.Photo by Michael Ciaglo/Getty Images
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“He loved this community,” Chief Maris Herold said, according to the station. “He’s everything policing deserves and needs. He cared about this community, he cared about Boulder Police Department, and he cared about his family. And he was willing to die to protect others.”

Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa, 21, is charged with 10 counts of murder for the massacre.

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