Community gathers for fallen officer’s funeral service

SELMER, Tenn. — One local community mourns the life of a beloved fallen officer who served both the Selmer Police Department and McNairy County Sheriff’s Office.

Family and loved ones gathered Thursday evening to honor the life of Sergeant Rick Finley. Finley served full time with the McNairy County Sheriff’s Office and part time with the Selmer Police Department.

On Saturday, December 14 Finley was killed in the line of duty while serving with the Selmer Police Department.

“Friend to the town of Selmer friend, to the Selmer Police Department, friend to all of us and that’s what we want to be is friends,” said Chief Kim Holley with the Selmer Police Department.

Friends and colleagues all spoke about the life of Finley. As a teenager, Finley practiced mixed martial arts and earned his black belt.

“Rick meant a lot to a lot of people today that came up through the years of training. They all loved him and Rick loved them. He treated them with kindness and never said a bad thing about anybody,” said Craig Hamm, friend to Finley.

Those that spoke all shared that Finley was a great friend and taught them, and others, along his journey of life.

“I grew up as the only child, I never had any siblings. But he was definitely a brother to me and I love him dearly, and I’ll miss him dearly,” said Steve Carroll, friend to Finley.

At his service, there were representatives from various state and local law enforcement agencies.

Finley also served in the Army National Guard and was deployed in Iraq for 3 years and left with honorable discharge.

“Rick is going to be described as a lot of things today. If you look around the room at all the different agencies from all the different places you’ll see a lot of those values. I think you can plug those words in and they will able to see Rick and his character,” said Jason Franks, friend to Finley.

Sheriff Guy Buck also spoke, sharing sentiments from a poem by Walt Whitman called ‘Song of Myself.’

“And now it seems to me the beautiful uncut hair of graves. Tenderly will I use you curling grass, it may be you transpire from the breasts of young men,” said Sheriff Guy Buck, McNairy County.

Those who spoke during his service all shared kind words regarding Finley’s character as an officer, father, son, husband and friend.

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