(WXYZ) — The funeral for fallen Michigan State Police Motor Carrier Officer Daniel Kerstetter was held on Friday afternoon at St. Paul on the Lake Catholic Church in Grosse Pointe Farms.
“You could tell that … this man took pride in his work, he was the type of person to give the shirt off his back and lend it to help anyone,” said MSP Director Col. James Grady during the service.
Watch the service for Ofcr. Kerstetter below:
“We will always remember and honor your service,” he added.
MC Ofcr. Justin Bess, friend and classmate of Officer Kerstetter, also spoke.
“He was the kind of man who would go out of his way to help others no matter what. Danny possessed one of the most important qualities a person can have, which is humility. He was a great officer because he was a great person,” said Bess.
Officer Kerstetter's wife, Katie, thanked MSP, law enforcement, first responders and others in the community for their support following her husband's death.
“He was so proud, so proud to be part of the MSP family,” she said.
Watch the wife of fallen MSP MC Ofcr. Kerstetter speak below:
Katie said her and Daniel were best friends and that he was the love of her life.
“Danny, loving you changed my life, losing you has done the same, but I promise you, baby, your children will never forget their daddy. We will celebrate and honor you every day,” she said.
Kerstetter graduated and was approaching two years as a motor carrier officer, mostly working in the Wayne County region, when his patrol car was hit on I-75 near Dix in Lincoln Park last Friday morning.
He was sitting inside the car performing a traffic stop on a semi when his car was hit from behind. He was pinned between the two vehicles and died from his injuries Sunday night.
Marty Mugerdichian went through Michigan State Motor Carrier Officer Recruit School with Officer Daniel Kerstetter in 2023.
He told 7 News Detroit, "I remember him just telling me how excited he was about being in the class and being accepted. He couldn’t wait to get into the class and start."
Mugerdichian said the training was rigorous, one of the hardest things either man had ever done, but along the way, Kerstetter was focused on building others up.
WATCH BELOW: 'A genuine, good person.' Friend of fallen MSP Officer Daniel Kerstetter shares memories
"I remember telling my wife, ‘man this guy is, this is a special guy,'" said Mugerdichian.
VIDEO: Full interview: 'He wanted to give back.' Marty reflects on his friendship with Officer Kerstetter:
