OAKLAND COUNTY, Mich. – Flags were lowered to half-staff Thursday at the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office to honor Deputy Eric Overall, a fallen hero.
Early Thanksgiving morning, Overall was on duty. Overall tried to stop a driver who was fleeing from Lapeer County deputies when he was killed.
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“When he was deploying the stop sticks, he was struck by the suspect,” Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard said.
Investigators insist that the driver, who is from Macomb County, intentionally veered the car into Overall’s direction, which killed him.
Overall, 50, treated everyone with the utmost respect, those who knew and loved him said Thursday.
Overall’s wife, Sonja, was comforted by the love shown by fellow deputies, first responders and the Oakland County community, which her husband served with pride.
“Not a single person could ever say anything negative about him, because he was just that wonderful,” Sonja Overall said. “He wore his heart on his sleeve. There wasn’t anything he wouldn’t do for anybody -- even the bad guys.”
That’s why so many people, including Bouchard, gathered on Thanksgiving at a memorial set up for the fallen hero.
Overall will be remembered as a man who loved his family and his job. He especially enjoyed working as a school resource officer.
“The fact (that) he was a school liaison officer speaks volumes of him as a person,” said Chery Calcaterra, a close friend. “(The) fact (that) he worked with children all the time, it helped him -- through their life struggles.”
Said Michael Calcaterra, another close friend: “All (Overall’s) friends called him ‘E,’ (or) ‘Big E.’ (He was (a) very inspirational guy -- great guy. (A) family guy. And he was there for my family when we needed him.”
Overall gave 22 years of service, but his friends said that wasn’t long enough.
“I know my husband is an amazing man,” said Overall’s wife, adding that the support shown already warms her heart.
Bouchard wanted to remind people that the family will need the same support for the weeks to come.