DETROIT – Beloved Wayne County Sheriff Benny Napoleon was memorialized by community leaders from across the state Wednesday in a socially distanced funeral. RELATED: Mourners pay respects to Wayne County Sheriff Benny NapoleonThe celebration of Napoleon’s life took place in front of a private group of family members and friends who waited to say their final goodbyes. “In 2000, when I was running for prosecutor Benny would tutor me. Whitmer orders flags to be lowered to honor Wayne County Sheriff Benny NapoleonBut perhaps the most touch testimonial came from those who cherished time with him the most“My life will forever be incomplete from this day forward,” said his daughter, Tiffani Jackson. “This is someone who I spoke to every single day, multiple times a day and I enjoyed it.

Gretchen Whitmer has ordered U.S. and Michigan flags on all public building grounds across the state to be lowered to half-staff on Wednesday to honor the life of Wayne County Sheriff Benny Napoleon. LIVE STREAM: Funeral service for longtime Wayne County Sheriff Benny NapoleonNapoleon grew up in Detroit and graduated from Cass Tech High School. As we lower the flags today in Benny’s honor, my thoughts are with his family and the entire Wayne County Sheriff’s office. In 2009, Napoleon became Wayne County Sheriff to which he served continuously for 11 years. To lower flags to half-staff, flags should be hoisted first to the peak for an instant and then lowered to the half-staff position.

DETROIT – Mourners said goodbye to Wayne County Sheriff Benny Napoleon, who will be laid to rest this week. Napoleon died from complications related to COVID-19 on Dec. 17. A public viewing is being held Monday at the Swanson Funeral Home on East Grand Boulevard in Detroit from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. His obituary is available on the Swanson Funeral Home website. Visitors took turns paying their respects to Napoleon. He has been the Wayne County Sheriff since 2009.

DETROIT – Wayne County Sheriff Benny Napoleon made it his mission every Christmas to help families struggling through the cold of winter with annual gift drives. READ: A look back at the legacy of Wayne County Sheriff Benny NapoleonCommunity leaders carried on the tradition in honor of Napoleon at the Greater Grace Temple. Especially the time that we’re in right now.”“This is something that sheriff Napoleon would have been doing if he was here,” said Wayne County deputy Robert Dunlap. “You couldn’t help but think about the sheriff.”It’s just one of the many ways sheriff Napoleon’s legacy is kept alive. “Cause Benny Napoleon was such a great guy.”Funeral arrangements announced for longtime Wayne County Sheriff Benny NapoleonThere will be a public viewing on Monday, Dec. 28 at Swanson Funeral Home from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., family members announced on Facebook Sunday.

DETROIT – Wayne County sheriff Benny Napoleon had a unique place in Wayne County politics. Napoleon served in one of the most difficult jobs anywhere as jailer, and yet his legacy goes far beyond that. READ: Wayne County Sheriff Benny Napoleon dies from COVID-19He was 65 years old. In 2004, he became the Assistant Wayne County Executive before being appointed to Wayne County sheriff in 2009. “I am shocked and saddened at the loss of one of our city’s greatest public servants and native sons, Benny Napoleon,” Duggan said in a statement Thursday night.

DETROIT – The family of Benny Napoleon is in shock, devastated by their loss. Napoleon’s daughter, Tiffani Jackson, and his brother, Hilton Napoleon, said the beloved sheriff would not want people to be sad, but would want people to stay vigilant to protect themselves and their loved ones from COVID-19. READ: Wayne County Sheriff Benny Napoleon dies from COVID-19“It’s a devastating because the doctors had told us that Benny was doing well on Monday,” Hilton Napoleon said. “After I got out of hospital, I told my brother, ‘Benny, you do not want to catch this,’” Hilton Napoleon said. I did not want it to happen.”“It has claimed the life of my best friend and my father,” Jackson said.

DETROIT – For the people who knew Benny Napoleon, reality does not feel real. Napoleon went into the hospital in November due to COVID-19 complications, just days after winning re-election. READ: Wayne County Sheriff Benny Napoleon dies from COVID-19He was 65 years old. Napoleon wore many hats in his life of public service -- lawman, attorney, public figure, politician, community servant and more. He easily won re-election as Wayne County’s top lawman with a sound and resounding victory of nearly 80% of the vote in Wayne County.

DETROIT – Wayne County Sheriff Benny Napoleon died Thursday from complications due to COVID-19 at age 65, his family confirms. READ: Wayne County Sheriff Benny Napoleon dies from COVID-19“I cannot even begin to imagine a world without Benny in it. pic.twitter.com/OMt9GoQJhi — samriddle (@samriddle) December 18, 2020“I am heartbroken to learn of the passing of my friend and colleague Wayne County Sheriff Benny Napoleon. Garlin Gilchrist II“The people of Wayne County have suffered a terrible loss with tonight’s passing of Sheriff Benny Napoleon. My sincere condolences go out to his family and the residents of Wayne County.” Washtenaw County Administrator Gregory Dill“The passing of Wayne County Sheriff Benny Napoleon has brought deep sadness to our entire community.

DETROIT – Wayne County Sheriff Benny Napoleon has died Thursday after a battle with COVID-19, officials say. Since March, the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office has lost one commander and two deputies to COVID-19. We worked together closely on law enforcement matters to protect the families and neighborhoods of Wayne County. Sheriff Napoleon was nationally recognized as an expert in law enforcement after more than 45 years of dedicated service. We will inform you of more details as the information becomes available.” Wayne County Sheriff's Office

DETROIT – Family and co-workers of Wayne County Sheriff Benny Napoleon gathered Sunday to pray for him to fully recover from coronavirus. Napoleon’s daughter, Tiffani Jackson, said she is more than appreciative of all the support from those who want to see him pull through. “I feel the love just from just from seeing how many people showed up here today,” Jackson said. “My grandmother has five children and of her five children, four of them have been affected by COVID-19,” Jackson said. We need to be very careful,” said Wayne County undersheriff Daniel Pfannes.

DETROIT – Wayne County Sheriff Benny Napoleon is in the hospital recovering from COVID-19 complications. That’s good news from Tiffani Jackson, the daughter of Wayne County Sheriff Benny Napoleon. He tested positive for coronavirus,“His symptoms really developed early this week, somewhere around Tuesday or so,” Jackson recalled. So his doctor started monitoring those levels because we know that COVID attack those respiratory symptoms.”Friday, he went to the hospital. Now, Sheriff Napoleon is trying to find out when and where he caught the virus.

DETROIT – Wayne County Sheriff Benny Napoleon is in the hospital due to COVID-19 complications, according to a family member. Napoleon tested positive for COVID-19 earlier this week after showing mild symptoms. On Thursday he was notified about testing positive for the virus. Since March the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office has lost one commander and two deputies to COVID-19. As of today there are currently 20 employees who have tested positive, according to the WCSO.

DETROIT – Protests in Detroit remained mostly peaceful outside of the TCF Center in Downtown Detroit, but police dealt with multiple threats over the election. A woman claimed a bomb was left near the TCF Center, and a Wayne County building closed over a threat to go in the building and steal ballots. Tensions continue in Detroit Friday night, just days after the election -- from the TCF Center to the county Treasurer’s Office in Greektown. Wayne County Sheriff Benny Napoleon said officials closed the Treasurer’s Office early Friday afternoon. On Wednesday, just one day after the election, supporters incumbent President Donald Trump protested outside the TCF Center, demanding to be let inside where poll workers were counting ballots.

The focus is on in-person voting and keeping Michigan voters safe from COVID-19 and possible harassment or intimidation while people wait in line to cast their ballot. “My understanding is that Michigan State Police are going to enforce the (open carry) ban anywhere that local law enforcement is unable or unwilling to do so,” said Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson. The Local 4 Defenders asked if any credible threats of violence have been made, or are state and local officials seeing evidence of voter intimidation to keep voters from polls? “The role that voters have asked me to play as the chief election officer is to enforce the law in this way and ensure they are protected on Election Day,” Benson said. Will banning open carry invite open carry protests for law enforcement to deal with?

WAYNE COUNTY, Mich. – An inmate at the Wayne County Jail has been charged with first-degree premeditated murder in connection with the deadly attack on Sheriff’s deputy Corporal Bryant Searcy. Deandre Williams was charged on Wednesday in connection to the attack that happened last week. READ: Jail inmate charged with first-degree murder in deadly attack on Wayne County Sheriff’s corporalWayne County Sheriff Benny Napoleon said Williams was willing to kill the deputy to try to escape. Williams was charged with premeditated murder, murder of a police officer, felony murder and escaping jail through violence. READ: Hear from daughter of corporal who was killed by inmate at Wayne County Jail