wbozzelli posted on November 07, 2011 12:47
GARDENDALE — On a cold rainy Thursday, the north Jefferson community laid to rest a long-time police officer and a beloved civic and church leader.
Funeral services for Fultondale Police Officer David Riddlesperger, 48, were held at Enon Baptist Church in Morris, where he had served as a deacon until his death on Monday. Burial followed at Oakwood Memorial Gardens in Gardendale.
Riddlesperger died of a suspected heart attack early Monday morning after he ended his night shift. His patrol car crashed into the S.W.A.T.S. Health and Fitness Center in Gardendale. The accident is still being investigated.
Fultondale Mayor Jim Lowery said Riddlesperger often worked out at the gym after his shift.
During the funeral on Thursday, officers from the Gardendale and Tarrant police departments worked in Fultondale so all Fultondale officers and staff could attend the funeral.
“Our officers, along with Tarrant, are all patrolling so they can all go,” said Gardendale Police Chief Mike Walker. “They would do it for us.”
Walker and other Gardendale Police Department officers attended at the funeral, along with officers from Birmingham, Vestavia, Leeds, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office and many other departments.
The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office Honor Guard performed a 21-gun salute.
Lowery said Riddlesperger was a true community policeman. The mayor said he talked with Riddlesperger for about an hour Thursday night in the Promenade Shopping Center in Fultondale; he said the officer enjoyed aspects of his job such as helping shoppers with packages and opening locked car doors.
Riddlesperger was involved in his community off-duty as well. He lived in Morris with his family, where he was a deacon at Enon Baptist Church. Riddlesperger had also served for a year and a half on the Morris Planning and Zoning Board. The board had elected Riddlesperger as chairman two weeks before he died.
Riddlesperger had worked for the Fultondale Police Department for five and a half years. Previously, he retired from the Birmingham Police Department after 20 years of service. He had served on the department’s Tactical Unit.
The officer is survived by his wife of 28 years, Betty, and sons Hunter and Morgan Riddlesperger.