Late Jackson County Deputy Honored In Nashville, D.C.

It was the night of January 3, 2015, when Gainesboro Police Chief Rick Larnerd’s life changed forever.

Larnerd had received a call stating that his son, Jackson County Deputy Zach Larnerd, had been in an automobile accident while responding to a domestic disturbance call.

The wreck happened as Larnerd hydroplaned while attempting to negotiate a curve. His patrol car went into a skid and left the roadway, sliding down a 17-foot embankment and coming to rest with the driver’s side pinned against a tree.

He managed to radio for help and it took over two hours for emergency crews to extract Larnerd from his patrol vehicle. Rick Larnerd was at Zach’s side for most of the rescue process.

Following the accident Zach received treatment at Cookeville Regional Medical Center for a broken hip, leg, and knee as well as a bruised lung.

Doctors said it would be a nine month recovery process, but tragically and unexpectedly Zach Larnerd died on June 15, 2016, from complications of that crash.

Thursday, Zach was honored in Nashville at the War Memorial as part of National Police Week. National Police week honors fallen law enforcement officers from all across the United States. Zach was one of five other officers to have their names added to the memorial wall in Nashville Thursday.

Rick Larnerd went to Nashville to take part in the memorial service.

“As you can imagine it’s a very emotional experience, but it does tend to aid in the closure and healing process for me,” Larnerd said. “Even though Zach has been gone nearly a year, it’s still extremely painful. To see him honored in this way is a very humbling experience for me and it makes me so proud of Zach and his legacy that he left behind.”

Law enforcement is a brotherhood and that was even more clear following Zach’s accident and death. Chief Rick Larnerd said he was overwhelmed with the amount of support he received from other law enforcement agencies throughout the one and a half year experience.

“I don’t have the ability to convey how much that meant to me,” Larnerd said. “I received letters and phone calls of condolences from Canada, all across our country and overseas from places like Germany, Brazil and England. It’s phenomenal and a brotherhood is exactly right.”

Larnerd flies out to Washington D.C. Friday morning for the National Police Week ceremonies. During that memorial service Zach Larnerd will have his name added to the national fallen officer wall. Rick Larnerd will then travel to Titusville, Fla., where another memorial service will honor Zach Larnerd’s service to law enforcement.

Chief Larnerd says it will be a long and emotional 10 day trip.