Candlelight vigil held for Osage Beach officer Tuesday night
OSAGE BEACH, Mo. (KMIZ)
Family and friends gathered to honor a fallen officer during a candlelight vigil Tuesday at the Osage Beach Police Department.
Phylicia Carson, 33, died during a chase Saturday after her car veered off the road, hit a tree and caught fire. The candlelight vigil will be held at the Osage Beach Police Department at 8 p.m. Tuesday to honor Officer Carson's life, and the public is encouraged to attend.
her body was transported to Springfield for an autopsy Tuesday morning before returning to Osage Beach behind a procession of law enforcement officials from across the area.
Several people spoke at her vigil Tuesday night including the Osage Beach police chief, some of her fellow officers, and her pastor. some of the things mentioned were her infectious laughter, bright smile, and love for her job
“It didn't matter what was going on, what kind of day she was having. She had a smile on her face and she was just happy to be here. She loved the job. She wanted to be here. she did it and everything about it she loved,” Lieutenant Mike O’Day of the Osage Police Department said. “She wanted to help the community. She did help the community. when she was on patrol she talked to different people. she was always in contact, a smile on her face. she was just outgoing “
Funeral arrangements have also been announced for Officer Carson. Visitation will be held Thursday at the Lodge for Four Seasons in Lake Ozark with public visitation starting at 11 a.m. and will go to 1 p.m.
A funeral service will be at the same location, then a procession will take place. The OBPD is encouraging the public to line the roadways to pay their respects to Officer Carson instead of at the funeral due to limited parking space.
Officer Carson died Saturday morning while chasing 23-year-old Christopher Wehmeyer when her car crossed the middle of Route A east of Toronto Springs Park Road when her car began to skid off the road.
Wehmeyer is charged with a Class A felony of aggravated fleeing a stop or detention of a motor vehicle. Those charges are based on Valentine's Law which went into effect days before Carson's death.
The law increases penalties for fleeing from an officer from a misdemeanor to a felony.
