MONROE, N.C. — Hundreds gathered in Monroe Sunday night to honor a police officer and high school resource officer who died Saturday in a motorcycle crash near Cherokee.
The community lined the streets as fellow officers escorted Paul Perrette's body from the Union County line to downtown Monroe.
“You just can't meet Officer Perrette and not want to honor him,” said Diane Guest, one student’s grandmother.
Perrette, 49, was a member of the Monroe Police Department since January of 2009 and served as a school resource officer for Monroe High School for the past three years.
“Everybody loved Perrette,” said Cynthia Huneycutt, a co-worker. “You always hear the saying: 'He was one of the good guys.' He literally was one of the good guys.”
Monroe High School Principal Mike Harvey said in a press release Saturday that his students truly loved "Pauly" and that he would be opening Monroe High School Sunday at 8:30 a.m. for students and the community to come together to remember and honor Perrette.
“This is a heartbreaking loss for our department, the students at Monroe High School and our residents,” said Monroe Police Chief Bryan Gilliard. “Paul was a very well-respected and well-liked member of our department and community and we are all just devastated at this time.”
Extra counselors will be on hand Monday for staff at Monroe High School.
Perrette was a husband and father.