Officers honor fallen Shelby officer; accused killer moved to Central Prison

GASTON COUNTY, N.C. — It was a somber moment Wednesday in Gaston County, as officers from across the state gathered to honor their brothers in blue who died in the line of duty, including Shelby police Officer Tim Brackeen.

It was all part of the Peace Officer’s ceremony that was held at the First Assembly of God in Gastonia this year.

[LINK: NC Peace Officer's memorial]

(Click PLAY to watch raw video of bag pipes playing at memorial)

Authorities said Brackeen was shot and killed while serving a warrant in September 2016 by Irving Fenner Jr.

[READ OUR ORIGINAL STORY ON BRACKEEN'S DEATH]

Brackeen had been with the Shelby Police Department since July 2004 and worked as a K-9 officer. He was named Officer of the Year in 2012. He was married and had a daughter.

(Click PLAY to watch Ofc. Brackeen's K-9, Ciko, give final salute at coffin)

His brother, Stephen Brackeen, spoke to Channel 9 before the ceremony. He said that his brother understood the weight of his job every day and always trained for the worst.

“He believed in keeping our community safe and fighting real crime. So I think it was something Timothy had in his mind, but he knew and prepared for it regularly,” Stephen Brackeen said.

Stephen Brackeen said that the loss of his brother is still very real, even eight months after his shooting death. He said that Tim Brackeen's wife still struggles every day.

"It's something that every morning our family gets up and thinks about what was taken from us," Stephen Brackeen said.

(Watch Stephen Brackeen's interview on missing his brother every day)

Stephen Brackeen said he forgives Fenner, but he wants justice.

"I'll be honest. I pray there will be 12 men and women that will serve justice for my brother and for my family. That doesn't mean I'm angry," Stephen Brackeen said.

(Watch Stephen Brackeen interview on wanting justice for his brother)

He is now a chaplain and helps officers and victims who grieve over a loss the way he did. Channel 9 saw Stephen Brackeen in late 2016, counseling the family of murder victims in Shelby.

Stephen Brackeen will also take part in a service at the Fallen Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C. for his brother. Tim Brackeen’s name will be placed on the memorial along with all of the other officers killed in the line of duty.

Fenner accused of having shanks in jail

The Peace Officer’s ceremony comes at the same time that prosecutors said Fenner has become a threat to Gaston County deputies and inmates.

The Gaston County jail administrator said he has 21 violations since he's been behind bars, saying he tried to convince inmates to flood their cells and faked an illness then pushed past a guard to attack another inmate.

(Irving Fenner, Jr.)

Officials said recently that two shanks were found in his possession. They said a plastic comb filed to a sharp edge was found on Fenner and one was found in his cell.

Because of the most recent incident, Fenner is being moved from Gaston County jail to Central Prison in Raleigh until his trial, officials said.

Fenner is charged with first-degree murder in the shooting death of Brackeen.

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