By Vanesa Brashier, editor@bluebonnetnews.com
The funeral for Dayton Police Officer Ricky Skarpa was held Saturday at Pace-Stancil Funeral Home in Dayton. A graveside service followed at Magnolia Park Cemetery in Dayton.
Skarpa, a native of Dayton, died on Tuesday, March 19, at the age of 64 after a brief battle with colon cancer.
Skarpa was a legendary figure among officers at Liberty and Dayton police departments. His entire career was spent between the two agencies – starting at Liberty Police Department in 1975 as a dispatcher, moving up through the ranks until he was named patrol sergeant, and then joining Dayton Police Department in 2009, just days after retiring from LPD.
At his funeral, law enforcement officers representing agencies from all across Liberty County and some from neighboring counties turned out to pay their respects for a man who devoted 44 years of his life to public service.
The route to the cemetery was marked by a flag hoisted high into the air above US 90 by Dayton firefighters. As the hearse passed by, they stood solemnly in honor of Skarpa.
Dayton firefighters await the hearse carrying the body of Dayton Police Officer Ricky Skarpa on Saturday, March 23. Skarpa was a veteran police officer for Dayton and Liberty police departments. He died on March 19 after a battle with colon cancer. He was 64. Pictured left to right are Michael Pafford, Amy Downey, Greg Young, Josh Alley, Chief Murphy Green, Jaime Villegas, Dalton Black and Drake Lerma. 
Flags throughout Dayton were at half-staff from Wednesday, March 20, to Monday, March 25, to commemorate the selfless service of Dayton Police Officer Ricky Skarpa who died on March 19 after a battle with colon cancer. Skarpa was laid to rest on Saturday, March 23, at Magnolia Park Cemetery in Dayton. 
Dayton firefighters stand solemnly in the middle of US 90 as they wait for the hearse carrying Dayton Police Officer Ricky Skarpa to pass on its way to Magnolia Park Cemetery on Saturday. Skarpa was a veteran police officer in Liberty County. He spent 34 years with Liberty Police Department and another 10 with Dayton Police Department. 
An American flag was hoisted high into the air on Saturday to honor Dayton Police Officer Ricky Skarpa who died on March 19 after a battle with colon cancer. He was 64 and just a few months shy of retirement. 
The body of veteran police officer Ricky Skarpa is carried to Magnolia Park Cemetery in Dayton for interment. He was accompanied on the final ride by his longtime friend, Pct. 2 Deputy Constable David Allison (right), and Pct. 6 Deputy Constable Bob Wright. Skarpa served 44 years in his law enforcement career in Liberty County.