It was the second time in less than a year that Michael Wheeler was called on to talk about his little brother.
“Nobody should have to give a wedding speech and a eulogy for their best friend in the same year,” Wheeler told a group of about 1,400 people who assembled Friday at Grace Community Church in Fulton for the funeral of Howard County Cpl. Scott Wheeler.
Wheeler, 31, was struck by a car while working a speed enforcement detail in Howard County last Saturday. He died as a result of his injuries Monday.
More than 500 police officers from jurisdictions as near as Baltimore County and as far as Washington joined the ranks of the Howard County police department in mourning Wheeler, a 6 1/2-year veteran of the force.
That crowd lit up Friday afternoon when Michael Wheeler revealed that his brother?s kidneys had been used to save the life of another man, one of Wheeler?s friends.
“Even in death, there?s life, so to speak,” Wheeler said.
Wheeler said his brother, who was fond of phoning him at 3 a.m. for no reason at all ? “Are you wearing socks?” ? always had designs to be a police officer.
In 2001, Wheeler ditched Baltimore?s police academy in the 25th out of 26 weeks and joined Howard County?s academy.
“Poor kid spent a year in police academy before he could do anything,” said Howard County Police Chief William McMahon. “He liked push-ups.”
McMahon said Wheeler volunteered for special assignments, took on extra hours and cared deeply about enforcing traffic safety.
His superiors named him officer of the month three times throughout his career, and in 2002 he was named one of the department?s top DUI enforcers.
“How ironic that these efforts cost him his life,” McMahon said.
McMahon said an annual award would be given in Wheeler?s name.
The Scott Wheeler Traffic Safety Award will go to “the officer that best emulates Wheeler?s commitment to traffic safety.”
At the funeral, a slide show strung together by a ukulele-driven take on “Over the Rainbow,” documented Wheeler?s two greatest loves: his wife, Tracy Wheeler, and the Oakland Raiders.
Among the photos: Wheeler presenting his soon-to-be wife a heart-shaped cake with “Will You Marry Me?” etched in frosting on the top; Wheeler, howling at the camera, his face buried under a mask of black-and-silver paint; Wheeler, advertising his Raiders cufflinks ? the ones he wore on his wedding day; Wheeler, again, laughing beneath a layer of Raiders gear on game day; Wheeler and his brother.
“We definitely enjoyed our stupid humor together,” Wheeler said. “I?m afraid I?m never going to be able to laugh like that again.”
