Parole officer honored with funeral procession

SILVER SPRING, Md. — Hundreds of people said their final goodbyes during the funeral services for a Maryland parole and probation officer in Montgomery County Saturday. Family and friends of Agent Davis Martinez said their final goodbyes but also strangers from near and far stopped by to show support.

As you walked up to the church you could hear the sounds of songs as people find purpose through pain and mourn the loss of Maryland parole and probation officer Davis Martinez.

“When people ask me to describe you in one word, I tell them that you were everything," one woman said during the reflection portion of the ceremony. "Everything that everybody could have wanted in a son, a brother, a friend and a lover.”

Martinez was killed in May, that's when police said they found his body with blunt force trauma after he did not return for work while doing a welfare check for Emanuel Sewell – who is now facing second degree murder charges.

Hundreds packed inside Living World International Christian Church to remember and honor the 33 year old who’s known to be a quiet guy that always finds the good in everyone and every situation.

“He loved his family, and he loved his community and he sacrificed for us all. And I want to say we stand with you always," Governor Wes Moore said.

“Davis never wanted people to feel excluded and being as friendly possible was his way of bringing people together," his brother, Michael Martinez Garcia said.

There was a lot of emotion but also moments of laughter. Inside the church, Martinez's love for his car became a running joke.

“I was skeptical about the Jeep. Davis loved his Jeep from the first time he laid eyes on," Martinez Garcia said.

Martinez lived life to the fullest and his family and friends say he took pride in the way he dressed when showing up to court and this yellow Jeep he drove — that’s been embraced Saturday during the service.

“This really hit home on a deep level, and so I when is to do something to show my support to the Jeep community and show my support for my friend so this does that," one man who came with ducks for the Jeep, Lamont Brown said.

Lamont Brown came from Baltimore to bring ducks to lay on his Jeep -- and talks about how the Jeep community first started putting ducks on each other's cars when they see them.

“Got my first duck on the Jeep years ago but it stands on me, it’s special," Brown said. "Sometimes all of us may be going through things and yes you need to smile and need something light and fun.”

The tributes outside continued, over a dozen other people from across the state came to do the same. Then the recognition continued with other Jeeps riding in the procession for him.

“Knowing that Davis had just purchased a Jeep and was super excited about getting involved in the camaraderie and activities," Maryland's Jeep Club President, Tina Neuen Schwander said. "We definitely wanted to show our support.”

"This man died in a very sad way and I want to do anything I can to do to support him and his family," Brown said.

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