By BEVERLEY WANG
The Associated Press
FRANCONIA, N.H. — Hundreds of residents stopped by Town Hall on Wednesday afternoon to view the flag-draped coffin of a police officer shot and killed during a traffic stop last week.
Police Cpl. Bruce McKay, 48, was shot four times, then run over Friday night by Liko Kenney, 24, who then was shot and killed by a man who happened on the scene.
 Police from around the state wait in the rain to pay respects at the Town Hall for fallen police Cpl. Bruce McKay in Franconia, N.H., Wednesday. (AP Photo/Jim Cole) |
McKay’s coffin was topped by his uniform hat and a heart-shaped pillow with his police badge. In front was a collage of police photos, including one of McKay, labeled “Our finest.”
A rotating honor guard, consisting of a police officer on one side and a firefighter on the other, planned to stand guard by the coffin until this morning’s funeral at the Cannon Mountain ski area.
Mourners arrived in groups of two or three; some were dropped off by shuttle buses. By late afternoon, about 200 people had signed a condolence book, and a procession of uniformed law enforcement officers from around the country was scheduled to start at 6 p.m.
Melissa Stephenson said McKay was one of the responding officers when her first husband was killed in a road rage accident on Interstate 93.
 Mourners arrive to pay their respects to Cpl. Bruce McKay in Franconia, Wednesday. (AP Photo/Jim Cole) |
“Bruce has shown nothing but kindness to my family,” Stephenson said. “Bruce McKay was the first one on the scene of the accident and offered my husband moments of comfort and kindness right before he died, so we have nothing but the utmost respect for Bruce.”
Gov. John Lynch paid his respects in the afternoon. He said it has been difficult for the state to deal with the killings of two police officers in less than a year. Manchester Police Officer Michael Briggs was killed in the line of duty in October.
“It’s very difficult for our state and very difficult for law enforcement and we’re reminded everyday of how much law enforcement does for us,” Lynch said.
Lynch said his heart goes out to McKay’s 9-year-old daughter, Courtney.
“He was a dedicated police officer, but also he was a wonderful family man,” Lynch said.
“As we see the sadness that she is really undergoing now it breaks our collective hearts here in New Hampshire.”
Kenney, a cousin of champion skier Bode Miller, had been convicted of assaulting McKay in 2003 when the policeman arrested him. Kenney claimed McKay assaulted him and broke his jaw, but authorities said McKay only defended himself and Kenney’s jaw was not broken.
Some family members said Kenney carried a gun afterward because he feared McKay.
Contractor Tom Hughes, 63, was among the first to stop by Wednesday afternoon. He said he did not know McKay well personally, but respected him and his job.
“He’s always been a fair police officer as far as I have seen,” Hughes said.
Hughes said the killing has divided the town.
“It’s going to be tough on this town,” he said. “It’s going to take quite a while for this to pass.”