MUNFORD, Tenn. — Among the family, friends, colleagues, and even strangers showing their support for Mckinney is his high school band teacher at Munford High School, where slain MPD officer Joseph McKinney graduated in 2016.
“If I had an opportunity to talk to Joseph, I’d tell him I love him, and I love his entire family," retired band teacher Berry Trobaugh said.
Trobaugh said he's known McKinney since he was 11 years old, and before he was “Officer McKinney,” he was a student trombone player that he remembers always kept a smile on his face.
“I feel it very safe to say that Joseph McKinney did not have anyone that did not have anyone here at school that did not adore him," Trobaugh said. "He was loved, liked, respected by all. Whether they be teacher, administrators or his students he went to school with.”
Trobaugh said he isn't surprised McKinney decided to become a police officer, as he always had a heart open and willing to serve.
“He was such a supportive young man at that time and obviously he felt the huge need to serve his greater community by becoming involved in law enforcement in Memphis," Trobaugh said.
McKinney's death is a tragedy that has reignited concerns about accountability in the judicial system in the state’s largest county.
“I feel in emphatic that the entire system needs to be reevaluated, needs to be reevaluated immediately; that safer guidelines put in place to protect all that are innocent," Trobaugh said.