JetBlue offers free rides
Sending cops to funeral for officer
JetBlue is extending free flights on available seats to members of law enforcement traveling from across the country to pay their respects to the late Cpl. Eugene Cole.
Cole, 61, was shot in the head on the morning of April 25 in Norridgewock, Maine.
His alleged killer was caught in the woods after a four-day manhunt.
“We are honored to help now just as we have in the past,” JetBlue said in a statement to the Herald.
“We have a long history of supporting public service professionals in the communities where JetBlue crewmembers live and work.”
Somerset County Sheriff Cpl. Ritchie Putnam, who worked alongside Cole, said he is amazed by the gesture.
“I would just want to shake their hand and thank them,” Putnam said. “The fact that a company who has no association with Cpl. Eugene Cole is willing to provide some service like that for people who are willing to pay their respects is amazing.”
Putnam said a National Guardsman stationed in Ft. Hood, Texas, is taking advantage of the offer and is flying home to Maine for the funeral services this weekend.
Police from all over the country are also expected to attend the services, according to Putnam, from places like Florida, New York and California.
Putnam said there are “several other police agencies that are traveling quite a long distance” this weekend, but is not sure if they will be traveling with JetBlue.
If Cole were still alive, Putnam said he would feel very honored and humbled about the whole thing.
“Cpl. Eugene Cole always treated everyone with the respect and decency and I think he would be very appreciative,” Putnam said.
“I think it’s absolutely amazing the outpouring of support we have received from all over the country.”
Visiting hours will be held from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. today at the Skowhegan Armory. The funeral service will be tomorrow at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor at noon.