FLEMING ISLAND, Fla. – A fundraiser was held Saturday night to celebrate the life of a fallen officer and help his family.
The event in honor of Officer Sean Tuder, a Clay County native, was held at Whitey's Fish Camp on County Road 220 in Fleming Island.
Tuder was living a life some dream of, with a great career and the love of his life.
"He loved home, but he loved his wife, too. That's why he went to Alabama," said his sister-in-law, Rikkiann Tuder.
Sean Tuder worked in Palatka before going to Alabama.
He was killed last month in the line of duty in Mobile, Alabama, where he was working as a police officer.
Authorities said he came in on his day off and was shot and killed while serving an arrest warrant.
"He was such a wonderful person. He had so much kindness in his heart, and he showed it," Rikkiann Tuder said. "He does so many wonderful things for people. All he wants to do was to protect people."
Brandon Thompson worked with Sean Tuder in the military.
"Sgt. Tuder was a patriot. He's one of our most renowned soldiers that we have in our platoon," Thompson said. "He's about God, country and family."
Carrying on without him is mandatory and painful.
"Learning of his death was probably one of the hardest things I have to deal with," Thompson said. "A lot of us have been struggling with it, but we're continuing on because that's the way the Sean would want us to continue on."
The group raised more than $1,000 on Saturday. The proceeds will go to Sean Tuder's family.