‘It seems like God gave him a lot of wisdom,’ HPD Chief Acevedo says as hundreds gather to remember fallen HPD officer Jason Knox

HOUSTON – Hundreds of family, friends, members of law enforcement and a slew of state and local officials turned out for a funeral service Saturday at 11 a.m. at Houston’s First Baptist Church to honor HPD police officer Jason Knox, who was killed in a helicopter crash last week in north Houston.

Knox, 35, was killed and another officer, officer Chase Cormier, critically injured after their helicopter crashed in the early morning hours of Saturday, May 2 while the pair was responding to a report of bodies in a bayou.

At the service, Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo described Knox as “an old soul.”

“It seems like God gave him a lot of wisdom," Acevedo said. “He wasn’t just a talker, he was doer. He was a guy we can learn a lot from because he taught us a lesson in perseverance, a lesson in goal setting, a lesson in never giving up.”

During the service, Acevedo played Knox’s recruitment video, which ran about six minutes. In the video, Knox states his intention to join the force and his desire to fly helicopters, stating his willingness to “put in the time."

Citing the reverence Knox held for the department, Acevedo announced that the Houston Police Department would retire Knox’s badge number, No. 2374, and name a new helicopter Jason Michael Knox “as a reminder that promises that are made, are promises that need to be kept.”

“His love for this department expanded to the past, to the present and to the future and he always had an eye to all three," Acevedo said.

Later in the service, Mayor Sylvester Turner proclaimed May 9, 2020 as HPD Officer Jason Michael Knox Day.

“He was public servant who did his job well in the footsteps of his dad,” Turner said.

Knox, a tactical flight officer in the department’s air unit, was the son of a City Council member, Michael Knox, a retired Houston Police Officer.

Knox was married with two young children.

Knox, who obtained his pilot’s license before he got his driver’s license, had a passion for flying.

He joined the Houston Police Department in June 2012. He was assigned to the Midwest Patrol Division and the Office of Public Affairs before joining the Air & Marine Division in January 2019.

Knox began his career in law enforcement with the Harris County Precinct 5 Constable Office in August 2006 before joining the Spring Valley Police Department in September 2008.

During the service, a coworker and friend to Knox described the fallen officer’s love for everyone on the force.

“If you wore a badge, to Jason, you were family."

In December 2011, he enrolled in the Houston Police Department Training Academy.

The service Saturday followed a viewing for Knox on Friday.

Family, friends, local officials and members of law enforcement were invited to attend the viewing and funeral service. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the funeral and public visitation guidelines have been modified to ensure social distancing and safety.The service was held at Houston’s First Baptist Church.

The funeral service was streamed live on KPRC2’s Facebook page and at click2houston.com.

Following the service, full police honors will be rendered with social distancing protocols in place, according to a release.

WATCH: Funeral service held for fallen HPD officer Jason Knox at First Baptist Church

WATCH: Body of fallen officer, Jason Knox, escorted by law enforcement Monday