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Deputies mourn officer who lost cancer battle

Posted at 8:39 AM, Nov 30, 2015
and last updated 2015-11-30 08:39:35-05

Deputies in west Michigan are standing by their brother in uniform, who died from cancer this past week.

39-year-old Matt Chatfield from Grandville died on Thanksgiving, after battling stage four colon cancer. The other deputies from the Ottawa County Sheriff's Department were keeping watch outside the funeral home Sunday.

They're trading shifts to be by his side until the funeral, which is next Sunday. His sergeant remembers him for his dedication to his family, his community, and his department.

"You look at his coaching. He was going through chemo and he's out coaching a football team. I don't think very many people do that."

Many homes in the area are putting up blue lights this holiday season in his honor.