At a funeral procession Sunday morning, hundreds of people from across Georgia filled the streets of McDonough to honor Henry County Police Officer Paramhans Dineshchandra Desai.
Divya Desai, who eulogized her slain brother at the funeral service in a standing-room-only space at the Henry County Performing Arts Center, noted his life of helping others and that it didn’t end with his death. Paramhans Desai, who was killed in the line of duty, was also an organ donor.
She said her brother always dreamed of becoming a police officer to protect people from harassment after he survived school bullying because of their family’s impoverished upbringing.
“Giving up his life to save the life of others was his purpose and his purpose was and is served,” she said. “The meaning of life is to find your gift, and the purpose of life is to give the gift away.”
Paramhans Desai, 38, was born in Bilimora, India, before his family moved to the United States. He was 8 years old in Ohio when he discovered his passion for law enforcement. His sister said he moved to Georgia and began his career as a Clayton County correctional officer at age 20. He later married his wife in 2008 and went on to serve in public safety roles for Spalding County, the Georgia Public Defender Council and DeKalb County Police Department before he joined the Henry County police.
Around 6 p.m. Nov. 4, Desai was trying to diffuse a domestic dispute near McDonough when he was shot, said Henry County police spokesman Sgt. Anthony Militello. Desai remained in critical condition at Grady Memorial Hospital until shortly before 10 p.m. Nov. 8, when he died with his family beside him, Henry police said.
The man accused of killing Desai was on the run for days before authorities on Nov. 9 found him inside a Clayton County apartment, where he fatally shot himself, police said. Two women were also arrested that day and charged with allegedly helping Desai’s alleged killer in avoiding the police.
Desai’s three-hour funeral service came two days after a vigil held at the Henry County police headquarters. On Sunday, hundreds of law enforcement officers from Atlanta, Sandy Springs, Locust Grove, Butts County, Forsyth County, Cobb County, DeKalb and Clayton, among other jurisdictions, joined their colleagues in Henry to mourn and celebrate Desai’s contributions to his family and the state of Georgia.
“He would want us to honor his memory by continuing to answer the call and to serve the community he loved so much,” Henry County Police Chief Mark Amerman said.
Credit: Steve Schaefer
Credit: Steve Schaefer
Amerman called Desai a hero with an “outstanding work ethic and dedication to his profession.” He said Desai’s “smile could light up a room” and he demonstrated a willingness to help anyone in need. Desai treated everyone with dignity and respect with his “calming voice” and “peaceful nature,” Amerman said.
Desai’s sister called the last few days “nothing short of a nightmare.” But she also fondly recalled Desai’s devotion to his family and his health, calling him “a fitness fanatic.”
“I remember the day that his second son, Namah, was born. … Once Param was convinced that his beautiful wife, Ankita, and newborn were good, my brother was asking the nurse if he could go run,” Divya said, eliciting laughs from the crowd.
Ultimately, Desai’s fitness even allowed him to continue serving others after death. His family said his major organs were donated and saved several people.
“It’s bittersweet to know that his heart is still beating in someone else’s chest,” his sister said.
At the service, Desai’s family also received support and condolences from representatives of the Samaj Saves Lives organization, which promotes organ donations, and the Indian Consulate in Atlanta. Carlotta Harrell, chair of the Henry County Board of Commissioners, presented Desai’s family with a proclamation “honoring the life and legacy” of Desai. Harrell said, “He will forever be in our hearts and in the hearts of those he served.”
The public’s appreciation of his service was also strongly felt beyond the funeral. A GoFundMe page set up to help the family had raised more than $325,000 by Sunday afternoon.
In addition to his wife and sister, Paramhans Desai is survived by two sons, 11-year-old Om and 8-year-old Namah, and two nieces.
