Supporters rally behind deputy

Three days after his arraignment for reckless discharge of a firearm, a charge that could land Ryan Huizenga in jail for up to two years, several of the Ottawa County Sheriff's Deputy supporters showed up at sheriff's headquarters.

Many carried signs of support for the officer, involved in the controversial shooting of a Grand Valley State University student.

Huizenga did not address the crowd, which rallied for about an hour and a half.

Undersheriff Greg Steingenga said Huizenga wanted to say thank you, but decided to let his friends and supporters do the talking.

On administrative duty as the case goes through the court system, Huizenga reportedly watched through an office window.

Court records show Huizenga shot Derek Copp in a drug raid at his apartment near GVSU's Allendale campus last month.

According to a state police investigation, the deputy went into Copp's apartment with his finger on the trigger, something investigators say violated procedure. Copp was shot in the chest.

A warrant against Copp shows investigators found about three grams of marijuana inside the apartment.

Copp is expected to be charged in connection with the drug raid April 22.

Despite those facts, Huizenga's supporters say they aren't rushing to judgment.

"In a society where you want instant gratification and instant answers, our legal system is not like a TV show where everything gets wrapped up into a nice little package at the end," said Rob Everse, who helped organize the rally. "This is a process and an investigation that takes time."

Crowds lined the sidewalk, spilling out into the parking lot.

It is just a fraction of the supporters we found on the social networking site Facebook.com.

More than 3,600 have signed up on two pages offering support for the deputy, while a new page supporting Copp recently has been added to the site.