FORT MYERS, Fla. - Hundreds of police officers from across the state were at Officer Andrew Widman's funeral Wednesday, but one officer was noticeably absent: Fort Myers Police Chief Hilton Daniels.

WINK News spoke to Mayor Jim Humphrey Wednesday and found out Chief Daniels was on a family vacation. The mayor says Daniels ran into a number of problems and there was no way the chief could get back in time for the funeral.

At the funeral, 200 Fort Myers police officers stood shoulder to shoulder as they said their goodbye to Widman. But the one person not there was their leader, Chief Daniels.

Viewers also noticed Daniels was missing. One email we received wanted to know "why Chief Daniels failed to attend the funeral?" Another viewer wondered, "is he okay?"

We asked several people at the funeral about the whereabouts of Daniels, but no one seemed to know.

Humphrey said Daniels was on a family vacation in Montana. He said the chief drove out there in an RV and when he learned about Widman's death, Humphrey said the Chief made arrangements to come back to Fort Myers.

However, Daniels apparently didn't want to leave his family, which includes his 87-year-old mother-in-law, alone to drive back in the RV. So instead of flying out of Montana, Humphrey said Daniels decided to drive back.

Humphrey said the RV broke down several times, which prevented the chief from making it to the funeral.

Officers we talked to knew there had to be a reasonable explanation. "I trust my chief," said one officer. " I know if he had been able, he would have been there with us."

Mayor Humphrey stressed Chief Daniels, who retires next week, regrets missing the funeral.