ATLANTA -- Friends and family gathered Wednesday at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Buckhead to pay tribute to 39-year-old Scott Roberson, a former Atlanta police officer.

A CIA security officer, Roberson was killed in a roadside bombing in Afghanistan last week, along with several members of his team.

“He lived his life very adventurously, but also had a lot of heart,” said Sgt. Jack Bentley, a friend and Atlanta police officer.

After leaving the police department several years ago, Roberson served with security forces in Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan.

“I never thought Scotty would die that way,” said B.J. Brown, president of the Atlanta chapter of the Iron Pigs, a motorcycle group. The two often rode together.

Roberson was also dedicated to the community. He was proud of being a co-founder of the Metro Atlanta Emerald Society. It is a police organization set up so cops help other cops in need.

Roberson and his wife, Molly, were expecting their first child in February.

“He loved his country, he loved his family, he loved his friends,” said Brown. “He’ll be sorely missed. He was bigger than life.”

In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made in Scott’s honor to the Metropolitan Atlanta Police Emerald Society (MAPES), P.O. Box 79053, Atlanta, GA 30357.