KYW Newsradio Team Coverage

A hearse bearing a Flyers team logo carried the casket of slain Philadelphia police officer Sgt. Stephen Liczbinski from a funeral mass in center city on Friday afternoon to a cemetery in Bensalem, Pa., where he was buried.

Liczbinski's son Matt, 24, noting his father's fondness for Philadelphia's ice hockey team, led the thousands attending the mass at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul in a "Let's Go Flyers!" cheer as many fought back tears.

Authorities estimate that about 9,500 officers attended from as far away as Michigan and Montana. About 1,100 officers were inside the basilica during the funeral.

Mayor Michael Nutter hugged members of the Liczbinski family prior to the funeral mass. 
   
Police commissioner Charles Ramsey, speaking to pews packed with officers and loved ones, said Liczbinski's death "represents the kind of heroism that takes place throughout the country every single day by the men and women in uniform."

"Steve is not a hero in my mind because of how he died," Ramsey said. "He's a hero because many years ago he made the decision, he answered a call, he knew that he wanted to help others. ... He chose to become a police officer."

KYW's Tony Hanson reports from the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul that thousands of people were at the cathedral on Friday morning to pay their final respects to Sgt. Liczbinski, who was shot and killed during a bank robbery attempt nearly a week ago.

Sgt. Liczbinski's family arrived at the cathedral on Logan Circle about 10am, to a full honor guard including motorcycle escorts. Many, many members of the Philadelphia police force -- including officers, commanders, cadets, even the police commissioner -- were there, at attention and saluting as the family arrived.

Police cadet Ryan Sullivan will graduate and become a Philadelphia police officer this summer. He talked about that dream:

"Protect the city, raise some family in the city, and I want to make it a better, safer place to do that."

And he said that the sad events of this past week certainly drove home for him the potential dangers of the job.

"I'm a bit nervous and it's a bit of an eye opener, but I think all the recruits here are ready and willing to do the job at hand."

He says they will rely on their training to get them home safely each day.

 KYW's Mike DeNardo reports that there was a steady stream of police officers and civilians arriving at the basilica from early in the morning to pay their respects at the viewing for Sgt. Liczbinski.

A giant TV screen was set up outside the cathedral so the public who can't get inside for the funeral mass can watch.

Lt. Frank Vanore says this is an opportunity for the department to embrace the Liczbinski family as part of its own:

"We're always going to be a part of their family, and they'll be a part of ours. If they ever need us, we'll be there for them. As a police department, as law enforcement, we stay together as one, especially in times like this."

A horse-drawn caisson traveled about a mile through city streets before dawn to bring Sgt. Liczbinski's casket from police headquarters to the basilica.
 
Liczbinski, 39, a 12-year veteran of the police force, was fatally shot on Saturday as he responded a robbery at a bank inside a supermarket.

One of three suspects in the holdup was killed shortly afterward by police. A second man was taken into custody on Sunday and a third suspect was captured late Wednesday night (see related stories).

KYW's John McDevitt reports that Philadelphia police commissioner Charles Ramsey led a procession made up of hundreds of police officers from the 24th and 4th Districts on Thursday evening to the funeral home. Those are the units where Sgt. Liczbinski spent most of his time.  

Commissioner Ramsey:

"Well it's a tough day and a half now.  We have the wake and we have the funeral tomorrow, so it's going to be a very difficult period of time.  We'll get through it as a department, but I think that (Wednesday) night's event (the arrest of Eric Floyd) will bring some relief to the family.  It doesn't bring back Steve, but at least we know that now we have all people in custody."

The burial takes place at the Resurrection Cemetery in Bensalem.

(Top photo by KYW's John Ostapkovich)