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Heroes Article

May 09, 2008

EmailPrintTalk BackRegisterWhat's This

Hundreds mourn slain Philly officer

By Robert Moran and Sam Wood
The Philadelphia Inquirer
Officer Down: Sgt. Stephen Liczbinski

PHILADELPHIA — Mourners braved drenching rain and darkened skies as they filed into the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul this morning to honor a fallen Philadelphia police officer.

A steady stream of law enforcement officers entered the Roman Catholic Cathedral to pay their last respects to their brother in blue, Sgt. Stephen Liczbinski.

Liczbinksi was shot dead in the line of duty Saturday as he pursued a trio of armed bankrobbers.

What began as a trickle of police in their dress blues at 7 a.m. swelled to a huge crowd by 9 a.m. as tour buses dropped off hundreds of officers at the steps of the Cathedral at 18th Street and the Parkway.

Police Commissioner Charles H. Ramsey said events today would make for "a long day, a sad day" for police, but added he wanted to insure a "proper tribute" for Sgt. Liczbinski.

A black caisson, drawn by two white horses, carried Liczbinki's casket from the Police Headquarters at 8th and Race Streets early this morning to the Cathedral.

Police bore the casket inside and placed it on a funeral bier near the altar.

By 10:15, a line of uniformed officers and civilians wrapped around the block and trailed down Vine Street.

Once inside, officers solemnly approached the casket, stood at attention, briskly saluted, and moved on.

Outside the Cathedral, Wanda Barwick of Center City stood in line as the rain continued to fall.

"I want to pay my respects and say a prayer," Barwick said. "He never had a chance."

A jumbo video screen, parked on 18th Street, showed images of Sgt. Liczbinki with his family, friends and fellow police officers.

Over a set of loudspeakers, Elvis Presley crooned "I Can't Help Falling in Love with You."

David Guzman, of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency, said he was attending with fellow Customs officers to show solidarity with the Philadelphia police.

"We're all law enforcement brothers, whether we're local, state or federal," Guzman said. "We're here for support and camaraderie."

The funeral Mass for Sgt. Liczbinski is scheduled to begin at noon. At 11:50, Commissioner Ramsey will offer words of remembrance.

The Archdiocese of Philadelphia is providing live streaming video of the viewing and funeral mass at www.archphila.org.

Police advise drivers to avoid streets near the Cathedral until 1 p.m.

The public is welcome to attend the funeral, but will be seated only after family and police are accommodated in the 1,500 seat Cathedral, said an Archdiocese spokeswoman.

Burial will be in Resurrection Cemetery, 5201 Hulmeville Rd., Bensalem.

The funeral cortege will depart the Cathedral for the cemetary at 1:30. Traffic on several major arteries will be closed as the procession makes it way to Bensalem. Those routes include 1-676 eastbound; Vine Street from Logan Circle to I-95; I-676 westbound exit at 16th Street; and I-95 north from I-676 to Bensalem.

Memorial donations may be sent to the Stephen Liczbinski Family Memorial Trust Fund, 901 Arch St., Philadelphia, 19107.

Copyright 2008 The Philadelphia Inquirer

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