"As an officer he was very courageous, you could always depend on him. As a personal friend, he was kind. We could always count on him. Friendly. A very humorous side, loved to laugh," said Sam Kendrick, Chicago Police Department.
Officer Blake, a member of the SWAT team, was shot to death on a South Side alley Monday. He was the first of two Chicago police officers killed last week. On Friday, police evidence technician Michael Flisk and another man, Stephen Peters, were gunned down while Officer Flisk was processing a burglary scene. No one has been charged in either case, but a 19-year-old is being questioned in the latest incident.
The violence against officers had made the CPD stand stronger, some said Sunday.
"This makes you want to go out there and get the bad guy," said Sean Davis, Chicago Police Department. "Officers need to stick together even more to watch out for each other."
"For all of our families, it's very painful. When I woke up that day, I couldn't believe it," said Donna Marquez, whose police officer brother was killed eight years ago.
Officer Blake's funeral will be private.
