Friends, family gather for funeral of fallen Chicago police Officer Martinez
CHICAGO (WLS) -- Family and friends of Chicago police Officer Enrique Martinez gathered Monday for the slain officer's funeral.
Officer Martinez, who was recently engaged, had been with CPD for nearly three years. Many say his service to Chicago will never be forgotten.
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The 26-year-old was shot and killed in the line of duty on Nov. 4, while conducting a traffic stop in East Chatham. A 23-year-old man is charged with first-degree murder in his death. He is a convicted felon who was out on electronic monitoring when police say he shot and killed the officer.
Details of the encounter got much attention in the days afterward, but Monday was the day to celebrate the officer, despite some back and forth about whether or not some dignitaries would be there.
As the service for Officer Martinez was to begin, so did the rain. Amid the clouds and rain, family and friends mourned the fallen officer.
The body of Officer Martinez was led by flashing lights from the funeral home to St. Rita of Cascia for his funeral service.
While many lined up along the funeral procession route to pay their respect to Officer Martinez, others took it a step further by adding hundreds of blue ribbons and bows to the chapel's trees
"I felt it was my duty to put up blue ribbons as a way of honoring him," Jenny Jurcak said.
Jurcak said she thought the chapel looked too plain. That's why, with the help of her own mom, she spent four and half hours adding a bit of blue to the entire chapel perimeter.
"It's very a noble job. It's very sad that, you know, you go to work and you can't come home," she said.
With two daughters on the police force, she says the loss of Officer Martinez is personal.
"So I applaud him, and he is a hero to me. You know, that's why I had to do and honor him in my little way," Jurcak said.
Jurcak said she wants the community to better support first responders.
"First responders are your friend, as well as doing their job, and to respect them for that and have a high regard, because, you know, they just don't know when they're doing this traffic stop. You know, that it could turn and go the wrong way," Jurcak said.
CPD Superintendent Larry Snelling spoke at the service Monday.
"Make no doubt about it; he was exemplary," Snelling said. "This is his day; this is his family's day, nothing more nothing less."
His colleagues spoke of his laugh; his non-judgmental approach to all; his love of animals, owning two German Shepherds of his own; and his love of the job.
"Enrique was the real police. He was the best cop; he loved this job. I had the privilege of witnessing the best officer in the 6th District," Officer Francisco Nunez said.
CPD Officer Lucas Michaels spoke at the "night of the funeral" fundraiser, which got underway later Monday. It is a ritual meant to generate financial help that will go to the fallen officer's family.
"Whenever I first think of getting into the job, I think of Enrique," Michaels said.
The two were still classmates in the academy at about this time three years ago.
"They're dedicating their life, and they haven't even lived a life yet," said Brotherhood for the Fallen co-founder Rick Caballero, who also spoke at the fundraiser.
Among the hundreds of Chicago police officers at the funeral were hundreds of officers from other jurisdictions.
There were several police dogs, as well.
"He left us with memories of laughter, of love and loyalty. I miss my partner, my friend, my brother, but also carry the lessons he taught me, to cherish those around us, to never take ourselves too seriously and have each other's back," Officer Abdullah Saleh said.
His older brother, who is also a Chicago police officer, spoke of the lives Martinez likely saved the night he was killed.
Officer Adrian Martinez, Jr. also asked those in attendance to say his brother's name.
"So, if you can please repeat after me. Officer Enrique Martinez, star No. 8314, we see you. We hear you. We feel you. You will never be forgotten," Martinez said. "On his final tour, my brother looked evil and terror in the face and took his final breath. He was murdered on a cold, dark forgotten street."
Policing is in the Martinez family blood. Martinez spoke of their shared service.
"It was our calling to serve the disadvantaged and protect the forgotten. We wanted to live the life of a hero," he said. "On that night, my brother saved countless lives, as he was pierced by multiple bullets. Every bullet that struck my brother could have taken the life of someone's mother, father, sister, brother or friend... A part of us died that night. Because of my brother's strength and courage, we are all able to see another day."
The funeral procession led family and close friends to a private resting place.
There will be a benefit for the Martinez family from 7 to 11 p.m. Monday night at CineCity Studios, located at 2429 W. 14th St.
A visitation held Sunday had many from all over the community showing an endless amount of love and support for the Martinez family.
SEE ALSO | Friends remember fallen Chicago police Officer Enrique Martinez for laugh, sense of service
This is the second time in the past seven months that CPD will bury one of their own. Martinez was the fifth CPD officer killed in the line-of-duty in the last three years.
"We have to continue to work; it is a reminder of how important we are, and how much more there is to do," Snelling said.
The police superintendent again had to lay a folded flag in the arms of a fallen officer's mother Monday.
It was the flag that had draped Martinez's coffin for days, as the community and department paid their respects to his career.
A GoFundMe has been started to collect donations for the Martinez family.
