Sgt. Liczbinski celebrated at Cathedral

Sgt. Stephen Liczbinski was mourned and celebrated this afternoon during a funeral Mass at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway.

Liczbinski, who would have turned 40 this week, was shot dead Saturday morning as he pursued a trio of armed men who had robbed $40,000 from a Port Richmond bank branch housed in a ShopRite Supermarket.

The nearly two-hour service ended about 2:15 and the funeral procession ended at Resurrection Cemetery in Bensalem, where Sgt. Liczbinski was buried.

Liczbinski's casket was led out of the cathedral as a block-long wall of officers stood in salute. Pipes and drums played and echoed along the Parkway, and more than two dozen flags fluttered in the wind and rains as family members followed the fallen officer.

During the ceremony, Liczbinski's son, Matt, addressed the throng, describing his father as "a simple man." He added, "The only thing he wanted was respect."

He then asked the congregation to join in a cheer for the Philadelphia Flyers, who will be playing a playoff game tonight. "Let's go, Flyers, let's go," he chanted, as people applauded.

Earlier this afternoon, standing in front of Liczbinski's casket, Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey delivered the opening words before the Mass commenced.

"Killed in the line of duty, those are six words we never hope to hear," Ramsey said solemnly before heralding Liczbinski as a hero.

"He's not a hero because of the way he died," Ramsey said, "He's a hero because years ago, he made a decision, he answered the call, he wanted to help others."

More than 1,500 police, family, and civilian well-wishers packed the Basilica and an adjoining chapel for the funeral Mass.

Outside, standing in wind-whipped rain, hundreds more law enforcement officers watched the service on an jumbo-sized television screen. Others stood under white tents set up in the mud and grass in a park on 18th Street waiting for a chance to pay their last respects.

Mourners from across the country began to arrive at the Cathedral at 7 a.m., braving downpours and darkened skies to participate in the funeral Mass.

As a recording of Elvis Presley singing "My Way" blared from a set of loudspeakers, bagpipers waited in the rain, smoking and straightening their kilts.

Officers from the Allentown Police Department were drenched as they put the finishing touches on their dress uniforms, pulled clothes from the trunks of their cruisers.

With the weather matching the melancholy of the moment, many officers contemplated the gravity of the circumstances that brought them to the Cathedral.

"It's very important that we be here," said Sgt. Bryant Jeter of the Washington D.C. police.

Jeter, a native of Southwest Philadelphia, was once a Philadelphia transit police officer.

"When something like this happens it's like family coming to support each other," said Jeter. "The reality of our jobs resurfaces. We all know there's chaos out there. That's why police officers are always constantly on guard."

As Elvis segued into "I Can't Help Falling in Love with You, some officers chatted underneath the tents. Others marched in formation without rain gear and stood at attention for 30 minutes.

Just before noon, an ocean of officers stood in black or yellow rain slickers awaiting a chance to enter the Cathedral.

Once inside, officers saluted their fallen brother.

In the meantime, on-duty officers outside were trying to keep traffic flowing past the scores of police vehicles parked throughout the neighborhood.

Standing near 32 police motorcycles, crime scene officer Adrian Makuch, tried to make sense of the day.

"I really don't have words to express how I'm feeling," Makuch said. "For us, this goes beyond being part of a fraternity. It gets personal. You don't want to talk about it. You know all he was doing was his job.

"You hope he departed his family that day with love and affection," Makuch said. "It's really the toughest job in the world, and this proves it."

Earlier, Commissioner Ramsey said events 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.

Somber officers 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, a stream of officers approached the Liczbinki's casket and stood at attention. Each 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.

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."

Traffic on several major arteries was closed as the procession made its way to Bensalem. Those routes included 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.