Thousands Pay Their Respects As Det. Sean Suiter Is Laid To Rest
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Baltimore detective Sean Suiter was laid to rest Wednesday, just two weeks after he was fatally shot while on the job in west Baltimore.
Law enforcement agencies from along the East Coast, and as far away as Chicago, were at Suiter's funeral service and procession Wednesday.
Baltimore Police Commissioner Kevin Davis, Maryland Governor Larry Hogan, and Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh spoke at Suiter's funeral, along with his family and detectives Eric Perez and Jonathan Jones.
Davis spoke on the lasting legacy left by Suiter after reading through 18 years of performance evaluations for the slain detective.
"Sean was the kind of son, husband, father, police officer, and friend that everyone here strives to be," Davis said. "Now it's up to all of us to follow in [Sean's] foot steps."
Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh said the death of a police officer "leaves a stain on our city and our community."
Gov. Larry Hogan said Suiter "lived and died a hero, and that he will never be forgotten."
Suiter's son, Marquis, and eldest daughter spoke at the service. Marquis read a letter to Nicole, Suiter's wife. "That man right there (pointing at Sean Suiter), is a great man. The love, the love that you guys had and shared together, you guys were best friends, and I strive to have that in my life. "
Suiter's daughter read off a note she wrote to her father. "How do I carry on? How do I go on when everything around reminds us of you."
"I don't consider this goodbye, I consider it until we meet again, my brother, on the other side in paradise," said detective Perez.
The homicide unit, led by Suiter's regular partner Det. Jones, spoke at the service as well.
"He was a good person. That smile radiated before he opened the door," Jones said.
RELATED: Hundreds Attend Viewing For Slain Baltimore Detective
The procession, which thousands of police officers and firefighters took part in, arrived at Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens, Suiter's final resting place, just before 4:30 p.m.
Hundreds of people, including law enforcement and regular citizens, lined the roadways and overpasses to pay their respects as the procession for Suiter made its way to Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens.
"It's been really sad," said one person who came out to support Suiter. "I mean, these everyday officers getting out here, doing their job every day, and things like this happen unexpectedly."
Sharon Child, the mother of a Baltimore County police officer, spoke on why she came out to pay her respects to Suiter.
"Out of respect for detective Suiter, and his family, and for the whole police department across the United States of America," she said.
"It's tragic, what happened," said 17-year-old Spencer Williams. "It's just the right thing to do, to come out and support your officers. Support the people that protect you every day."
One retired correctional officer said Suiter's murder is a danger that members of law enforcement face every day.
"When we take the job, we know it's a dangerous job," she said. "And we all want to go home to our families."
Suiter was shot at close range with his own service weapon on Nov. 15 and died the next day. He was investigating a murder in the Harlem Park neighborhood at the time of the shooting.
No suspect has been named, and a $215,000 reward is being offered for information leading to an arrest in the case.
GoFundMe page for Detective Suiter.
Hundreds paid their respects to Suiter Monday and Tuesday at his viewing, which was at the Vaughn Greene Funeral Home.
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