Funeral held for fallen Philadelphia police officer Richard Mendez
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- On Tuesday, Philadelphia said goodbye to Richard Mendez, a father, friend and police officer who was shot and killed more than 10 days ago at a Philadelphia International Airport parking garage.
The funeral procession left John F. Givnish Funeral Home around 6 a.m. and arrived shortly before 7 a.m. at Cathedral Basilica of St Peter and Paul in Logan Square.
Watch the full funeral procession below.
The city saw a big show of support on Tuesday for Mendez. The first of two viewings was held Monday at Givnish Funeral Home in Northeast Philadelphia, where family, friends and fellow police officers paid their respects.
Mendez was with the Philadelphia Police Department for 22 years. He leaves behind a wife and daughter. His service to the people of Philadelphia included years in the east division of the city and at the airport, where he was killed while interrupting four suspects who were trying to steal a car.
His partner, officer Raul Ortiz, survived.
Police have made three arrests in connection with the shooting.
The department said the loss of Mendez is one that will be felt for some time.
"It's a very unforgiving job and listen, it's one of the things that is a reality of it. You know it when you sign up for it," Interim Police Commissioner John Stanford said. "But no one wants to think that this will become an outcome for anyone."
"This is unfortunate. It's not a matter of if it's going to happen again, it's a matter of when," John McNesby, president of FOP Lodge No. 5, said. "And when this does happen, they've gained an additional 12,000 family members."
Mendez's daughter Mia spoke Tuesday, along with Commissioner Stanford and Mayor Jim Kenney. She gave a stark warning about policing in the city.
"People are getting too comfortable committing crimes, knowing nothing will happen to them," she said. "I am scared."
But speaking directly to Mia, Stanford tried to ease her pain.
"Mia, your dad is going to be with you forever," he said. "Continue to go on. He will be watching over you every step of the way."
Mia said her father was her family's backbone and always stayed calm in high-pressure situations.
"His favorite phrase was always, "We got this," no matter how hard a situation could be he was always supporting the people in his life," Mia said. "On Thursday, Oct. 12, my daddy was murdered in the line of duty. That night I asked him, 'Can't you call out sick? I want you to stay home with us tonight.' He said, 'No mami, I can't. I racked too many sick hours already.' Never in a million years would I have thought that would be the last time I ever saw my daddy. That night was the worst night of my life."
"My Uncle Booker came to our house to take us to Penn Presbyterian Hospital. He drove like a bat out of hell to take us to the hospital to see my daddy," Mia added. "But as we were driving, 'Over the Rainbow' started to play and I knew that my daddy had left us. I knew that we were too late."
To honor him, Commissioner Stanford posthumously promoted Mendez to sergeant and awarded him the police department's Medal of Honor, the Purple Heart, and the Sgt. Robert Wilson III Valor award posthumously.
