Feb. 13--Thousands of people are awaiting the funeral of slain Riverside police Officer Michael Crain at The Grove Community Church.
The hearse carrying Crain's coffin, led to the church by two police cars, arrived around 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 13. A wall of police cars with lights and sirens followed on their way to pay tribute to Crain, who was killed on duty Thursday, Feb. 7.
Officers have begun to fill the outdoor seating as the sun warms the grounds of The Grove. Law enforcement officers converged from around California and neighboring states. They came from Porterville, Oxnard and Carlsbad, and out-of-state departments including Las Vegas and Phoenix. The sound of bagpipes filled the air.
Among the mourners are Los Angeles Police Department motor officers Tai Kingi and Gary Ross.
Kingi said they wanted to show support for their fellow officers, adding, "You look around and you see (officers) from all different divisions, different cities, it really tells you how tight our brotherhood is."
Ross said being in harm's way is part of what officers do, but Crain's sacrifice "deserves nothing but the utmost respect."
He's not rejoicing about the apparent death of Christopher Dorner, who police believe shot Crain and six other people. Ross and Kingi had nothing but scorn for Dorner, who once belonged to their department.
"You can't have a feeling for something like this but numbness and disappointment that one of your brother officers would do something so unspeakable," Ross said.
Kingi added, "He was not one of us and never will be."
Michael Bates, 59, came from Downey with other members of the Patriot Guard Riders, a motorcycle group that rides in honor of fallen members of the military. Crain served in the Marines before joining the Riverside police force.
Bates said he wanted to be here "because they do so much for us, they sacrifice so much. It's nothing for me to come out here."
As the procession of officers passed on the way to the church, resident Mary Ann Taylor stood by the entrance road to the church with her granddaughters.
Twins Saydee and Sophee Salcedo, 4, wore matching red outfits, complete with headbands and sparkly shoes. Taylor said their preschool was canceled today for the funeral, so she brought them to explain why law enforcement is important.
"The girls are learning that they are here to serve and protect us, and we appreciate their sacrifice and pray for their families," Taylor said.
Students from Riverside's King High School created hundreds of handmade posters in support of Crain that were placed along Van Buren Boulevard. Many other Riverside Unified School District campuses paid their respects Wednesday.
The service was set to begin at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday. By 8 a.m., uniformed law enforcement officers from a number of Southern California departments were moving in small groups around the church grounds to prepare for the funeral.
The procession route was lined with spectators, many holding flags and signs expressing support for the Riverside Police Department.
At Central and Arlington avenues, a handful of supporters stood on the street corners as a stream of police cars and motorcycles, lights flashing, drove by as part of the funeral procession.
Traffic was backed up on Arlington, as well as side streets, but motorists appeared calm as they watched the procession go by.
Dozens of other officers were at the church early Wednesday to position a truck topped by a jumbo video screen and unfold a sea of chairs for mourners who can't get into the church.
Riverside police officers are wearing black bands with Crain's badge number.
Officials are expecting 7,000 or more, including Gov. Jerry Brown, to honor Crain, an 11-year Riverside officer who also served in the military and will be buried later today at Riverside National Cemetery.
Those scheduled to speak at the funeral are Crain's wife Regina, brother Jason, childhood friends Joe Negroni and Rob Frazer, Steve Pounds, a former co-worker on the Riverside Police Force, and John Bacon, a friend from the United States Marine Corps.
Before the service, a photo montage of Crain and his family was shown on video screens as music was played. Led Zeppelin and Ozzy Osborne were among the selections.
Security is high at The Grove, where officers are stationed on the church rooftop. Two groups of motor officers from the Los Angeles Police Department were seen rolling through the parking lot of the Grove with rifles strapped to bikes.
More than one dozen helicopters were in the sky above the church.
Crain was shot while patrolling with his partner, a trainee whose name has not been released. The partner also was shot and is expected to recover.
Police withheld his name out of concern for the safety of his family.
Law enforcement officials say the shooter was Dorner, who was fired from the Los Angeles Police Department in 2009 and allegedly posted an online manifesto in which he vowed to kill law enforcement personnel and their families.
Follow Alicia Robinson on Twitter: @arobinson_pe or online at http://blog.pe.com/riverside/
Copyright 2013 - The Press-Enterprise, Riverside, Calif.
