Final salute to fallen officer

Before an audience of thousands, Cassidy's brother-in-law, Tony Conti, said if that happens, "at least we will have a sense of an answer" for why he died.

The most powerful politicians in the city and state heard his message. In the front row were Gov. Rendell, Mayor Street, and Mayor-elect Michael Nutter. Behind them were hundreds of senior police officers and rank-and-file members of Cassidy's squad from the 35th District, who had placed red roses, one by one, at an altar.

More than 2,000 people crammed into the basilica and its chapel for the Funeral Mass, with another thousand watching the service on a giant video screen outside.

Before the service began, family photos of Cassidy flashed on the big screen. Officers and passersby paused and watched as a slide show took everyone inside his world.

There were photos of a trip to Walt Disney World; Cassidy walking down the aisle with his bride, Judy; the family at Christmas; a daughter's graduation; a group shot of a softball team.

Several police said what made this funeral harder to take than others was the way Cassidy was killed. The shooting was captured on surveillance tape, and video clips were played over and over again on television leaving people with a vivid, disturbing feeling of being a witness to murder.

"He was ambushed," said Jerry McLaughlin, a retired Philadelphia officer who knew Cassidy and attended yesterday's funeral with his 3-year-old daughter. "He was the third cop shot in a week. Just the way it happened - he didn't have a chance."

Skip Kane, a retired Philadelphia detective, said, "This seems a lot more cold-blooded."

Joseph O'Brien, a retired captain who worked with Cassidy, said the rising violence in the city was adding to people's anguish.

"When they see a police officer shot like that, it reminds them of how vulnerable they are," O'Brien said.

People started lining up for a public viewing before the basilica opened its doors at 7:30 a.m. Many did not have a direct connection to Cassidy, but felt compelled to pay their respect.

Cecilia Hodge has an uncle who is a police officer in Florida, and said the death of any officer hits close to home. She took a morning break from her job with a securities firm to attend the viewing.

"These guys are on the streets to protect us," she said. "If you take that away, what protection do we have?"

Cassidy, 54, a 25-year veteran and father of three, was shot in the head at point-blank range Oct. 31 after he walked in on a robbery at a Dunkin' Donuts store in West Oak Lane. He died a day later. After an intensive manhunt, police in Miami arrested 21-year-old John Lewis on Tuesday.

"It's a hard day, a sad day," said Police Commissioner Sylvester M. Johnson as he arrived at the basilica before the service. "It's difficult for me because this happened under my watch."

Police came from as far as New York City, Baltimore, Lancaster and Harrisburg, with hundreds of state troopers from Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey and Delaware as well as representatives from suburban departments: Cherry Hill, Abington, Cheltenham, Collingdale, Haddon Township.

Ken Coluzzi, the police chief in Lower Makefield Township and a former homicide officer in Philadelphia, said a hit to the Philadelphia department is felt by everyone.

"Suburban police departments look to Philadelphia as the home team," Coluzzi said. "We're rooting for them. It's heartbreaking. This affects every police officer."

During his homily, the Rev. Carl Janicki, president of Cardinal Dougherty High School, Cassidy's alma mater, said Cassidy laid down his life for friends.