Posted on Fri, May. 9, 2008
More than 250 police officers yesterday made a solemn march - four abreast, up a slowly curving road from Archbishop Ryan High School to John F. Givnish Funeral Home - to look one last time upon the face of their fallen comrade, Sgt. Stephen Liczbinski.
As the phalanx, led by Police Commissioner Charles H. Ramsey and about 100 commanders, passed a gathering of people on the trek along Academy Road in the Far Northeast, mourners overcome by emotion began to clap.
"My father is a retired officer," said Kimberly Ventresci, 37, who cried and clutched her daughter. "I know what it's like to wait up at night listening for your dad to come home.
"And those kids waited, and their dad didn't come home."
Liczbinski died Saturday, three days before he would have turned 40. He was the third Philadelphia officer killed in the line of duty in the last two years. All died from gunshots when they intervened in robberies.
Colleagues praised the Northeast Philadelphia resident as an alert officer with a capacious memory and an instinct for fighting crime.
"It's very sad," said Ramsey as he left the viewing. "It's very sad to see him in there. It's worse to see his family."
The department had worked hard to capture the last of three suspects in the shooting before the funeral today, and did so Wednesday night.
"It brings some relief for the family," Ramsey said, "but it won't bring him back."
The youngest of nine siblings, Liczbinski leaves behind his wife, Michele, and their children: Matt, 25; Steve, 23; and Amber, 15.
Outside the funeral home, Liczbinski's sister Flora looked at a symbolically empty squad car and embraced friends and family before walking down to greet the hundreds of people waiting to pay their respects. Many had arrived in buses that shuttled people from Archbishop Ryan to the funeral home, where they gathered near a sign that read in black plastic letters: "Sgt. Stephen Liczbinski. May the songs of angels welcome you."
A 12-year veteran, Liczbinski spent much of his career as an officer in South Philadelphia's Fourth Police District. After he was promoted to sergeant last year, he was transferred to the 24th District in Kensington and Port Richmond.
Capt. Joseph F. Zaffino, who ran the Fourth when Liczbinski worked on the burglary detail there, said the pain of losing a good cop and a close friend was difficult to take.
"Usually we tell stories of the good times to get over the hurt, but not tonight, not in that room," Zaffino said, motioning to the funeral parlor, which had been decorated with Liczbinski's Philadelphia Flyers memorabilia and photos of him and his wife.
Police said they would keep the doors to the funeral parlor open as long as people kept coming. The family stayed, too, as the public walked through a large white tent and into the viewing room, where Liczbinski's body lay in a wooden casket with the lid open.
Carla Wilson, 45, lives just a few blocks away. She came to understand what her sister, a Philadelphia detective for six years, goes through on the job.
"I felt sad. Somewhat at rest that they captured everyone, but mostly sad," she said.
Another viewing will be held today at the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul, followed by a Funeral Mass there and burial at Resurrection Cemetery in Bensalem.
Contact staff writer John Sullivan
at 215-854-2473 or johnsullivan@phillynews.com.
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