Thousands attend Cassidy Funeral Mass

Speaking before a congregation of family, friends, politicians and police at the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul, the Rev. Carl Janicki quoted the words of Jesus at the Funeral Mass for slain Officer Chuck Cassidy.

"No one has greater love than this to lay down one's life down for one's friends," said Janicki, the president of Cardinal Dougherty High School.

"Christ's words tell us exactly what happened to Chuck's life on Wednesday, Oct. 31. At that moment in the [Dunkin' Donuts] shop, virtue and vice met.

"It may appear vice won that day," Janicki said. "Vice may win the moment, but virtue always wins the day."

Cassidy was shot Oct. 31 when he interrupted an armed robbery. The man suspected of his slaying, John Lewis, today waived extradition from Florida, where he was arrested yesterday. He later confessed in front of reporters.

About 1,800 people filled the spacious cathedral, including Gov. Rendell, Mayor Street, Mayor-elect Michael Nutter, U.S. Attorney Patrick L. Meehan, and Seamus P. McCaffery, elected yesterday to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.

Police Commissioner Sylvester M. Johnson led a massive contingent of uniformed Philadelphia officers, many of whom wept openly during the Mass and the remembrance delivered by Tony Conti, Cassidy's brother-in-law.

Cassidy's wife, Judy, and their children, Katie, Colby and John, sat in the front pews, along with other family. His daughters stroked the metal coffin.

An overflow crowd watched the Mass on closed-circuit television from a chapel next door. And perhaps a thousand more - including legions of formally uniformed law enforcement officers - watched on a stadium-sized screen in the park across from the cathedral.

Patrol cars from far and wide were on the scene, as well as vehicles from the Maryland Transportation Authority, Temple University Police and the Pennsylvania State Police.

Officers from the District of Columbia and New Castle, Del., filed into the church alongside officers from Collingdale, Lansdowne, Clifton Heights, Darby Township and Folcroft. Members of the University of Pennsylvania police also attended the services.

Police cars held back I-95 traffic to make way for a procession bearing Cassidy's casket to the Basilica for a public viewing, which began at 7 a.m.

An honor guard of Philadelphia police saluted as Cassidy's casket was carried into the Cathedral Basilica before sunrise.

Family, friends and well-wishers who did not know Cassidy braved the chilly weather and waited in line to pay their respects. By 8:30 a.m., the line of mourners stretched outside the Cathedral Basilica and snaked along to the corner of 17th and Race Streets.

Emergency Medical Technician Andre Curaton did not know Officer Cassidy, but he arrived at the service at 6:45 a.m. to pay his respects.

"Even the thugs up there say he was a real nice guy," Curaton said. "If you notice, they're mourning up there, the whole community is mourning. As an EMT, I pray to God I don't get a call like that - an officer down."

Before heading to City Hall to pick a jury, Judge Amanda Cooperman visited the service. "I'm just paying my respects," said Cooperman, who did not know Cassidy. "I know he's a fine officer. It's a great loss."

Because of expected large crowds, a large projection screen was set up across the street from the Cathedral to televise the proceedings. The screen, set up near the Swann Fountain on Logan Circle, also projected photographs of Cassidy and his family.

Lamar Cargile stood in line with a bouquet of flowers. The Logan resident didn't know Cassidy but saw him once or twice in the neighborhood.

"It wasn't easy to come down here. I didn't get a chance to know him as I should have," Cargile said.

"I have respect for all police officers. They're just going out to do a job like everybody else," he said.

A pamphlet given out at the service listed a personal message from Cassidy's family and friends:

"We love you . . . For your loyalty and dedication to us, your friends, and your work. For always making us laugh. For the special way you spoke to us - 'Thing and thang,' 'whaaaaatttaaa donkey!' 'doesn't have anything to do with the price of cheese.' "

Afterward, a mile-long motorcade of flashing squad cars and motorcycles escorted the funeral procession onto the Schuylkill Expressway to Cheltenham, where Cassidy was buried at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery with full honors.