Thousands gather in Oakland to honor fallen officers

From the top of De Soto Street, it was impossible to distinguish exactly how many police cars,… From the top of De Soto Street, it was impossible to distinguish exactly how many police cars, trucks and motorcycles were climbing the hill leading to the Petersen Events Center. The silent parade of red and blue lights deliberately ascended the hill as thousands of onlookers watched in silence and awe.

Some were taking pictures, many were crying, but everyone was silent.

‘It was eerie to have so many people and for it to be so quiet, ‘ Pitt student Cathryn Vasunda said. ‘It’s surreal.’

City police spokeswoman Diane Richard estimated that 15,000 to 20,000 people are in attendance at the ceremony.

The memorial service at the Petersen Events Center today virtually shut down Oakland this morning because of the miles-long procession from the City-County building, where the caskets had been on display yesterday for mourners to pay their respects. The service began at 2:30 this afternoon.

The service is honoring city police officers Paul J. Sciullo II, Eric Kelly and Stephen J. Mayhle, who were killed while responding to a domestic disturbance call Saturday in Stanton Heights, near Lawrenceville.

Patty Mandia watched the procession red-eyed as she grasped an American flag.

Mandia’s husband is a lieutenant for Zone 5, the same police bureau that lost the three officers honored today.

Mandia left her job at UPMC Presbyterian’s Intensive Care Unit to wait in front of the center for hours, so she could get a good view of the procession.

She said it left her speechless.

‘It’s just very, very sad,’ she added.

Kim Shuttleworth, who works with Mandia at UPMC, stood with her into the early afternoon. Shuttleworth’s husband is also a Zone 5 police officer.

‘It’s amazing, their brotherhood,’ she said. ‘You hope you never have to tell someone what it’s like being here.’

Police Sgt. David Ellis felt that brotherhood from as far away as his hometown of Lansing, Mi.

‘We’re members of an honor guard,’ he said. ‘We came to pay tribute to others who sacrificed everything for their city.’

Ellis arrived in Pittsburgh at about 1 a.m. Thursday.

Richard Poplawski, 22, is charged with three counts of homicide in the shooting deaths of the officers.

See view photos of the memorial, visit The Pitt News photo blog.

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