(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Hundreds of police officers and civilians on Wednesday paid their respects to Chicago Police Officer Ella French, who was fatally shot nearly two weeks ago.
Among the officers filing through St. Rita of Cascia near 77th and Western was Sherese Parsegian, who, at 27 years old, is only a couple of years younger than her fallen comrade.
“When I found out what happened to her, I got really, really sad, because that night I was supposed to work in the area where she died,” Parsegian said.
Also attending was retired Officer Yolanda Ortiz, who recalled another member of the Chicago Police Department member killed in the line of duty.
“I lost a great friend on the job, which was Cmdr. Paul Bauer,” Ortiz said. “That one hit me just as hard as this one with Officer French. I didn’t know her. But still — she’s part of this big family.”
French was fatally shot Aug. 7 while she and her partner were making a traffic stop in Englewood. A motorist is accused of killing her and seriously wounding the partner.
French’s funeral will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at the church. Cardinal Blase Cupich is giving the homily.