PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Andy Chan, the beloved Philadelphia highway patrol officer who was critically injured in a 2019 crash and died earlier this month, will be laid to rest on Tuesday following a large police procession and ceremony.
A police procession brought Chan’s casket from the John Givnish Funeral Home in the Northeast to Philadelphia police headquarters early Tuesday morning, then on foot to the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul.
A public viewing is open from 8 to 11 a.m., with a funeral service to follow. He will be buried at Laurel Hill West Cemetery.
The ceremony will be available to watch via livestream here, or in the player below:
In January 2019, Chan was riding his police motorcycle to work when he was hit by a van near Pennypack Park. He suffered a traumatic brain injury and was placed on a ventilator for weeks. He was eventually able to breathe on his own but required around-the-clock care.
Police officials announced his death on Dec. 2. He was 55.
Tuesday’s bitter cold didn’t stop hundreds of law enforcement members from showing up in support of the fallen officer.
“I think it’s important we’re all here to show unity and support for our brothers and sisters in Philadelphia as they would for us,” said Capt. Tim Reeves of the Lower Makefield Township Police Department in Bucks County. “I’ve been to a lot of these, unfortunately, and you’ll see the unity of the officers coming together nationwide.”
New Jersey Fraternal Order of Police Executive Vice President Bob Gries stood outside the church and served coffee and doughnuts as people attended the public viewing.
“Look at the name — it’s the Fraternal Order of Police. It’s the fraternalism. We’re all brothers and sisters doing the same job, same profession, putting our lives on the line every day. We have to come out and support one another. If we don’t support each other, how will others support us?” he said.
Chan was a 24-year veteran of the police department at the time of his injury. He is survived by his wife and three children.