CHICAGO (WLS) — Family and friends of Chicago Police Officer Enrique Martinez gathered Monday for the slain officer’s funeral.

Officer Martinez, who recently got engaged, has been with CPD for almost three years. Many say his service to Chicago will never be forgotten.

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The 26-year-old was shot and killed in the line of duty on Nov. 4 while conducting a traffic stop in East Chatham. A 23-year-old man is charged with first-degree murder in his death. He is a convicted felon who was electronically monitored when police say he shot and killed the officer.

The details of the encounter attracted a lot of attention in the days that followed, but Monday was the day to celebrate the officer, despite some back-and-forth about whether or not some dignitaries would be there.

As duty was about to begin for Officer Martinez, so did the rain. Amid the clouds and rain, family and friends mourned the fallen officer.

Officer Martinez’s body was led by flashing lights from the funeral home to St. Rita in Cascia for his funeral service.

While many lined the funeral procession route to pay their respects to Officer Martinez, others took it a step further by adding hundreds of blue ribbons and bows to the chapel’s trees.

“I felt it was my duty to put up blue ribbons as a way to honor him,” Jenny Jurcak said.

Jurcak said he thought the chapel looked too plain. Therefore, with the help of his own mother, he spent four and a half hours adding a little blue to the entire perimeter of the chapel.

“It’s a very noble job. It’s very sad that, you know, you go to work and you can’t come home,” she said.

With two daughters on the force, she says the loss of Officer Martinez is personal.

“So I applaud him and he’s a hero to me. You know, that’s why I had to do it and honor him in my own little way,” Jurcak said.

Jurcak said he wants the community to better support first responders.

“First responders are your friends and they’re doing their job and respect them for that and have a lot of respect because, you know, they just don’t know when they’re doing this traffic stop. You know, that could backfire and go the wrong way,” Jurcak said.

CPD Superintendent Larry Snelling spoke at work Monday.

“Do not doubt it; it was exemplary,” Snelling said. “This is his day; this is his family’s day, nothing more, nothing less.”

His colleagues talked about his laugh; his non-judgmental approach to all; his love of animals, owning two German Shepherds; and his love for work.

“Enrique was the real cop. He was the best cop; he loved his job. I had the privilege of witnessing the best officer in District 6,” said Officer Francisco Nunez.

CPD Officer Lucas Michaels spoke at the “funeral night” fundraiser, which began months later. It’s a ritual meant to generate financial aid that will go to the fallen officer’s family.

“Whenever I first think about going into the job, I think about Enrique,” Michaels said.

The two were still classmates at the academy around this time three years ago.

“They dedicate their lives and they haven’t even lived a life yet,” said Rick Caballero, co-founder of Brotherhood for the Fallen, who also spoke at the fundraiser.

Among the hundreds of Chicago police officers at the funeral were hundreds of officers from other jurisdictions.

There were also some police dogs.

“He left us with memories of laughter, love and loyalty. I miss my partner, my friend, my brother, but I also take the lessons he taught me, to value those around me, to never take ourselves too seriously and to have each other another. back,” said officer Abdullah Saleh.

His older brother, who is also a Chicago police officer, talked about the lives Martinez may have saved the night he was killed.

Officer Adrian Martinez Jr. he asked those present to say his brother’s name.

“So if you can, please repeat after me. Officer Enrique Martinez, star #8314, we see you. We hear you. We feel you. You will never be forgotten,” Martinez said. “In the final tournament, my brother looked evil and terror in the face and took his last breath. He was killed on a cold, dark, forgotten street.”

Police are in the Martinez family’s blood. Martinez talked about their shared service.

“It was our calling to serve the disadvantaged and protect the forgotten. We wanted to live the life of a hero,” he said. “That night my brother saved countless lives as he was pierced by multiple bullets. Every bullet that hit my brother could have taken the life of someone’s mother, father, sister, brother or friend… A part of us died that night. Because of my brother’s strength and courage, we can all see another day.”

The funeral cortege led family and close friends to a private resting place.

There will be a benefit for the Martinez family from 7:00 PM to 11:00 PM Monday night at CineCity Studios, located at 2429 W. 14th St.

A visitation held on Sunday had many from throughout the community showing an endless amount of love and support for the Martinez family.

SEE ALSO | Friends remember fallen Chicago police officer Enrique Martinez for his sense of duty

It is the second time in the past seven months that the CPD will bury one of their own. Martinez was the fifth CPD officer killed in the line of duty in the last three years.

“We have to keep working; it’s a reminder of how important we are and how much more there is to do,” Snelling said.

The Superintendent of Police had to put a folded flag back into the arms of the mother of a fallen officer on Monday.

It was the flag that covered Martinez’s casket for days as the community and department paid tribute to his career.

A GoFundMe began collecting donations for the Martinez family.