Paul Bauer Funeral: Thousands Of Policemen, Residents Mourn Fallen Chicago Commander [Photos]

Commander Paul Bauer, the high-ranking Chicago police officer who was killed in the line of duty near Thompson Center on Feb. 13, was laid to rest Saturday.

Thousands gathered at the Nativity of Our Lord Catholic Church at 10 a.m. local time (11 a.m. EST) to pay their respects to the fallen soldier, where a 2-hour funeral service was held for Bauer, ABC 7 reported.

Bauer, 53, was shot after he engaged in an armed confrontation with a man who matched the description of a suspect wanted by First District tactical officers Tuesday, putting an end to his 31-year-long career in the task force.

Officers from more than 400 police agencies were present for the occasion from around the Chicago area, including the Minneapolis and Milwaukee police departments.

The first reading was done by Bauer's 13-year-old daughter, Grace, followed by Captain Mel Roman and Chief John Escalante

"You could see we're still those same kids from Gage Park," Escalante, who had been friends with Bauer since the first grade, said. "And our sense of humor always goes back to being those same kids from Gage Park, and for me with Paul, I'll tell you that's what helped me get through 30 years of the Chicago Police Department."

Other city officials shared words of gratitude for Bauer.

"Chicago is blessed to have known and been served by Paul Bauer. Chicago will never forget his grace and his goodness," Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel said.

"Paul, I'm going to miss you," Supt. Eddie Johnson said. "And while there are no words I can say to describe the depth of my gratitude, I just want to say thank you."

Archbishop Blase Cupich could not physically attend the ceremony because he was down with the flu but he sent a letter to Bauer’s family that was read out by Rev. Joe Altman at the funeral.

In the letter, the archbishop called Bauer a hero and that Chicago mourned the loss of the city’s beloved commander. Rev. Dan Brandt, said the law did not do enough to protect the men in blue, as it should.

“Paul did not give his life. His life was taken,” Brandt, who serves as the Police Department’s chaplain, said. “He fought for his life, and it was stolen by a four-time convicted felon.”

Following the funeral, hundreds of police officers carried Bauer’s flag-draped casket to Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in south suburban Alsip in a long procession through Dan Ryan Expressway, which was closed off for the ceremony, Chicago Tribune reported.

Thousands of Chicago residents lined up on either side of the procession route, which proceeded west on 37th Street, south on Halsted Street, east on Pershing Road, to 90/94 East to I-57 South to 111th Street, wearing blue and holding signs and flags in Bauer’s honor.

"He seems like someone who wasn't looking for a lot of glory," said Bridgeport resident Alanna O'Connor, who attended the procession. "He was just serving. It makes me immensely proud of this neighborhood and this family and this city."

"The entire community is out here to support everyone," said another Bridgeport resident, Tim Heise. "One of the greatest things I saw yesterday. There was a rainbow of every color police cars in Illinois, lined down the street, which was pretty spectacular."

The Bridgeport community united to grieve the loss of Bauer, tying blue ribbons around trees and hanging the commander’s photo in storefront windows. Many went up to officers standing in the frigid temperature outside the church and offered them donuts or invited them into their houses.