SAN ANTONIO – Family, friends and law enforcement officers from across the nation paid their final respects Monday to slain San Antonio police Detective Benjamin Marconi.
Recommended Videos
Marconi was shot and killed Nov. 20 while writing a traffic citation near the police department downtown, police said. Otis McKane, 31, was arrested the next day and charged with capital murder.
A funeral procession that included police cruisers and motorcycles accompanied the hearse from Porter Loring Mortuary downtown to Community Bible Church at Loop 1604 and Gold Canyon Road, where a funeral Mass was celebrated.
The Rev. Phil Henning told mourners that Marconi "was a friendly, dear brother. He was a friend to so many, and he was a great man that served this city so well."
Mobile users click here to watch the 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. reports from KSAT-12.
Sgt. Norwood Jones said that Marconi was "truly was one of the best SAPD had to offer. His personality was bigger than life"
Jones said that Marconi was a big-hearted man and his smile was contagious.
"It lit your world up," he said. (View Sgt. Norwood Jones' eulogy)
Sgt. Michael Davis, who worked with Marconi in SAPD's special victim's unit, said the slain detective was "a rock" who worked on cases involving the worst crimes imaginable. He said Marconi had a calming spirit. (View Sgt. Michael Davis' eulogy)
Marconi's daughter, Jacey Lewis, said her father was "true role model" and someone who was fun to be around. She said she'll miss "his big belly laughter."
Lewis also joked about how her father would eat half of the baked goods that she prepared for school fundraisers.
She also said Marconi taught her that it wasn't always easy doing the right thing and that one should be the best that he or she can be. (View Jacey Lewis' eulogy)
Marconi's son, Dane, told mourners that his father made his friends feel like family and always kept his work separate from home, and vice-versa. (View Dane Marconi's eulogy)
State Sen. Carlos Uresti, accompanied by state Sens. Jose Menendez and Donna Campbell, presented the Marconi family with a Texas flag that once flew over the state capitol. Uresti said the Texas Senate will file a joint resolution in the Texas Legislature in January that Nov. 29 be recognized as Benjamin Marconi Day in Texas. (View video)