(MOBILE, Ala.) - There are few times a police officer feels helpless.
Losing a fellow officer is one of those times.
"Absolutely," says Lt. Brad Penton of the Chickasaw Police Department. "Because we're called to handle situations that can't be handled by a normal citizen and civilians. So whenever there is a situation such as this, we can't be there to do what we ordinarily do by helping, and that's what we want to do."
And what Lt. Penton and hundreds of other officer across the Gulf Coast wanted to do today, was be at the side of fallen Mobile Police Officer Steven Dion Green.
"We lost someone we care very dearly for," says Mobile Police Chief Micheal T. Williams, "someone we love. We lost a brother."
Law enforcement officers and civilians lined up to watch the procession go by, showing support to friends, family and coworkers of slain Officer Green.
But some of Green's law enforcement family had already felt the appreciation of a grateful city.
Mobile Police Lt. Stephanie Smith recalls something that happened before the funeral.
"Just this morning, we went to have some breakfast before coming," she says. "And a gentleman came over and offered his prayers for us and paid for our breakfast. And he was so thankful he had a law enforcement agency, and was sorry to hear about Officer Green. It was just real touching."
The killing of Officer Green happened last week, when he was stabbed by a suspect he was transporting to Metro Jail. And even though it didn't happen in her city, Prichard resident Jaqueline Finley showed up to express her appreciation.
"All police officers are special to me." she says.
Inside the Sunlight District Auditorium in Prichard, voiced united to sing the hymns... "One Day at a Time" and "Hold to God's Unchanging Hands". There would be a standing ovation for all police officers, then personal testimonies about the man they came to honor, Officer Steven Dion Green. Each was eager to explain why the officer, the father, the little league coach, was so special.
But earlier in the day, there was another voice that asked to be heard.
Samuel Marconi, who says he's a homeless vet, shed tears and offered praise for a man he will never forget.
"One day he came up to me, and he offered me some food, you know," says Marconi, his voice trembling. "He was a good man... he was a good man. I just don't understand why he got killed. He was a gem."
