Hundreds of mourners gathered in Philadelphia on Tuesday for the funeral Mass of police officer Shane Seiber, who was shot and killed in an ambush in West Philadelphia earlier this month.
The service took place at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul in Center City, where colleagues, relatives and public figures paid tribute to the 40-year-old officer, a husband and father of two. A private burial was due to follow the service. ([fox29.com](https://www.fox29.com/news/funeral-mass-held-tuesday-fallen-philadelphia-police-officer-shane-seiber))
Seiber was posthumously promoted to sergeant during the Mass, in a customary honour for officers killed in the line of duty.
Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker and Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro addressed the congregation. Ms Parker told Seiber’s family that the city would share their grief and remember his service.
“While we cannot take away the pain of this loss, we can promise that you do not have to carry it alone,” she said. “Your city stands beside you, and the people Officer Seiber served in our communities will remember what he gave.”
Tributes to Philadelphia police officer Shane Seiber
Seiber’s widow, Lisa, and their children, Finn and Emily, were among those mourning him. He spent parts of his childhood in Levittown, Langhorne and north-east Philadelphia.
Before joining the Philadelphia Police Department in 2016, Seiber enlisted in the US Air Force in 2006. He served with the 436th Security Forces at Dover Air Force Base and completed two tours of duty in Iraq.
An obituary described him as someone who could make people smile and laugh, and said he was affectionately known as “Colgate” because of his ever-present grin.
Seiber was killed on 10 October after he and Officer Hector Rodriguez responded to a report of a person with a gun on North 52nd Street in West Philadelphia. Investigators allege that the officers were met with gunfire when they arrived.
The suspect, Eric Lewis, has been charged with homicide of a law enforcement officer, attempted murder and other offences. Police allege that he fired at several officers during the ensuing confrontation before surrendering.
Rodriguez was shot 12 times in the attack. Philadelphia Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel said he was making progress, was able to talk and had begun walking during his recovery. ([fox29.com](https://www.fox29.com/news/funeral-mass-held-tuesday-fallen-philadelphia-police-officer-shane-seiber))
Before Tuesday’s service, a police procession escorted Seiber’s coffin from the Philadelphia Public Services Building to the basilica. The city also arranged temporary road closures and ordered flags to be flown at half-staff until his interment. ([inquirer.com](https://www.inquirer.com/crime/philadephia-police-officer-shane-seiber-funeral-20261020.html?utm_source=openai))
