Funeral Honors Murdered Riverside Cop
Video by Monica Parra
Thousands attended the funeral Wednesday of the Riverside police officer allegedly killed by Christopher Dorner.
Officer Michael Crain, 34, was shot and killed last week while sitting in a marked patrol car and waiting at a red light, according to police.
Family, friends and colleagues gathered at Grove Community Church in Riverside to eulogize the 11-year veteran of the city's police force. Outside, hundreds of mourners watched the proceedings inside on an over-sized TV screen.
"Help us to let go with hope," prayed Chaplain Steve Ballinger during his opening prayer.
"Mike was never overbearing with the trainees... [and he] did not abuse the authority we gave him," Diaz said.
Detective Steve Pounds recalled the day he first met Crain in 2002, when the former Marine arrived for a ride-along to shadow the day-to-day work of a Riverside police officer.
To answer each question, said Pounds, Crain "threw a 'Sir' in at the end of every reply," underscoring his military training.
Crain's brother Jason and childhood friends Rob and Joe spoke as a trio, arms wrapped around each other's shoulders, as they reminisced.
But it was wife Gina's eulogy that struck deep, masking grief with candor.
"I think everybody thinks I'm nuts for getting up here and talking," said Gina. "I'm starting to think they're right."
His widow opened by reciting their wedding vows and dwelled on family rituals like Sunday morning breakfasts. She recalled a husband who learned baseball so he could coach their son, Ian, 10, and participated in ballet class with their daughter, Kaitlyn, 4.
As a slideshow of family photos was projected on a screen above the Church's altar to music including "Knockin' on Heaven's Door," wife Gina stood over her husband's coffin near the front of the church. An American flag was draped over the coffin, and members of the Riverside police force flanked either side.
Crain was born on April 9, 1978 in Anaheim, California. He wore badge number 1226 for the Riverside Police Department. In addition to his wife and two children, he is survived by his parents, Stephen and Cynthia, as well as his siblings, Jason and Leslie.
