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Funeral Held For Sgt. James O'Connor Nearly Two Months After Killed In Line Of Duty

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Funeral services were held Friday morning for a Philadelphia police sergeant killed in the line of duty nearly two months ago. The funeral for 46-year-old James O'Connor was held at Our Lady of Calvary on Knights Road in Northeast Philadelphia.

O'Connor was killed March 13 in Frankford while searching for a man wanted for murder.

james o'connor
Credit: CBS3

As bagpipes played outside the church, Sgt. O'Connor's fellow officers paid tribute to him while his casket was carried in.

Inside the church, only immediate family members could attend the service, along with a small number of police officers.

His son Jimmy, who is also a Philadelphia police officer, celebrated his father during the mass and talked about how hard it is saying goodbye under such difficult circumstances.

"The last eight weeks have been extremely difficult, to say the least. You cannot imagine the pain that our family has experienced. This isn't the way we wanted to say goodbye to my father, it's just not fair," James O'Connor V said. "When the time is right, we will give my dad the proper sendoff."

"For those who make up this police family, losing our brother in blue has been devastating, but we will honor him by never forgetting his sacrifice. Let his courage be an inspiration to each of us as we carry out our duties every day, even during these unprecedented times," Philadelphia Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw said.

Archbishop Nelson Perez took part in the ceremony, offering words of comfort to the O'Connor family.

"Those that we loved and lost and are no longer with us, are now with us wherever we are, remember," Perez said.

Several suspects are in custody for Sgt. O'Connor's death.

CBS3's Ukee Washington contributed to this report.

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