Police honor guards carrying rifles marched through the Roman Catholic Cathedral of Mary Our Queen yesterday, escorting representatives of three faiths to pay tribute to law enforcement officers who have lost their lives.
They read from Hebrew scriptures, the Bible and the Koran, telling more than 100 police officers that just as God uses precepts to instill love, the officers use secular laws to uphold justice.
Service long planned
The interfaith service had been planned for months, but it occurred just two days after Baltimore Police Lt. Owen E. Sweeney Jr. was fatally shot on Wednesday while trying to coax a mentally disturbed man out of his apartment.
"A vivid image is among us," said Cardinal William H. Keeler. "Police Lieutenant Owen Sweeney Jr.'s death less than two days ago reminds us of how tremendously important our coming together is now."
The hourlong service was full of pageantry, from wailing bagpipes played by three Prince George's County officers to the placing on the altar of two books containing hundreds of names of fallen officers.
Attended by Baltimore's police commissioner and mayor, as well as state dignitaries, the service was a prelude to Monday's funeral for Sweeney, which more than 1,000 officers from all over the country are expected to attend.
"Why are [officers] willing to place their lives on the line?" asked Rabbi Richard Camras, of the Chizuk Amuno Congregation. "To imitate God is the highest attainment of our mortality. The men and women here are doing that every day of their lives."
'Awake while we sleep'
Imam Basar Arafat noted that police officers are "always awake while we sleep" to preserve justice.
Monsignor Jeremiah F. Kenney said: "We must distinguish between lawlessness and those of us who are followers of the law. Thank you, ladies and gentlemen of law enforcement. Thank you for being involved. Thank you for being our heroes."
After the service, police officers lined up to greet the religious leaders -- police and clergy alike wearing police badges with black mourning bands in tribute to Sweeney, the latest law enforcement casualty in Maryland.
Outside the cathedral, James V. Aluisi, president of the Maryland Sheriff's Association, stood shaking his head. He had placed the two books listing the fallen officers on the altar but could not remember how many names were listed.
"Unfortunately, there are too many," Aluisi said.
Pub Date: 5/10/97
