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Update: Riverside police officer Michael Crain honored and buried in Riverside (Photos, Map)
Michael Crain's wife Regina mourns this loss of her husband who was ambushed by Christopher Dorner in Riverside.
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Mae Ryan/KPCC
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Riverside Police Officers salute Michael Crain's casket at the Riverside National Cemetery. Crain was shot dead by Christopher Dorner on February 7th, 2013.
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Michael Crain's mother mourns the loss of her son saying "I just have to say goodbye to him one last time."
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Riverside Police Officers console each other outside of Grove Community Church before Michael Crain's funeral on February 13th, 2013.
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Riverside Police Officers fold an American flag over Michael Crain's casket at the Riverside National Cemetery.
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Riverside Police Officers watch a flyover at Riverside National Cemetery.
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Twins Saydee and Sophee Salcedo stand with their grandmother Mary Ann Taylor before Michael Crain's funeral on February 13th, 2013.
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Riverside police line the walkway of the Grove Community Church for Michael Crain's funeral on February 13th, 2013 in Riverside, Calif. Crain was shot dead by Christopher Dorner on February 7th.
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Michael Crain's wife Regina walks into her husband's funeral at Grove Community Church in Riverside, Calif. with her four-year-old daughter Kaitlyn and her 10-year-old stepson Ian.
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Officer Velazquez prepares for the procession from Acheson and Graham Mortuary to the Grove Community Church for Michael Crain's funeral.
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The university of California Riverside Pipe Band practices its formation before Michael Crain's funeral on February 13th, 2013.
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Riverside explorers and cadets line up in front of Grove Community Church before Michael Crain's funeral in Riverside on February 13th, 2013.
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A Riverside Police Officer holds an American Flag that will be laid on-top of Michael Crain's casket on February 13th, 2013.
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Riverside Police Officers salute Michael Crain's casket as it is transported to the Riverside National Cemetery.
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Officers practice holding a casket outside of Michael Crain's funeral at Grove Community Church in Riverside on February 13th, 2013.
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Orange County Sheriff's salute Michael Crain's casket at the Riverside National Cemetery on February 13th, 2013.
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Civil Air Patrol cadet Yozlaynee Aragon holds flowers at Michael Crain's memorial service at Riverside National Cemetery.
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Riverside Police Officers attend Michael Crain's memorial at the Riverside National Cemetery.
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Police forces gather at the Riverside National Cemetery for Michael Crain's funeral.
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A Riverside Police Officer hands a folded American flag to Michael Crain's mother while Crain's wife Regina and daughter Kaitlyn look on.
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Planes fly over Michael Crain's funeral services.
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Riverside Police Officers wait for the procession to begin from the Acheson and Graham Mortuary in Riverside, Calif. The Riverside Sheriff's office is policing the city while the entire Riverside Police force is attending the funeral.
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Riverside police bring Michael Crain's casket into the Grove Community Church in Riverside, Calif. on February 13th, 2013.
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An officer adjusts his hat near the hearse that will drive Michael Crain's body to Grove Community Church, where funeral services for Crain will be held.
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Story Caption:
Riverside officers walk into the Acheson and Graham Mortuary in Riverside, Calif. before the procession for Michael Crain, a Riverside Police Officer who was gunned down by Christopher Dorner, on February 13th, 2013.
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Listen
2:58
Update: Riverside police officer Michael Crain honored and buried in Riverside (Photos, Map)
Thousands of people gathered Wednesday morning for the funeral of Riverside police officer Michael Crain. He died last week in an ambush, allegedly by Christopher Dorner.
Before an audience of thousands of people — including Gov. Jerry Brown and hundreds of police officers in full dress uniform — Regina Crain stood before a microphone at the Grove Community Church Wednesday and remembered her husband, Riverside Police officer Michael Crain.
“I’m going to miss our weekends. That was our bonding time," said Crain, whose husband Christopher Dorner allegedly shot and killed last week. "Family was just so important to him," she added. "There was nothing he would not do.”
Including dance ballet with his daughter.
“When the baby started dancing, I was working, and there was a ‘Mommy and Me’ class. It became a ‘Daddy and Me’ class," she said. She emailed the teacher recently who told her: " It just really stood out in her mind what a loving and devoted father he was to be in a ballet class dancing with this baby.”
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Riverside Police Chief Sergio Diaz delivered the official eulogy. He described Crain as a tough man, who was also known for being gentle and kind. Diaz fought back tears as he spoke directly to Crain’s children, 10-year-old son Ian and four-year-old daughter Kaitlyn.
“Your dad was a tough guy,” he said. Crain, an 11-year police veteran and former Marine, was also a great friend — and a great listener, Diaz added.
Crain served with the Riverside Police Department's SWAT team and also worked as a firearms instructor and a field training officer.
Riverside resident Jeanne Malcuit came to the church to honor the fallen officer. She was awestruck by the size of the crowd.
“It’s overwhelming to see,” she said, standing outside the church in a residential neighborhood. She felt compelled to show support for Riverside Police Department and was touched by the oversized American flag that officers hoisted between two fire trucks at the entrance to the church grounds.
Crain was killed on Feb.7 during an ambush at a stoplight, according to police. At the time, Crain was on patrol with a trainee officer, who was also injured.
Police officers were seen patrolling rooftops, and SWAT officers with dogs walked the perimeter of the Grove Community Church before the service.
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RELATED: LAPD manhunt: The search for alleged cop killer Christopher Dorner
After the funeral, an elaborate motorcade including dozens of black-and-white patrol cars and fleets of motorcycles escorted the hearse carrying Crain’s casket to the second ceremony at Riverside National Cemetery. Community members gathered along the route holding signs of support and waving American flags.
Hundreds of law enforcement officers from throughout Southern California attended the event. Some were in tears; others hugged each other and shared stories of Crain.
“This brings closure,” Vernon police chief Daniel Calleros said at the cemetery. “It gives us the opportunity to begin to heal and move forward in our lives."
This story has been updated.
Michael Crain Funeral Procession Maps by scprweb
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But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
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