Family, friends and community members gather to honor fallen Chicago police officer

(CHICAGO) Fox 32 - Thursday night’s rainy conditions didn’t stop thousands of people wanting to offer their condolences to the family of Officer Conrad Gary, one of two Chicago police officers fatally struck by a train while investigating gunfire on Monday night.

The mourners stood in line for hours waiting to get inside the Blake Lamb Funeral Home in Oak Lawn to pay their respects.

“You are happy people are honoring him, but at the same time, it's not the way you want it,” said Jean Huggy, a family friend.

The 31-year-old officer had been with the department for 18 months, just off his probationary period. Huggy knows the Gary family and watched Officer Gary grow up.

“[He was] always a go-getter, funny, active, proud to go into the Air Force,” said Huggy.

The services began at 3 p.m. Thursday but many lined up early, including local leaders such as Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart and County Commissioner John Daly. Friends, strangers and first responders from across the country also waited in line in the rain to say their final goodbyes.

The police union president says it was a difficult day.

“It's difficult when we lose them in a senseless tragedy like this - while they were doing their jobs as heroes,” said Kevin Graham, Police Union President.

At 7 p.m., the visitation paused for a traditional St. Jude ceremony in honor of the fallen officers, led by a Chicago police chaplain.

Officer Gary initially joined the Air Force after attending Oak Lawn Community High School. He leaves behind a wife and infant daughter. Money is being raised for his family through a GoFundMe account.

The visitation for Officer Eduardo Marmolejo will be Friday at 3 p.m. at the Blake Lamb Funeral Home.