Funeral Held For Philadelphia Police Sgt James O’Connor



Dawn Altstatt- Photo- Special to Delaware Valley News.com. The body of Sgt. O’Connor is carried in his SWAT vehicle.

by Alex Lloyd Gross

Sgt.James O’Connor was gunned down in March serving and arrest warrant.You can read the original story here His family was not able to hold a proper funeral for him until the coronavirus was gone. It is far from gone but the family felt it was time to hold this service today, May 8 2020. It was closed to the public.  Only a small gathering of family and friends were at Our Lady of Calvery Church in Northeast Philadelphia.

Dawn Altstatt Photo- Special to Delaware Valley News.com Police Salute the coffin inside the SWAT vehicle as it is driven up Knights Road.

The procession was a long one. Streets were closed as the funeral procession made it’s way to Ressurection in Bensalem, which is off Hulmeville Road.  The Philadelphia Police helicopter flew overhead as the procession moved forward. Inside the church, O’Connor’s son, James O’Connor V, spoke of his father.”This isn’t the way we wanted to say goodbye to my father. It’s just not fair. When the time is right, we’ll give my father a proper send-off, he said.

inside the church, Mayor Kenney and Commissioner Outlaw gave their remarks.

There was a public procession earlier where hundreds of police and firefighters showed up to ride by his house.That had never been done before. Due to COVID-19  it was a way of the department to show their love and respect. There will be a public memorial after the coronavirus is under control, officials said.