AP/Joe Raymond
Bike patrol police officers stand as an honor guard for former Lake County Chief Gary Martin.



AP Photo/Joe Raymond

Martin, a former Lake County Chief, was killed last week during a bike ride in support of fallen officers.


AP Photo/Joe Raymond

Police officers head toward a funeral service for Gary Martin at Our Lady of Consolation Church, in Merrillville, Ind., Aug. 28.


Courtesy of WTHR


Merrillville, Ind.-- Family and friends are saying goodbye to a fallen officer Monday. The funeral for Retired Lake County Sheriff's Department Chief Gary Martin is underway. He and another officer were killed last week while cycling for charity.
Hundreds of lawmen from across Indiana are honoring Martin, a man who had a varied and distinguished career as a steelworker in the Gary mills, an instructor in college classrooms, a Gary police officer and chief of Lake County Sheriff's Department.
Mourners packed Our Lady of Consolation Church, which holds 1,200 people, and the congregation overflowed so that those who couldn't get in watched the service on a video screen. Motorcycles lined up outside, and over 400 officers went into the church.
"He was respected quite well - certainly the African-American community, they just loved him. He was the type of person who when he gave his word, he meant his word. He was the type of person that in the capcity of law enforcment, he would not tolerate police officers being disrespectful to citizens. He was the type of person that would help a young person at IU who couldn't afford to go to college pay the tuition and give them an understanding as to how they can get monies to make it through school and walk through that process with them. He was that type of person," said Bernard Carter, Lake County prosecutor.
Martin and a state police officer, Gary Dudley, were killed last week while participating in a statewide bicycle ride to raise money and awareness for the families of other officers killed in the line of duty.
In the midst of their grief, the family, colleagues and friends of Gary Martin are trying to celebrate his life. One officer pointed out that Martin's life was drawn to a dangerous path in the service of others.
Lt. Gary Dudley's funeral will be held Tuesday.

Republished with permission of WTHR.