CHICAGO — On a blustery late winter morning, Southsiders gathered to say goodbye to a fallen Chicago police officer with respect and gratitude. The community lined 103rd Street and Western Avenue for the procession of CPD Officer Andres Vasquez-Lasso, who was killed in the line of duty March 1 responding to a domestic call.
Residents from Oak Lawn, Evergreen Park, and the Beverly and Mount Greenwood neighborhoods, where many of the city’s first responders live, lined 103rd Street for the 32-year-old officer’s ride from Blake-Lamb Funeral Home to St. Rita of Cascia Shrine Chapel.
The day before, a long line of Chicago police officers, some in dress uniform, more coming on or off their shifts, stretched around the Oak Lawn funeral home. A pair of Chicago Mounted Patrol horses pawed restlessly on the pavement, standing guard by the big front doors of Blake-Lamb.
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When the hearse left the funeral home promptly at 9:25 a.m., schoolkids and residents fanned out across both sides of the street in a show of hope and kindness.
CPD Mounted Patrol Unit at Blake-Lamb Funeral Home | Lorraine Swanson
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Blake-Lamb Funeral Home for the visitation of Ofcr. Vasquez-Lasso. | CPD
A house on 103rd Street decked out in support of the fallen CPD officer. | Lorraine Swanson
The hearse carrying the body of 32-year-old CPD Officer Andres Vazquez-Lasso | Village of Evergreen Park.
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Evergreen Park firefighters salute fallen CPD Officer Andres Vasquez-Lasso. | Village of Evergreen Park
Residents wait for the procession to start down 103rd Street. | Lorraine Swanson
Students line up in front of Queen of Martyrs for a fallen CPD officer. | Queen of Martyrs
Queen of Martyrs Church and School | Queen of Martyrs
CPD Officer Vasquez-Lasso’s procession to his final resting place. | CPD
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