Remembering Det. Marconi: Loved ones, fellow officers speak at funeral service
<p>The Alamo City honors a fallen San Antonio Police Department officer: Detective Benjamin Marconi.</p>
SAN ANTONIO -- San Antonio honors a fallen San Antonio Police Department officer: Detective Benjamin Marconi.
Fellow officers, relatives and Marconi's children spoke at his funeral service Monday. They described him as a loving and caring man who was also deeply passionate about his work.
Marconi was a 20-year veteran of the San Antonio Police Department. He was part of the Special Victim's Unit.
A fellow detective said Marconi was "always a call away" when it came to handling difficult cases. He was widely trusted within SAPD.
The public was also invited to attend Marconi's funeral.
"We're going to miss him. There won't be anyone else like him," his son Dane Marconi said.
State Sen. Carlos Uresti also spoke at the funeral service and offered a Texas flag flown at the State Capitol to Marconi's family on behalf of state senators.
"There are no words that will take away your tremendous hurt, but we hope our prayers will comfort you in this time of need," Uresti said.
"He was as imperfectly perfect as you could be," Marconi's daughter Jacey Lewis said during the service.
"He served us, and he died in vain. I just feel for the family and our city that we lost a great man and officer that protected us," resident Jani Maritnez said.
As KENS 5 reported, Marconi was killed in the line of duty on Nov. 20. A public viewing and rosary took place at Porter Loring Mortuary Sunday.
"Ben was a family, a member of our community in Wilson County. I had the pleasure of meeting him twice," said Wilson County Sheriff's Deputy Michael Marr.
Marr was helping with his funeral escort company.
"I hope the community realizes what happened. We put our lives on the line," he said.
Aida Cotes from the New York Police Department also said it's important for her agency to be in San Antonio during this time. She said it's possible any officer could meet the same fate.
The San Antonio Police Department said there was not a procession from the church for a burial because it was Marconi's wish to be cremated.