Solemn
rites for a courageous officer
By Lou Baldwin
Special to The CS&T
On Friday, May 9, for the second time in six months, Philadelphia’s
Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul was the setting for the final
solemn rites for a police officer slain in the line of duty.
Last Nov. 7, the funeral Mass was for Officer Chuck Cassidy, who was murdered
after he interrupted a robbery in progress at a West Oak Lane Dunkin Donuts.
This time, the funeral was for police Sergeant Stephen Liczbinski. He
was shot to death on May 3 when he responded to a bank robbery in Port
Richmond, the neighborhood of his own childhood.
Representing Cardinal Justin Rigali, who was in Rome, Auxiliary Bishop
Joseph P. McFadden was the principal celebrant and homilist at the Mass,
which was attended by Sgt. Liczbinski’s wife, Michelle; their three
children, Matt, Steve and Amber; friends and relatives; civic officials,
and a virtual sea of uniformed officers who filled the cathedral. Others
viewed the funeral from a screen in the cathedral chapel or stood in the
rain outside. Among the concelebrants were Bishops Robert P. Maginnis,
Joseph R. Cistone and Daniel E. Thomas.
Speaking of the supreme sacrifice Sgt. Liczbinski made, Bishop McFadden
said, “Our Lord Jesus pointed out that there is no greater love
than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. Last Saturday
afternoon, Sgt. Steve Liczbinski laid down his life for all of the citizens
of this City of Brotherly Love. We cannot and will not forget his heroic
act.
“Today, as we gather at this liturgy, we join his act of love to
that of Jesus Christ, who offered Himself on the cross for the sins of
the world,” the Bishop said.
Among the concelebrating priests at the liturgy was Father Charles E.
Bonner, pastor of the Liczbinski family’s home parish of St. Cecelia.
He would later preside at the graveside rites, after the immense funeral
cortege wended its way to Resurrection Cemetery in Bensalem.
Father Bonner’s parish was understandably shocked to have one of
its own killed in the line of duty. At the parish school, all the classes
went one-by-one to the church for a Holy Hour and rosary service for the
fallen police officer and other public servants.
“It was beautiful and heartwarming to see these children praying
for them,” Father Bonner said. “This week in church, we will
pray to ask God to give the family strength.”
He noted that Cardinal Rigali visited the family in the evening of the
day Sgt. Liczbinski died. “They were very appreciative that he took
time out from his busy schedule to come to see them,” he said.
Altar servers for the funeral mass were drawn from students at St. Cecilia
School and students in the parish who attend Roman Catholic High School.
Also among the concelebrants at the Mass was Msgr. James J. Howard, for
30 years the chaplain of the League of the Sacred Heart — the fraternal
group for Catholic police, firefighters and peace officers.
Msgr. Howard has participated in many such funerals over the years. Sgt.
Liczbinski’s funeral came during National Police Week, when the
League had its annual retreat at Malvern — and also when its members
took part in ceremonies at the eternal flame in Franklin Square to honor
fallen police officers including Officer Cassidy; Officer Gary Skerski,
who was killed in May 2006, and Sgt. Liczbinski.
“This man is typical,” Msgr. Howard said of Sgt. Liczbinski.
“There he was, with his dying breath asking the man helping him
to give his love to his family.
“Why do all of these people take the risk of the job of police officer
or firefighter? They do it because they appreciate family,” Msgr.
Howard added. “That gives them the courage and the conviction to
go out and serve the people. I love working with them — and what
it has done for my priesthood.”
After a morning viewing in the Cathedral, and before the start of the
Mass, Philadelphia Police Commissioner Charles H. Ramsey Jr. put Sgt.
Liczbinski’s sacrifice in the context of his profession.
“He represents the kind of heroism that takes place throughout our
country every day by men and women in uniform,” the commissioner
said. “Steve isn’t a hero in my mind because of how he died.
He is a hero because, many years ago, he answered a call. He knew that
he wanted to help others and as a result he became a police officer.”
All police officers know there is a possibility they could be killed some
day, said Sergeant Ray Evers, who works in the department’s office
of public affairs.
“You try not to think about it,” he said.
Back when Sgt. Evers was with the police force’s South Detectives,
he often worked closely with Sgt. Liczbinski, who was in the Fourth District.
“If we had an issue, Steve and his partner were the first persons
we would go to for help,” he said. “He was a really, really
good cop and did his job well. That’s why detectives relied on him.”
Now, in the public affairs office, Sgt. Evers is among the first to know
when there has been a tragic incident. “When you can put a face
to the name, it does affect you,” he said. “It hurts.”
The funeral Mass was followed by a short tribute by Matt Liczbinski, who,
in honor of his father, led the congregation in a rousing cheer for the
Philadelphia Flyers hockey team. If tragedy had not intervened, his dad
would have watched the team play that evening.
Then, to the wail of bagpipes, the fallen officer’s coffin was taken
from the cathedral for the slow, final motorcade to his grave.
Lou Baldwin is a member of St. Leo Parish and a freelance writer.