Police, family gather for funeral of Detroit Police Officer Loren Courts

Sunshine erupted through the clouds Monday morning, bringing light to a dark day for the Detroit Police Department as it prepared to lay one of its own, officer Loren Courts, to rest after he was killed in the line of duty earlier this month.

Dozens of police cars from departments all over Michigan and beyond flooded the streets of Detroit from all directions, including border patrol agents and EMS, Canadian police and even a silver Chevrolet carrying NYPD law enforcement officers to Greater Grace Temple for the funeral.

More police vehicles lined 7 Mile Road in front of the church between Telegraph and Lahser roads, while orange and white city barriers blocked traffic.

Replay: Funeral for Detroit Police Officer Loren Courts

More: Nightmarish moments inside Detroit police cars on night of Loren Courts' fatal shooting

A line of law enforcement officers stood in front of the vehicles outside the church.

Detroit police motorcycles rolled in with lights flashing right before black Cadillacs filled with family members of Courts pulled up to the doors of the west side megachurch, escorted by two police cars.

More: Wife of fatally shot Detroit Police Officer Loren Courts: I'm 'completely heartbroken'

Law enforcement officers saluted the family with their right hands and stood at attention as the family exited the vehicles, with doors opened by funeral home directors.

The quiet was stark, for nearly 10 minutes. All that could be heard was the opening and closing of car doors, birds chirping and children playing in a nearby park. A large, diverse crowd of attendees stood patiently waiting to enter Greater Grace after the family walked in.

Greeting guests were members of a support group, MCOPS, for those who have lost loved ones in the line of duty, pinning blue ribbons on guests' clothing.

One of them was Ricky Armour, 74, or Ann Arbor. He lost his son, Charles Armour, a 14-year-veteran of the Detroit Police Department in 2011. Like Courts, Charles Armour was 40 when he was hit and killed by a car while on duty in Greektown. He left behind a daughter who was 5 at the time of his death, now 16.

The work Ricky Armour is doing with MCOPS, “it means everything" to him, he said.

When his son died, it was the community that got him through the darkest time of his life, Armour said. He wants to do the same.

"This is my duty, to help this family," he said.

Being at the funeral stirred up a lot of emotions for Armour, he said, but "my faith lets me know he's in a better place."

The service began at 11:30 a.m. with lively music of praise and worship was sung in front of a screen displaying pictures of Courts and loved ones on stage. Toward the front of the stage, officer Courts lay in his dark-colored casket, watched over on either side by two police officers.

Surrounding the casket were numerous flower wreaths, one arrangement spelling out "Loren," another “R” in red and grey for Redford High School, where Courts was a member of the class of 1999. Another arrangement was grey and blue and in the shape of a Detroit police officer badge.

When it was time for the Courts family to say their final goodbyes, they embraced one another. Loved ones broke down in tears. Then the casket closed.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and other elected officials were in attendance.

Mayor Mike Duggan addressed Courts' family, saying “it’s a debt we can’t repay,” but that the city would continue to honor him.

"Today is a reminder of the debt we owe to every one of these officers," Duggan said.

Detroit Police Chief James White said Courts protected the most vulnerable.

“He was Batman to Detroiters, Batman to his partners," he said.

But his biggest assignment? Fatherhood.

“I wish I could stop time. I wish I could stop that moment from happening," White said. “The Courts family, you are now our family — look at this sea of blue.”

Courts' brother Larry Courts Jr., a state corrections officer at a Lapeer prison, said he'd frequently call Loren to remind him to be safe on the job.

"I used to just call him sometimes and tell him: 'Be careful. Be safe.' And it would always lead to a stupid, funny argument," he said, "because as soon as I'd tell him 'Be safe. Be good,' he' tell me 'No, you be safe. You be good. You're the one that's inside. I'm outside.' And I'd come back with 'Well, you've got to catch them for them to come to me...

"Loren was my best friend. I miss him dearly. I will not be the same anymore now that he's gone, but I will spend the rest of my life keeping his memory alive."

An End of Watch radio call conveyed one last dispatch to Courts: “Rest easy, your family behind the badge will take it from here."

The service ended with bagpipes and drums escorting family out of the church alongside the casket, draped in the American flag.

*This story will be updated throughout the service

Jasmin Barmore is born and raised in the City of Detroit. She covers the city's neighborhoods and communities using her passion as her drive to give the voiceless a voice. You can reach her at jmbarmore@freepress.com or by sending her a message on Instagram or Twitter at @bjasminmare. 

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Funeral for Detroit Police Officer Loren Courts: Police, family gather