(The Center Square) – For the fifth time in the past four years, mourners have paid their respects to a fallen Chicago police officer.
A funeral Mass was held Monday morning for 26-year-old Officer Enrique Martinez, who was killed in the line of duty Nov. 4 on Chicago’s South Side.
The service at St. Rita of Cascia Shrine Chapel followed a procession from Blake-Lamb Funeral Home in Oak Lawn.
Martinez’s family asked that Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker not attend the funeral. Johnson and Pritzker both complied with the family’s wishes.
Earlier this year, fallen Officer Luis Huesca’s family requested that Johnson and Pritzker not attend services. In Huesca’s case, Johnson’s office had stated that the mayor planned to attend and did not agree to the family’s request until the night before the funeral.
Johnson did recognize Martinez’ sacrifice at a news conference two days after the officer’s death.
“Officer Enrique Martinez saved lives, even though he knew it could cost him his own,” Johnson said.
Former Mayor Richard M. Daley was seen at Martinez’s funeral.
Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling said police cannot do it alone when children and officers are being killed in the street.
“We need people to start looking at accountability for those who are committing these acts and repeatedly committing acts,” Snelling said.
Martinez is the fifth Chicago Police Officer to be shot and killed since 2020.
Huesca was fatally shot outside his home in April of this year. Officer Areanah Preston was shot and killed in May 2023. Officer Andres Vasquez Lasso was killed in March 2023. Officer Ella French was murdered in August of 2021.
In addition, retired officer Larry Neuman was shot to death on Chicago’s West Side in June of this year.
Convicted felon Darion McMillan, 23, was on electronic monitoring at the time Martinez was killed. McMillan is charged with murder, attempted murder, possession of a machine gun and burglary.
Police say McMillan was one of three people inside a vehicle when Martinez and other officers conducted a traffic stop in the 8000 block of South Ingleside on the city’s South Side on Nov. 4.
Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling reiterated the importance of getting violent offenders off the street.
“When we remove those people who are doing harm from our communities, we’re in a better place, because they’re not setting the example for those kids that are coming behind them,” Snelling said.
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Snelling credited officers for remaining resilient in the face of harm.
“They know they’re needed, and they know that people are counting on them every single day to keep them safe,” Snelling said.