Public funeral service for Bay Area police sergeant draws thousands

OAKLAND — Thousands of mourners attended a public funeral Thursday for a San Francisco Bay Area police officer who was shot and killed during a traffic stop last week.

The service for Sgt. Scott Lunger drew dignitaries, friends, family and police officers from across the nation, the Oakland Tribune reported (http://bayareane.ws/1DT2jXj ).

Gov. Jerry Brown and U.S. Rep. Eric Swalwell were among those who gathered at Oakland's Oracle Arena.

"It brings tears to your eyes to see so many dedicated officers," Carol Rumple of Union City told the Tribune.

Lunger was a 15-year-veteran who was shot in the head on July 22 after he stopped 21-year-old Mark Anthony Estrada for swerving and driving erratically in his pickup truck, authorities said.

Estrada has been charged with murder and remains jailed without bail.

The somber event began with a highway procession of city police officers and families. Lunger's body and members of his family were later escorted by motorcade to the arena.

People lined the procession route to show their respect. Many held U.S. flags.

"When a police officer is murdered, it's a particularly heinous event that causes all of us in law enforcement and the public to feel like we have to do something for the family, for the community, and for the men and women who worked beside him," Alameda County Undersheriff Rich Lucia told the Tribune.

Swalwell, a Democrat whose father and brothers have served as police officers, paid tribute to Lunger's family.

"Every second that he served, you served, too," he said.