OAKWOOD, Ohio (AP) — People lined streets and packed a church Friday to pay tribute to a police officer who was shot and killed during a traffic stop.

Joshua Miktarian, the first member of the Twinsburg police department killed in the line of duty, was remembered at his funeral as a dedicated officer, proud father and a fun-loving prankster.

About 2,500 officers stood outside a suburban Cleveland church awaiting the funeral procession, which was led by police motorcycles and cars.

The procession passed flags tied to mailboxes, flowers set on lawns and people standing in silence. The American Red Cross provided 4,500 bottles of water to those standing outside the church under a blazing sun.

“My brother is a police officer,” said attorney Charlie Oldfield, 39, explaining why he was sitting along the route in a lawn chair instead of at his Youngstown office. “These guys put their lives on the line.”

The funeral capped a week of mourning in Twinsburg. Police have charged Ashford Thompson, 23, with aggravated murder in Miktarian’s death. Thompson’s attorney, Larry Zukerman, has said his client acted in self defense. Investigators say Miktarian’s gun was still in its holster when officers found him early Sunday.

Bagpipes played as Miktarian’s flag-draped coffin was placed before the altar at Mt. Zion of Oakwood Church. The service was broadcast to the overflow crowd outside the sanctuary.

Twinsburg Police Chief Chris Noga and Mayor Katherine Procop spoke about Miktarian’s strong work ethic, commitment to the city and his love for his family.

They also spoke of his humor, recalling when he parked the city’s heavy traffic trailer, which shows how fast motorists are traveling, on Noga’s tree lawn for days.

Miktarian, 33, played guitar and wrote songs for a rock band called Barium. He worked full time as a Twinsburg police officer and part time at the Uniontown Police Department. He also owned a Gionino’s Pizza franchise in Sagamore Hills Township.

Fellow officer David Fenske read from a high school yearbook in which the 18-year-old Miktarian listed these goals: “To do my part in the search for racial harmony, to continue to train and study the Chinese martial arts, and to help civilization by becoming the best law enforcement officer this side of the Mississippi.”

Fenske added, “You did it, Josh.”

Miktarian’s wife, Holly, an Oakwood police officer, wore her uniform for the funeral. Miktarian also is survived by a 3-month-old daughter, Thea.

Miktarian was a K-9 officer, and the procession included his police dog, Bagio, brought to the service in the slain officer’s squad car.

 

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