FL MORRIS / FMORRIS@STARBULLETIN.COM Hundreds of mourners attended funeral services for slain police officer Glen Gaspar yesterday at Borthwick Mortuary in Honolulu.

Hundreds attend service
to mourn a man of duty

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By Rod Antone
rantone@starbulletin.com

Loved ones of Glen Alvin Gaspar came by the hundreds last night to pay their respects to the Honolulu police officer who died in the line of duty last week.

The line going into the mauka chapel of Borthwick Mortuary stretched for a city block. Mortuary officials said the chapel had a capacity to hold 500 people, but hundreds of police officers lined up in formation for an opportunity to pay their respects.

"There's a bond that grows when you work with somebody in life-and-death situations," said Officer Michael Cusumano, who along with Officer Brad Beck knew Gaspar since their early days on patrol 12 years ago.

"It goes beyond friendship. I considered him a brother."

"A really tough day ... It's been a really tough week," said Officer Brad Beck. "I was at work when I first heard the news. ... I didn't believe it. I thought someone was pulling a prank on me."

FL MORRIS / FMORRIS@STARBULLETIN.COM Among those visibly moved were HPD Detective Kathy Osmond.

Gaspar, who turned 40 in January, was killed during the arrest of fugitive Shane Mark on March 4 at the Kapolei Shopping Center. Gaspar, a 12-year veteran on special assignment with the department's Career Criminal Unit, was shot multiple times at close range. Mark has since been indicted by an Oahu grand jury for first-degree murder.

Gaspar is the 37th Honolulu police officer to be killed in the line of duty.

Among those attending his funeral were Honolulu Mayor Jeremy Harris, city Prosecutor Peter Carlisle and U.S. Attorney Ed Kubo. Members of neighbor island police departments, federal law enforcement agents and visiting police officers from the mainland also paid their respects. Some made the trip because they knew Gaspar personally. Others just wanted to support their friends at the Honolulu Police Department.

FL MORRIS / FMORRIS@STARBULLETIN.COM Officer Dean Suzuki joined others attending in wearing a "mourning band" over his badge.

"You're never used to an officer dying in the line of duty," said San Francisco police Officer Dino Zografos, who came in uniform along with three other San Francisco police officers to pay their respects yesterday. "You don't get used to something like that. ... It's a tragedy of epic proportions."

"I remember we used to go camping together," said HPD Special Services Division Officer Kelvin Espiritu. "Our family and his family ... it transcended way beyond police work."

"We're all one big family ... even with our fellow police officers on the mainland."

As police officers cried and hugged each other throughout the evening, they also kept in mind that while Gaspar is gone, they now have a duty to take care of those he left behind -- mainly his two daughters, ages 11 and 13.

"That was his No. 1 thing in his life was his family ... his kids," said Beck. "(But) they're not alone. The entire Police Department is his family, and we're going to be there for them."

"He will be missed," said Cusumano, "but he's not going to be forgotten."

FL MORRIS / FMORRIS@STARBULLETIN.COM Arriving for the services late yesterday afternoon were officers Stason Tanaka, left, and Clyde Bueno, of the HPD Solo Bike Patrol. The crowd outside the mortuary is in the distance behind them.

News media were kept across the street from the mortuary. A sound system set up to allow reporters and others who could not get into the service to listen had technical problems.

According to the program, Detective Russell Won gave the eulogy, and Chief Lee Donohue also spoke. Gaspar's brother Greig gave a message from the family.

Another service will also be held today at 11 a.m. at Kamehameha Schools with visitation held from 8:30 to 11 a.m. A police motorcade carrying Gaspar's body will be driven from the Kamehameha chapel past Honolulu police officers and city workers lined up in front of the main police station on Beretania Street at about noon. A burial service will be held at 1 p.m. at Hawaiian Memorial Park Cemetery.

Survivors include Gaspar's ex-wife, Renee Gaspar; daughters Kiana-Leigh and Taysia-Jamie; parents Gilbert Sr. and Eva Gaspar; and brothers Gilbert Jr. and Greig Gaspar.

Donations may be made to the Glen Gaspar Fund at First Hawaiian Bank in lieu of flowers.

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Honolulu Police Department

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FL MORRIS / FMORRIS@STARBULLETIN.COM Ed Ellestad was one of four San Francisco police officers who came to honor Gaspar and pay their respects. He wore his "mourning band" over his badge.

FL MORRIS / FMORRIS@STARBULLETIN.COM A long line of mourners waited to enter the mortuary and attend services for Glen Gaspar late yesterday afternoon. The line extended down the block and included police officers from throughout Hawaii and even from the mainland, as well as family and friends of Gaspar.

FL MORRIS / FMORRIS@STARBULLETIN.COM A Honolulu police officer carried two angels wrapped in plastic while on his way to the memorial service for slain colleague Glen Gaspar.

FL MORRIS / FMORRIS@STARBULLETIN.COM Police officers crowded outside Borthwick Mortuary prior to the service.