Slain York Region officer hailed as 'shining beacon'

Aseaof uniformed policeofficersfrom acrossNorth America joined mourning friends and family in Newmarket, Ont.,on Wednesday for the funeral of York Region police Const. Robert Plunkett, who was killed last week trying to make an arrest.

More than 6,000 people, most in full dress uniform, packedthe Ray Twinney Recreation Centreon Wednesday morning for the sombre ceremony, while hundreds more peoplelistened to the serviceon speakers set up outside thefacility.

Withbagpipers and vocalistssinging out the familiar refrain ofAmazing Grace, Plunkett'swife and three teenagechildren accompanied hisflag-draped casket as it was brought inside the facility.

Plunkett's friends and colleagues fought back tearswhilerememberinghis athleticism, humour, and commitment to his job and family.

Premier Dalton McGuinty said Plunkett was adedicated hero who was"so many things to so many people.

"I hope that in some way you can take comfort in how Rob touched so many lives," McGuinty said. "A good decent man like Rob stands out like a shining beacon and gives hope to the world."

Hours before the ceremony, hundreds of officers from the RCMP and the Ontario Provincial Police,as wellas representatives from regional and U.S. lawenforcement agencies, lined up in full uniform to honourtheir fallen comrade.

The officerswere given black armbands bearing Plunkett's badge number and special pinswith the York Region police's crest.

The servicewas heldafter police announceda suspect will face anupgraded charge of first-degree murder.

Nadeem Jiw, 19, of Toronto was initially charged with manslaughter. Another man accused in the case, Baseer Yousafzai, 23, has been charged with theft and breach of bail.

Both menmade brief appearancesWednesday in a courthouse across from the funeral. They are being kept in custody until their nextcourt appearancein thecoming weeks.

'Such an effort to go out and help people'

Plunkett, the first York Region officer to die on duty since 1984 and the third to diein the force's history, was investigating airbag thefts last Thursday when he tried to make an arrest on a residential street in Markham north of Toronto.

He was dragged by a reversing car, police said, and pinned between a tree and the car's open door.

Plunkett, a 22-year veteran who served with the force's Special Services Unit, won awards for his bravery on thejob, and wasonce named "toughest cop alive" at the Canadian Law Enforcement Games for his strength and athleticism.

The man known on the force as Chum andPlunker was also rememberedfor his extensive volunteer workfor theSpecial Olympics where participantscame to knowhim over the yearsas Officer Rob as wellhis mastery of the practical joke on friends and colleagues.

The elaborate pranks "were usually at the expense of an unsuspecting supervisor," York Region police Insp. Tom Carrique told the crowd.

While some parents built backyard rinks,Plunkett built a luge run and gave kids metal saucers to ride, his friends recalled.

"He just made such an effort to go out and help people; he was just a lovely, lovely decent person,"family friendKate Doorly told CBC News on Wednesday.