Memorial Service Held For Slain Gary Police Officer

(CBS) -- A memorial service was held Sunday for a Gary Police Officer killed in the line of duty a week ago.

Jeffrey Westerfield, a 19-year veteran of the Gary Police Department, was shot and killed in the driver's seat of his patrol car at 26th Avenue and Van Buren Place while responding to a call of shots fired at that location on Sunday. It was his 47th birthday.

The services are being held in the Genesis Convention Center in Gary.

Listen to Memorial Service Held For Slain Gary Police Officer

Nancy Harty Reports Danny Overley, former chair of the Indiana FOP memorial committee, was among those paying their respects. This is the third service he has attended in the last few weeks following a crash that killed an officer in Tipton and the shooting death of Indianapolis Police officer Perry Renn just hours before officer Westerfield was gunned down.

"We've had three tragedies here, we've had two felonious deaths," said Overley. "We're doing a lot of work with the officers, a lot of work with the families, a lot of work with the communities. The communities have been excellent to step up."

Law enforcement greet family of slain Indy cop at memorial for slain Gary cop Jeff Westerfield. (Credit: Nancy Harty)

A large contingent from Indianapolis was there, including officer Renn's family, hoping to give comfort to officer Westerfield's fiancée and four daughters having just gone through their own loss and services last week.