Hundreds Attend Viewing For Philadelphia Police Officer Brian Lorenzo

By Mike Dougherty and Elizabeth Hur

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Hundreds of police officers from near and far attended a viewing Thursday evening for Philadelphia Police Officer Brian Lorenzo, who was killed in a crash on I-95 Sunday.

"It's still a case of disbelief and it's just as tough."

Officer Cedric Carter is fairly new to the tight-knit Philadelphia police highway patrol unit, where Officer Lorenzo was one of the leaders.

"It's bad enough when you lose a brother officer, but when it touches your home, you know, it's even tougher to swallow -- especially a great man like Brian," said Carter.

Lorenzo was the number 2 man on the popular wheels drill team that performs every year at the Hero Thrill Show, a fundraiser to benefit the families of fallen officers.

During the last 20-plus years, Manny Perez has ridden with and at times shared a room with Officer Lorenzo.

"He was always doing this for everybody else. You'd never think to do it for him, you'd never think he'd be the one you'd have to do it for," said Perez.

"Our hearts are heavy right now. We just hope that everyone keeps his family in prayer," said Deputy Commissioner Richard Ross.

Another viewing is scheduled for 7 a.m. Friday at the Cathedral Basilica in Center City and a funeral at noon in Bensalem.