Philadelphia honors fallen officer Shane Seiber at emotional funeral service

Philadelphia paid its respects Tuesday to fallen officer Shane Seiber at funeral services at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul.

Seiber was shot on Oct. 10 near 52nd and Arch streets in West Philadelphia. The shooter is in custody, and Seiber's partner, officer Hector Rodriguez, is still recovering from his injuries. 

Rodriguez and his wife were in attendance at the funeral service on Tuesday, days after sources told CBS News Philadelphia that the officer who was shot 12 times was "up and walking."

A public viewing was held for Seiber on Monday, Oct. 19. Then at 6 a.m. Tuesday, a procession brought his casket to the funeral site. Mayor Cherelle Parker and Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel took part in the walking procession and attended the funeral.

Seiber was posthumously promoted to sergeant at the service and received the Philadelphia Police Department's Medal of Honor and Purple Heart.

Dignitaries remember officer Shane Seiber, who made the ultimate sacrifice

Seiber, 40, had the nickname "Colgate" because he was always smiling, said Bethel, sharing a story about the fallen officer.

He was rejected on his first application to the Philadelphia police academy and crumpled up his rejection letter. But his wife Lisa, a fourth grade teacher, wouldn't let him give up. She dug the letter out and saved it.

Lisa applied, in secret, on her husband's behalf — and the second time around, Seiber was approved. They later took a photo together in which "Officer Shane" held both letters: the unfurled rejection letter and the new acceptance letter.

The couple met after a Sgt. Murphy in PPD, who served with Seiber in Iraq, introduced them. Guests would later learn that Murphy was a key factor in the couple's courting on the social media platform MySpace.

Bethel spoke with that sergeant and said he "shared something that had been weighing on me heavily."

"It's difficult for me to understand how Shane could serve two tours in Iraq, come home safely and lose his life serving as a police officer here in Philadelphia," Bethel said.

Murphy told Bethel that Seiber understood the risks could include giving their lives one day, and yet they chose to serve.

"That is not easy to understand, but it tells us something about the courage and commitment of people like Shane," Bethel said. "They don't serve because the work is safe; they serve because they believe the work matters.

"Murphy didn't simply describe Shane as a friend — he said, 'Shane is my brother,'" Bethel said.

Parker shared a story she had heard about a duckling that Seiber once rescued, after finding it stranded in the middle of a road in Michigan.

"The duck ended up safely tucked into a box on the kitchen table," Parker said.

"That was his compassion," Parker said. "Sometimes people don't need to listen to what you say to know who you are. All we have to do is watch what they do, the actions affirm to us who he was."

Seiber's uncle, Dan Farris, said it was Seiber's dream to serve as a police officer with the men he served with in Iraq.

"I hope the love in this room reminds you all that you're not walking through this alone," police officer Quishanna Lee said.

Lee also addressed Seiber's son and daughter, Finn and Emily, directly:

"As much as Shane cared about his work, his greatest love was at home — Lisa, Finn and Emily, you were not a footnote in his story," Lee said. "Your father's legacy is not only found in photographs, medals or stories of his bravery. It lives in the love he had for you and as your babies grow I hope you hear again and again about his smile, his generosity and the way he made people feel seen."

Viewing and funeral for Philadelphia police officer Shane Seiber

The first of two public viewings for Seiber was held Monday at the Givnish Funeral Home in Northeast Philadelphia.

There was a Commander's March from Archbishop Ryan High School, and then members of the PPD walked inside one by one to pay their respects.

The funeral was held at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul at 18th Street and the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. Earlier Tuesday morning, Parker, Bethel, members of the 19th Police District and other police department leaders escorted Seiber's casket to the basilica.

A second public viewing was held at the church from 8-10:30 a.m. before a service at 11:15 a.m.

Ceremonial honors, including a flyover and an honor guard salute, were held at noon before Seiber was taken to a private interment.

Seiber was a veteran, dad of two, gamer

Seiber was born in Trenton, New Jersey, and lived in Bucks County and Northeast Philly, according to his obituary.

He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 2006 and served at Dover Air Force Base. He completed two tours of duty in Iraq from 2007 to 2009, then joined PPD in 2016. 

Seiber practiced jiu-jitsu and was an avid gamer, especially enjoying World of Warcraft.