Mourners gather at funeral for slain Chicago police officer Ella French, remembered as ‘loud, fun and outgoing’

Chicago Police Officer Ella French’s mother, Elizabeth French (in white) and brother Andrew French (left, with beard), stand with other family members and watch as pallbearers carry her casket into St. Rita of Cascia Shrine Chapel for Officer French’s funeral on Thursday morning. Officer French was fatally shot and her partner was critically wounded while in the line of duty on Aug. 7 in West Englewood. | Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

Family, friends and fellow police officers from across the state gathered Thursday at St. Rita of Cascia Chapel Thursday morning to bid farewell to Chicago police Officer Ella French, who was killed during a traffic stop earlier this month.

Officers congregated on the lawn of the Catholic parish an hour before the funeral proceedings were set to begin and members of the media filmed people walking into the chapel at 7740 S. Western Ave.

A large American flag hung at the end of two fire trucks’ areal ladders on the corner of 77th Street and a Western Avenue with people openly embracing each other’s with hugs.

Mayor Lori Lightfoot arrived around 9 a.m. but did not stop to speak to reporters.

Officers came from all over to pay tribute to French. Cars from at least a dozen agencies were spotted, in addition to the Chicago Police Department. Others there included the Elgin, Cicero, Bolingbrook, Berwyn and Riverside police departments, as well as the Cook County sheriff and Illinois State Police.

CPD’s bagpipes and drums kicked off the ceremony, marching from church parking lot to the east lawn. Police officers stood at attention and saluted as they marched by.

Officers who remained outside during the funeral endured the rain, seeking shelter under trees. Faith leaders came outside and a line formed in front of them as they delivered communion.

Archdiocese of Chicago Cardinal Blase Cupich watches as pallbearers carry the casket for Chicago Police Officer Ella French into St. Rita of Cascia Shrine Chapel for her funeral on Thursday morning. Officer French was fatally shot and her partner was critically wounded while in the line of duty on Aug. 7 in West Englewood.

Elizabeth French held her son Andrew French’s hand as Ella French’s casket, draped in a Chicago flag, was about to be carried into the chapel. As the casket was carried past Elizabeth French, she took in a deep breath and began crying. Her son also started crying.

Elizabeth French spoke during the service, saying she was there with only “half a heart” since one of her two children was killed. She read from a letter she wrote to Ella French in 2002 that explained when she was adopted.

“Please know that adopting you was one of the best things I’ve ever done in my life,” Elizabeth said. “Love, mom.”

French and her partner, Officer Carlos Yanez Jr., were shot after pulling over a vehicle about 9 p.m. near 63rd Street and Bell Avenue on Aug. 7. Someone in the car shot at both officers, and they returned fire, hitting at least one suspect, police said.

Yanez Jr., shot twice in the head and once in the shoulder, is continuing to recover.

Two suspects were taken into custody shortly after the shooting, according to police communications from the scene. A third suspect, a woman, was arrested the next day.

Emonte Morgan, 21, is charged with first-degree murder of a peace officer, two counts of attempted first-degree murder of a peace officer, aggravated unlawful use of a weapon and unlawful use of a weapon by a felon. Eric Morgan, 22, is charged with aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, unlawful use of a weapon by a felon and obstruction of justice.

Judges have ordered both men held without bail.

During the service, four police officers and a teenager standing outside in direct sunlight suffered possible heat stroke and were taken to hospitals. They were all expected to recover.

“This is probably the largest police funeral I’ve seen in many years, and many officers were outside in direct sunlight in full dress uniform,” Chicago Fire Department spokesman Larry Langford said. The city sent several cooling buses and was passing out bottles of water, he said.

Contributing: David Struett

Pallbearers carry the casket for Chicago Police Officer Ella French into St. Rita of Cascia Shrine Chapel for her funeral, Thursday morning, Aug. 19, 2021.

Hundreds of Chicago police officers and other law enforcement officers gather outside St. Rita of Cascia Shrine Chapel for the funeral of Officer Ella French, Thursday morning, Aug. 19, 2021. French was fatally shot and her partner was critically wounded while in the line of duty on Aug. 7 in West Englewood.

Chicago Police pipes and drums band opens the funeral. Officers stand in salute as they match by. #EllaFench pic.twitter.com/9pdu8bygXU

— Manny Ramos (@_ManuelRamos_) August 19, 2021