Milwaukee Police Officer Mark Lentz honored at funeral
Updated: 5:29 p.m. September 26, 2019
BROOKFIELD, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Dozens of loved ones and police officers attended a funeral service for Officer Mark Lentz at Elmbrook Church.
Lentz was 56 years old, a husband, father, and a grandfather.
In August 2017, Officer Lentz tried to stop a speeding driver and was intentionally hit. His wife says he never recovered from his injuries.
Officer Lentz was a proud member of MPD's motorcycle unit and served Milwaukee for 18 years. During the church service, a few of Lentz's fellow officers who joked about Lentz's loud voice. The officers also spoke about his devotion to protecting the city and his family.
Chief Morales says Officer Lentz will be greatly missed.
"He touched so many of our lives in so many different ways. Remember Mark for the way he lived, how hard he worked, how kind he was to others, and how he spoke to people," Milwaukee Police Chief Alfonso Morales.
During the service, one of the officer's close friends sang Elvis' version of "Amazing Grace" sharing that Officer Lentz loved Elvis.
A memorial fund for Officer Lentz's family has been set up at TCF Bank.
After the funeral in Brookfield, a procession of officers including those on motorcycles led the hearse to the funeral home in Greenfield. You can see the line of cars making their way down the interstate and then arriving at Heritage Funeral Home.
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On Wednesday night, family and friends gathered for a private funeral at Heritage Funeral Home in Greenfield to honor Officer Lentz.
Lentz was trying to stop a speeding driver in 2017 when he was intentionally hit. His wife says he never recovered after the incident.
Fellow officers who worked side by side with him say he was a great man who will not be forgotten.
"He was that guy that would give you the shirt off of his back. He would help you out with anything you needed. He was just a good guy and Mark had, he had a drive for duty. He loved being a police officer. That's what he wanted to do and he took a lot of pride in being a police officer," said Officer John Hefley, Milwaukee Police Department.
The public is welcome to attend the visitation at Elmbrook Church in Brookfield on Thursday, which will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. with a funeral service following.