CLEVELAND — The community gathered to honor Cleveland Police Officer Shane Bartek, who was shot and killed on New Year’s Eve.
Ribbons of support could be found all across the Cleveland Police 5th District Headquarters as activists and strangers gathered to honor officer Bartek.
The Black Man Army played taps as a community rallied for a fallen officer.
“I’m here because pain is pain. That officer, he has a family,” said Alfred Porter Jr. of Black on Black Crime Inc.
Porter was one of those who wanted to bring people together, disappointed to see a tragedy happen.
“It was on New Year’s Eve, Friday evening. Two days before, we had made a statement pleading with people about gunfire, how it causes pain,” said Porter.
Cleveland Police said Shane Bartek was shot and killed in a carjacking on New Year’s Eve on the city’s west side in the parking lot of an apartment building on Rocky River Drive. Tamara McLoyd, 18, has been charged with aggravated murder in his death. McLoyd made her first appearance in court earlier this week and her bond was set at $5 million.
“I don’t think that the police get enough respect for the job they do. What do they think about when they put that badge on in the morning? What’s going to happen to them? I think we also need to pray for people that do what they do, like this woman, 18 years-old, just want to show some respect and also encourage people to thank police men whenever they see them,” said Kim Giberson from Strongsville.
Giberson made the trip to show support.
“A waste of two lives. I think the perpetrator and the police. So young, but no age is a good age for any of this to happen,” said Giberson.
And as a community continues to mourn, Porter said he hopes this act of unity will lead to progress.
“As we do other things to help in this community it’s going to take everybody working together doing different things,” he said.
Bartek's funeral will take place on Tuesday at 10 a.m. at Grace Church in Middleburg Heights.