Hundreds of police, firefighters and members of the public gathered Thursday to pay respects to fallen Honolulu police officer Tiffany Enriquez.
The usual sounds of cars zipping past the Honolulu Police Department Headquarters on Beretania Street were replaced by the mournful notes of taps as the large crowd prepared to bid farewell to Officer Enriquez one last time.
A motorcade escorting her family and a hearse carrying her casket rolled down the street lined by police officers. One gave Enriques a final roll call, reaching out to her by name, knowing there would be no response.
Enriquez and fellow officer Kaulike Kalama were shot and killed during last week's Diamond Head shooting and fire that also left two others dead and one injured.
The investigation into the shooting continues but police believe suspect Jerry Hanel was responsible for the mayhem. He was being evicted when the officers responding to a 911 call for help were fatally shot.
Law enforcement and state officials have called for stricter gun laws and better monitoring and treatment services for the mentally ill in the wake of the shooting.
At the final salute for Enriques, six officers fired ceremonial shots into the air and taps were played. A helicopter zoomed over the crowd scattering flower petals as the ceremony came to a close.
Officers wiped the sweat and tears from their faces as they dispersed. Enriquez’s police class huddled together in prayer. Brandon Lau was one of those officers.
"It means a lot seeing a lot of mainland departments coming, supporting us during this tough time. She was a classmate we did love her, everybody loved her. She had a personality that can’t you know, nobody can compare to," he said.
Enriquez, a seven-year veteran of the police department, leaves behind three children.
An HPD spokeswoman said services for Kalama have not been finalized. But a candlelight vigil was held on Tuesday.
