Thousands of people gathered in Mount Pleasant Church Wednesday for the funeral of Baltimore Detective Sean Suiter, who was fatally shot two weeks ago in Harlem Park.

Christmas garland and wreaths hung from the church balconies and large bouquets lined the edge of the pulpit where Mayor Catherine Pugh, Governor Larry Hogan, and Police Commissioner Kevin Davis spoke of Suiter’s calm demeanor and heroic choices.

Suiter was an Army veteran and served 18 years on the Baltimore Police Department. But Suiter was also a husband and father of five.

His son, Marquis, read a poem from the viewpoint of his deceased father entitled “a letter to Nicole,” Suiter’s wife.

“I try to let you know the signs I never went away.

I hear you when you’re laughing and watch you when you sleep.

I even place my arms around you to calm you as you weep.”

Suiter was shot the day before he was to testify before a federal grand jury in the case of the department’s Gun Trace Task Force. No one has been arrested yet for his murder.