El Paso police Chief Greg Allen's funeral service included 21-gun salute: recap

El Paso celebrated police Chief Greg Allen's life with a funeral service Friday.

Funeral services for the longtime police chief started at 11 a.m. at Abundant Living Faith Center, 1000 Valley Crest Drive, the city announced. Doors opened at 10 a.m.

A procession and interment followed at 1:30 p.m. at Evergreen Cemetery East, 12400 Montana Ave. At the cemetery, traditional police honors were presented, including a three-volley salute, a last radio call, and a presentation of the flag to the chief's family.

Allen's tribute Thursday evening was attended by what city staff estimated was 1,500 people.

Allen was appointed the first Black police chief in El Paso in March 2008; he joined the El Paso Police Department in 1978.

'Forged in El Paso':Police Chief Greg Allen remembered for dedication to city

El Paso police chief's funeral included 21-gun salute

El Paso police Chief Greg Allen's funeral service concluded with police honors.

The ceremony included a 21-gun salute and a presentation of the flag to the chief's family. Forty-five doves were released in honor of his more than four decades in service (44 years he served and one to represent Allen).

-Aaron Martinez

The U.S. is folded during the flag presentation at  El Paso police Chief Greg Allen's funeral ceremony at Evergreen Cemetery East El Paso on Friday, Jan. 27, 2023.
The U.S. is folded during the flag presentation at El Paso police Chief Greg Allen's funeral ceremony at Evergreen Cemetery East El Paso on Friday, Jan. 27, 2023.

Funeral procession arrives at cemetery

The procession arrived at Evergreen Cemetery East following Mass at Abundant Living Faith Center.

The police officers were called to attention and saluted as drums and bagpipes played upon the arrival of the hearse carrying Greg Allen's coffin. The coffin, still draped in the flag, was then carried onto the cemetery lawn and placed on a small wooden pedestal before the gathered crowd.

Police chief Greg Allen will receive police honors, including a gun salute, a last call to dispatch, and a helicopter flyover, according to police officials.

-Aaron Bedoya

Funeral Mass closes, procession heads to cemetery

In his prayer, he mistakenly referred to Allen as "Chief Wiles" multiple times. Referring to El Paso County Sheriff Richard Wiles. The crowd called out the mistake and Nieman quickly apologized.

After the prayer, guests began filing out of the church bound for Evergreen East Cemetery for the interment ceremony.

Fire trucks were flying large flags on the overpasses on Loop 375. Dozens of law enforcement, mostly HSI, were lined up on the median of Montana Avenue.

Across the cemetery, deputies were lined up waiting for the procession at the El Paso County Sheriff's Office Law Enforcement Complex.

-Adam Powell and Aaron Martinez

El Paso police Chief Greg Allen's funeral procession arrives at Evergreen Cemetery East El Paso on Friday, Jan, 27, 2023.
El Paso police Chief Greg Allen's funeral procession arrives at Evergreen Cemetery East El Paso on Friday, Jan, 27, 2023.

Assistant police Chief Peter Pacillas: Bye for now, my chief, my friend

Assistant police Chief Peter Pacillas ranked Allen's passing as one of the moments that will never be forgotten.        

"You knew where you were and what you were doing when you heard the tragic news," Pacillas said.

Pacillas said, choking up at the memory of Allen once saving his life in the line of duty. "There are no words or gestures that can come close to explaining what this man means to me.

"Bye for now, my chief, my friend," he added in closing."

-Adam Powell

Police chaplain Floitus: He was genuine

Pastor Charlie Floitus, a police chaplain, approached the podium, fighting back emotion and offering condolences and thanks to Allen's family.

"When I think of Chief Allen, the one thought that keeps coming to mind is how real he was," Floitus said. "He was genuine. He was as real as real could get. And he'd be the first to say that he wasn't a perfect man, but who of us is?"

Floitus said Allen was "devoted to the principles of the oath he took as a police officer" and worked diligently to make the El Paso Police Department among the best in the nation, an effort that paid off as El Paso continues to be ranked among the nation's safest major cities.

-Adam Powell

Brother-in-law speaks about first-day meeting with police chief Greg Allen

Patrick Pelletier, a retired police officer, who recalled the day he met Allen in 1988 on his first day in the academy. He remembered years later Allen inviting him to lunch and asking if it would be alright to ask his sister out.            

"I never dreamed the guy that gave us all nightmares in the academy would be my brother-in-law," Pelletier said. "Greg was a legend long before he became chief of police."                                                              

He continued, "thank you for taking good care of my sister." A tribute from Chief Allen's brother-in-law.

-Adam Powell

Pastor Jared Nieman opens ceremony with prayer

Mourners stood at attention and saluted as late El Paso Police Chief Greg Allen's flag-draped coffin moved to the front of Abundant Church for his funeral services Friday morning, where scores were gathered to pay their final respects to the longtime chief.

As the service began, Pastor Jared Nieman led the contingent in prayer, saying that he was "inspired" by the life Allen led and the example he set in El Paso.

"We thank God he was never called upon to make the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty," Nieman said. "Today, before we go any further, we want all of you to know that we celebrate you, that we honor you, and that we thank God for you."

-Adam Powell

Funeral Mass set to start for El Paso police Chief Greg Allen

Law enforcement officers stood at attention while waiting for El Paso police Chief Greg Allen. Hundreds of Allen's family, friends and colleagues filled the church.

Officers stand outside in salute as the procession for the late El Paso police Chief Greg Allen passes by Mission Valley Regional Command Center.
Officers stand outside in salute as the procession for the late El Paso police Chief Greg Allen passes by Mission Valley Regional Command Center.

As Allen's body arrived, officers saluted the casket as it passed by and was brought into the church.

The sober mood and silence were only broken as officers hugged each other and discussed Allen's legacy.

-Aaron Martinez

This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: El Paso Chief of police Greg Allen funeral service: live updates