SCRANTON -- Funeral plans are being finalized for a Scranton police officer who was killed in the line of duty over the weekend.
Patrolman John Wilding died from injuries he received after chasing suspected robbers on the city's west side.
Investigators have said that they expect to file more charges against those suspected robbers relating to Patrolman Wilding's death, which has now been ruled a homicide.
For now, officers are focused on preparing to lay Wilding to rest later this week. A memorial to him has grown on the Fallen Officer Memorial outside headquarters.
Wilding is the 13th officer who has died on the job in Scranton.
Scranton Police Patrolman John Wilding accomplished something very rare. Fresh from the police academy, his first job was his dream one: full time at the Scranton Police Department.Scranton Ptlm. Wilding 13th Line of Duty Death
"I interviewed him for the position and as soon as I interviewed him I said to our colleagues on the panel that this is an officer that I have to get on the police department. I want this officer," said Scranton Police Chief Carl Graziano.
The benefit of time allowed Chief Graziano to smile when he talked about hiring Patrolman Wilding and the traits that made Wilding one of the department's rising stars.
There are some flowers now on the wall off North Main Avenue in west Scranton where Patrolman Wilding fell and suffered injuries that would kill him less than 24 hours later.
Patrolman Wilding's body was escorted by his police brothers and sisters from the Lackawanna County morgue to Miller Bean Funeral Home in south Scranton, the first step in what will be an emotionally taxing week for the department.
Jorge Rodriguez watched the procession from the window of his family's restaurant, Chicano's.
"My heart was broken, because we lost a good friend, a good policeman."
Rodriguez first met Wilding as a customer and then a cop who was passionate about his job.
"He used to come once a week, talked with him as a customer, as a friend. He was a wonderful man, he was very friendly, the whole family, very nice."
"This hits home," said Scranton Patrolman Anthony Gieda. "As a police officer, losing a police officer in the line of duty while I'm still working, it does. It does tear at you."
Patrolman Gieda will eventually have the task of adding John Wilding's name to the Scranton Fallen Officer Memorial outside police headquarters.
Wilding will be the 13th city officer who died while on duty, the ninth to be killed responding to a call.
"The last officer that was physically killed in the line of duty was Captain Albert Gleason on December 27, 1933," said Gieda.
It's been more than 80 years since the Scranton Police Department has experienced something like this.
"It's going to sting for some time. It's not something that's going to go away," said Chief Graziano. "But we'll get through it because the bottom line is we still have a job to do."
Patrolman Wilding's death has been ruled a homicide by the Lackawanna County coroner's office.
Investigators expect to file more charges against the three robbery suspects Wilding was chasing.
Officers are also planning for Wilding's funeral. A public viewing will be held Thursday from 2 to 8 p.m. at Lackawanna College. His funeral is planned for Friday at 10 a.m. at St. Peter's Cathedral in Scranton.