Transcripts For KNTV Today 20240622

Turned west on a street and then took interstate 880 up to oracle arena. The procession entered the Oakland Coliseum complex under an American Flag raised by the hayward fire department. Okay. Were going to take a live look now, momentarily, i should say, inside of oracle arena, as we honor Sergeant Scott lunger. Thousands of Police Officers from across the bay area and the state are inside of oracle arena right now, waiting for that Memorial Service to begin. Starting at about 9 10 9 15 we were watching Police Officers and Law Enforcement officials in general filing up double file and walking in formation into the arena there to honor one of their colleagues Sergeant Scott lunger. So many stories will be told no doubt, about his life in remembrance of the life that he lived. As we await that service to begin, lets go live to today in the bays kris sanchez. Kris is outside of the oracle arena this morning. No doubt, what is the mood there, kris . Reporter you know it is obviously a very somber mood as all these folks know exactly why theyre here. And they know as they go out to fulfill their duty as a peace officer, that any day could be a day like this one that Sergeant Lungers was, his last day, i should say. But along with the somber mood, there are greetings of camaraderie, because only these folks can truly understand what their lives are like. These fellow Police Officers. But i will say that the dress blues have never been more crisp than ive seen today. The shoes have never been more shiny, trying to put their best foot forward, as they pay tribute to their fallen colleagues. We know that one of the speakers at the ceremony today will be representative Eric Swalwell, congressman who represents the east bay who used to work for the Alameda County district attorneys office. If he were still in that position he would be in the position to prosecutor the man accused of shooting and killing Sergeant Lunger one week ago yesterday. This is what he had to say about the sergeants reputation. I remember seeing his work his Police Reports coming across my desk. I remember subpoenaing them when i was assigned to the hayward courthouse. I dont remember actual interaction with him, but, you know, he was regarded by all as just, you know a dogged crime fighter. Reporter and he certainly has been described by members of his own force as the adeal Police Officer. Someone who always did everything right. A man of great integrity. And that is how hes going to be remembered today, by the folks who worked with him. But for the First Time Since Sergeant Lunger was shot and killed in the line of duty we are going to hear from members of his family. They have asked for privacy in this very difficult week and we certainly have respected that but were looking forward to hearing some of those personal stories. We know his two daughters are going to speak today, along with his brother and his father and in fact the National Anthem is going to be sung by his own sister, who is going to perform in front of this huge crowd, 10,000 people perhaps, expected here at oracle arena. Not only Law Enforcement officers and their spouses, who walk in their shoes, in the same shoes as Sergeant Lunger but also members of the public who want to say thank you. We also heard from someone who was arriving and say, you know Police Officers have been getting a very bad rap. Theyve been in a very bad light because of the actions of view in the last couple of weeks and months but that this really should serve to draw the eye back to the danger of the job and the fact that so many Police Officers in the bay area and across the country wake up get their uniforms on and go out on to the streets, not knowing what is going to happen. By all accounts Sergeant Lunger it was a routine traffic stop that just went wrong and that suspect reportedly shot him without provocation, and then fled the scene. So no one could have expected that that was going to happen in a quiet residential neighborhood in hayward. But, again, all of these folks gathered today, with one thing in mind and that is to remember the kind of man that Sergeant Lunger was if life not the way that he died as a man of great integrity and a good sport, he coached Girls Basketball or rather, softball i should say, and he should do a lot of things in his community. He was a fisherman who liked to fish with his brotherinlaw in wyoming and certainly a standup member of his community. In fact, the mayor of his community, brentwood, is also here in attendance today. Sam and laura . It will be so fascinating to hear so many aspects of his life. In that reminder as you mentioned, chris, every Law Enforcement officer, you know puts their lives on the line with every single call that goes out. Thank you so much kris. Again, we are just minutes away from the start of this Memorial Service. This is a live look outside right now, from our helicopter. And as we have seen all of these Law Enforcement officers and agencies coming in parking their car, it goes well beyond what you can see right there from that shot as they are packing oracle arena. 10,000 plus people will be inside today, and not just Law Enforcement officers but also people from the community, specifically the family has opened this up to the public, so that folks who want to be a part of this experience and can share it will be able to come and watch as well as they memorialize Sergeant Scott lunger. Thats right. The family will hold their own private service afterwards but he was a public official and of course, they want to open it up knowing that so many people want to pay tribute and thanks to the duty that he served there as well. So as we await, everyone still going into the oracle arena this morning. Lets listen live to today in the bays stephanie chuang. Shes outside the chapel of the chimes funeral home. Reporter yeah kris used the same word somber is appropriate in describing the mood that was out here as well around 8 30 is when we saw officers start to salute and start to bring the American Flagdraped casket out of the funeral home here in hayward and bring it into the hearse. And i want to tell you, one of the most striking moments for us to see was at the front of that group, was Sergeant Scott lungers two daughters, and they were visibly, emotionally shaken of course heartbreak for the Family Members of Sergeant Lunger cannot imagine what theyre going through. They watched firsthand as they watched their fathers body in the casket getting placed into that hearse, before they were to move that hearse to oracle arena. And there were hundreds of Police Officers out here from agencies across the state and beyond. As well as at least a couple dozen people from the community who wanted to just come and pay their respects here at the start of the service this morning. I spoke with people including a sergeant with the Alameda County Sheriffs Department who said, not only was in charge of coordinating the traffic plans, to make sure everyone got there safely, and to make sure that Sergeant Lunger got to where he needed to be safely but that he was motivated because he knew Sergeant Lunger personally. He used to work at Hayward Police department for decades and he actually trained sergeant lung lunger. So this really hitting home for a lot of people here. I also spoke with a woman who came and said she lives in the community and she was counsel window Sergeant Lunger. That shes a Community Resource office or volunteer officer, and she described him as weve heard many people describe him before as a very caring person someone loved by everyone he knew. A coach, someone who, of course loved his family and those all around him. And so a lot of emotions out here this morning. I also want to say that it was quite incredible weve seen this before with events like this, but just the hundreds i counted about almost 200 Police Officers on motorcycles before and after the hearse escorting in this procession a very big event here. And you can definitely feel the impacts of the community as we spoke with other people who came out just to say, we didnt know him, but we wanted to thank him for the 15 years he served here in this east bay community. So i understand that the service is getting ready to start shortly, but that was the feeling, the mood here. Most definitely. You mentioned him working for different agencies as well. I think he started out with the contra costra Sheriffs Department graduated from the Alameda County Sheriffs Department academy, so you can see how his life most likely touched so many. Thank you very much stephanie. And spent four years with the Hayward Police department. This is as we take a look a live look outside of oracle arena, as we await the start of the Memorial Service for Sergeant Scott lunger. He spent 14 years with hayward and Hayward Police department is not a big police department. There are only 300 people in the department. This has a closeknit group, that probably many people knew each other very personally. So to see the loss of life here everyone just binding together in a nice way to be able to remember scott lunger. And thats what youll notice as well no doubt, when the actual Memorial Service will begin. You will see Law Enforcement from throughout the entire state. Not just the bay area and different Sheriffs Departments. Theres also county patrols. Its amazing to see everybody. Its really a brotherhood, in a sense. No question about it. And the mourning is not just here in the bay area but we heard from congressman Eric Swalwell who will be the first speaker at this Memorial Service. He memorialized sergeant lung oren the house floor earlier this week. Brought up his picture and talked about the fact that he had conversations with fellow members of the department and one particular lieutenant who described scott lunger as quote, the best cop and best crime fighter i have ever seen. And that was done in front of our federal government. Which is a profound respect for Law Enforcement and that was shared coast to coast in this case, from washington to the bay area. Very much so. In fact california governor jerry brown will be attending todays service as well. Take a look at these pictures were showing you right thousand. These are flowers that the community has placed outside of the Hayward Police department in the days following Sergeant Lungers death. And i mean it just shows, theres notes, theres cards, there were even some superheroes out there as well. Just kind of showing, you know what an impact this one particular man had on this community. And such a connection as well, in the days right after Sergeant Lunger died. You saw people coming out from the community, who had never met him, but said you know what . I remember seeing him on the streets. And well hear more stories like that and from his family momentarily. Lets tune in right now. The service is beginning. Please remain standing for the National Anthem, sung by sierra lunger. Oh, say can you see, by the dawns early light what so proudly we hailed at the twilights last gleaming whose broad stripes and bright stars, through the perilous fight oer ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming and the rockets red glare, the bombs bursting in air gave proof through the night that our flag was still there o, say does that starspangled banner yet wave oer the land of the free and the home of the brave . Please remain standing for the opening prayer by pastor michael lang. Good morning. As i look out and consider the reason all of you and i have made this a priority this morning, i am sure a Common Thread in all of us is to honor and to mourn a man who was a protector, a colleague, a warrior, a father a coach, a brother, a son, and so much more. The reason i have been asked to share this opening prayer is on behalf of two girls, for whom he is remembered as father friend dad. He introduced and entrusted his girls to men, father figures they could trust in their lives and so he has not left them alone. Even as to the one to whom we are to pray has not left us alone. Although that does not mean for them and for those of us today, we do not feel a hole an emptiness of longing, and yes, even differing degrees of fear and questioning that haunts our souls. So we begin our time of honoring and calling by calling upon the name of god, the god in whom scott and his two girls and many of you were baptized and called to be his own, in which he placed his name on you. And so join me or listen and consider as i pray in that name. In the name of the father and of the son and of the holy spirit amen. Heavenly father powerful god of all the universe we come needing this morning, many things strength comfort, clarity, a sense of peace that is complete and whole and not fleeting. We need the opportunity to wrestle with anger and frustration and have a place to take it all. Allow us to entrust our anger, hurt pain with you. We need to know you care. Help us to hear that you have loved your own, with an everlasting love and drawn them with loving kindness. We need to know that your love is not exclusive, so remind us again, that god so loved the world. Lord jesus christ ensure us that even as you took on real human form you did not do this to simply mimic or worldly experience but to literally walk in our hurts, joys passions, and fears. To experience our temptations and struggles, to see and sense our shame and frustration, and yet, and yet, lord jesus, you rose above it all. Lord jesus, spare us from our need to declare our own goodness and strength and measure ourselves against the rest of the world, but rather to rest upon you, and your goodness your perfection your strength. Lead us to trust that your sacrifice on the tree and your resurrection is a battle won, once for all, and that is enough for the fallen warrior that we mourn today and for all who trust in you. Holy spirit for all who walk in questions and struggle and for whom this world will not quickly this time of struggle will not quickly end, give us memories that truly enrich encouragement, yes, even joy that is greater than ourselves or beyond our abilities. And hope that will not disappoint, because it is anchored in the strength of almighty god. Inspire us today, and as we are so tempted to stray to our own devices, lead us back to a faith that is steadfast. And a hope that will not disappoint or falter and so we entrust our hope for our fallen in these words there scripture. From romans 6, or dont you know that all of us who are baptized into christ jesus, were baptized into his death. We were therefore buried with him through baptism and into death, in order that just as christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the father we too, may live a new life. In the name of the father and of the son, and of the holy spirit, amen. Please be seated. On behalf of Sergeant Scott lungers family and friends and the entire Hayward Police Department Family i would like to welcome all of you to this mornings funeral service. It is with heartfelt sadness, yet a sense of honor that we gather here today to pay tribute, to celebrate the life and service of our fallen brother, scott. We come here from many places and from many backgrounds. Whether a Hayward Police officer or an officer from another agency, a Government Official a Family Member a friend or a concerned resident of hayward, or of another community, we all come here to pay our respects for the service that scott has given. Whether from hayward or from somewhere else in the bay area from another part of our great state of california or from across this great country, we are all one family that supports each other in this time of grief. We find comfort and consolation in the fact that so many of you have gathered here to remember to pray and to give thanks for scotts life. I would like to especially thank all of the allied agencies that have given so much time, effort personnel, and support to the Hayward Police department this past week and for all of the contributions that they have made for this funeral service. I would also like to thank the thousands of supporters and citizens from across the country and the world who have offered their prayers, their condolences, and their support for scotts family and friends, and their support to the men and women of the Hayward Police department. We are honored today by the presence of our national state, and local Government Officials who have come here to show their support. I would like to especially welcome governor jerry brown, congressman Eric Swalwell hayward mayor, Barbara Halliday members of the hayward city council, and so many others. Their presence among us speaks of and affirms the honor and the respect shown to the duty that every Law Enforcement officer fulfills, each and every day, in protecting our communities. Today, we honor such a hero Sergeant Scott lunger who made the ultimate sacrifice, by giving his life in the pursuit of that noble cause, protecting the residents of hayward. As we honor scotts life we remember his service, cherish his legacy, and support his loved ones. Let us know hear words from scriptures that reminds us that even in the midst of sorrow we have a loving and compassionate god. At this time i would like to introduce Hayward Police lieutenant roger keener, who will share with us a passage from the gospel of john. I am comforted that scott and i commuted for over two years, while we were in the gang unit. And on many of those occasions, we had the opportunity to speak of the gospel. A reading from the gospel of john, the words of jesus. Do not let your heart be troubled. Believe in god. Believe also in me. In my Fathers House are many dwelling places. If it were not so, i would have told you. For i go to prepare a place for you. And if i go to prepare a place for you, i will come again and receive you to myself. That where i am there you may be also. And you know the way where im going. Thomas said to him, lord we do not know where you are going. How do we know the way . Jesus said i am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the father but through me. And this is gods word. I love you, brother, and we will never forget you. I would like to invite kristen kneelston forward to sing for us on eagles wings. You who dwell in the shelter of the lord who abide in his shadow for life say to the lord my refuge my rock in whom i trust and he will raise you up on eagles wings bear you on the breath of dawn make you to shine like the sun and hold you in the palm of his hand you will not feel the terror of the night, no fear of the night by day under his wings, your refuge hitt faithfulness your shield for to his angels hes given a command to guard you in all of your ways upon their hands they will bear you up lest you dash your foot against a stone and he will raise you up, on eagles wings bear you on the breath of dawn make you to shine like the sun and hold you in the palm of his hand make you to shine like the sun hell hold you hell hold you and hold you, hold you in the palm of his hand i would like to invite Hayward Police officer justin green to share with us a passage from the book of dudaramami. Sergeant scott lunger was my mentor my sergeant my partner, and my brother. Im honored to be here today with my new brother, mike lunger next to me. Sergeant lunger had a saying wars work at night. I can only hope that i have done him proud. I will continue to honor him by passing on the knowledge that he has given me to other officers and being the mentor that he was to me. I will honor him by putting on the uniform and continuing to be the warrior that he was. Today, i had the honor and privilege of reading words of encouragement from moses for gods people. Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or tremble at them. For the lord your god, is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. And this is gods world. Thank you. I would like to invite tate lunger to share with us a passage from pauls letter to the romans. What then shall we say in response to these things . If god is for us who can be against us . He who did not spare his own son, but gave him up for us all. How will he not also along with him, graciously give us all things . Who will bring any charge against those who god has chosen . It is god who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns . No one. Christ jesus, who died more than that who was raised to life is at the right hand of god and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of christ . Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword. No in all these things we are more than conquerers through him who loved us. For i am convinced that neither death nor life neither angels nor demons neither the present nor the future nor any powers neither any height nor death, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of god that is in christ jesus, our lord. And this is gods word. It is my privilege to introduce the honorable Eric Swalwell representative from californias 15th congressional district. To Sergeant Lungers family i want to first start by saying thank you. Thank you for sharing Sergeant Lunger with each and every one of us. Thank you, paul. Thank you, sara. Thank you, ashton. Thank you, mike. Thank you, todd. Thank you, michelle. You shared with the city of hayward a warrior, a hero. And i first want to start by saying thank you. Because you shared scott with us for 15 years. And during those 15 years, the city of hayward was safer. With scott on the hayward beat crime found no place to hide. And the days scotty worked as he was known by many hayward was just a little bit more fun. A little more excitable, a little more energetic. I also want to thank scotts family for their sacrifice. Every second scott served you served, too. You supported him. You comforted him. You were patient with him. You know that the sacrifice scott made to do this job was not only paid at the end of his watch, with his life but it was paid every day that he served. And he needed you to serve us. Its the only way scott was able to do it. And it was the only way he was able to do it so long and so well. Thank you for that. Also thank you to all of the Family Members here who are supporting Law Enforcement. We know it is a shared sacrifice. Im the son of a Police Officer and the brother of two Police Officers who are serving. And i know that each holiday away, each birthday missed each Super Bowl Party that you cant make is a moment thats a little more empty for Family Member. Its a day thats a little less fulfilled for those who are also sacrificing with you. So we pay tribute to scott today. We thank those who wear the uniform, but we also pay special tribute to the Family Members. And for the Family Members, you are not grieving alone. It would probably be easier to have this service as a private ceremony. But scott was a public servant. And the public grieves for him and the public is with you. There are many reasons to have liked scott lunger. For me having also grown up in dublin, he was a dublin high gale. He played on the football team. He got his hands dirty working as an electrician at ibew. But he was passionate about what he did. He was passionate about keeping our community safe. And he committed himself just as much to doing that on his last day as he did on his first day, and every day in between. To many scott lunger on the force, was known as scotty. His loud booming voice was infectious. And it often jolted everyone when it came across the radio, when he let you know that he was responding to a call. But it also reminded you that he cared. And that he was going to be there. Dozens of todays patrol officers were also fortunate enough to have scotty as their Field Training officer. He was the shepherd who marshaled them from the early days as a blank slate, all the way through the end of the program, so that they could go out, serve hayward streets, with the same vigor, integrity, and passion for fighting crime that scotty had. Many have described Sergeant Lunger as the type of leader who wasnt afraid to ask those who served under him to do anything that he wasnt afraid to do himself. The second to last stop that Sergeant Lunger made on the night that we lost him says as much about his heroism as that very last stop. It was a victim who had called in to report a stolen motorcycle. And not only did Sergeant Lunger respond and treated that case just as he treated every one before it and the next one after it, he found and returned the stolen motorcycle to the victim who had lost it and he also caught the perpetrator. He had just made a felony arrest and for many that would have been a hard nights work. And good enough reason to not go out and chase down anymore arrests that night or do anything else to keep the streetsstreet s clean. But that wasnt scotts nature. So he continued to chase down crime and keep hayward safe any way that he could do it with integrity. He was always charging ahead to do what he could to protect the community. Today, like many of you, youre probably asking yourself why . Why would somebody do this to scott . Youre probably just like me pretty angry, and youre probably asking why would a loving god take from us such a caring man . Im also asking why do so many of you who are here today put on that uniform . Why did you put yourself through so many hours of training . Why do you put in all of the hours and the overtime take on the stress time away from family, put yourself in positions every single day where your judgments could be called out and questioned by national and international audiences. You put a lot out there to do this job, to serve the community. And i imagine that you do it for the same reason that scotty did it. You do it because you feel this calling, this service to help others. For scotty it was a Police Officer who had showed kindness to him, when he was a young boy. For each and every one of you, its a sense of protecting the community where you live. Its this idea that we can find meaning in life and the service and the help and the help that we provide to others. Thats why scotty did it. Thats why you do it. But the work is hard. Its very hard. Its thankless. I was a prosecutor for seven years in hayward and oakland and Alameda County and i had the honor of working with the Hayward Police department. I remember seeing scotts cases come across my desk a lot. He produced a lot of reports. He was out there working pretty hard. And what i remember about scott lung lunger, i never once had to call him in as a witness to testify. Because he produced good reports. All of the defendants would plead out. But the work is very hard but you still do it and scott still did it. And when i listen to people like justin, who just spoke, it reminds me that although we have lost scott, his memory can still live on. And its a devastating loss. It is a devastating loss that Sergeant Lunger is not on the streets, protecting the people of hayward. Its a devastating loss that he wont be the Field Training officer for generations of officers to come. But for the dozens of officers that Sergeant Lunger has trained, his memory can live on and the work that you do and the way that you carry yourselves the integrity that you bring to the job and the crime that you chase down to keep the people who are relying upon you safe. To those who serve with scott, we can remember his enthusiasm for the job, the enthusiasm to show up at a home for a Domestic Violence call not knowing whats on the other end of that door but knowing that a woman is being hurt and shes counting on you and your enthusiasm to protect and serve, to go in and help her. And for those of you who never knew Sergeant Lunger we can take away a renewed sense of service. Every day,wy go to the u. S. Capital, i always look up at the dome and i see a flag that has flown over the capital since 1800. Its a symbol. Its a symbol of freedom and democracy and it represents the men and women who have served abroad in our Armed Services to ensure that we have freedom and democracy and it represents the men and women who keep security and communities safe here at home. That flag goes up every single day. It goes up on our best days like when we were celebrating world war ii victories in europe and over japan. And ive seen that flag go up on our worst days like september 11th. That flag goes up a lot like Sergeant Lunger would show up. On the best days on the worst days, he always showed up and he was a symbol for the dignity and honor that our men and women in Law Enforcement are called upon to provide. And thats what were here to recognize today. And we had a flag flown last week over the capital to represent that dignity and honor and Sergeant Lungers memory. And ill present that flag to chief diane urban, to make sure that that flag flies over the Hayward Police department and that the memory of Sergeant Lunger and his sacrifice every single day is not forgotten. Long live the memory of Sergeant Scott lunger. May god bless his soul the lives of each and every one of you who wear the uniform, and america the country we love. Thank you. At this time i would like to introduce the chief of the Hayward Police department, diane urban. Isaiah chapter 6, verse 8. Then i heard the voice of the lord saying whom shall i send and who will go for us . And i said here i am send me. We are here today to pay tribute to a man who exemplified these words every day. This sums up scotts life. The kind of man scott was. Scott was a son. A father. A brother. An uncle. A husband. A lover. A partner. And a friend. I met scotts daughters ashton and sara last wednesday for the first time. They are beautiful in every sense of the word inside and out. The love and admiration they have for their dad speaks directly to scotts parenting. He was their world. He lived as an example to them just as he led as an example for the Hayward Police department every day. He led from the front. He worked hard every day. He mentored his men and women. He trained his men and women. He was ethical. He was driven. He was funny. He was stubborn. Boy, was he stubborn. Scott was absolutely wonderful. Like all of us scott did not come by all of these great qualities naturally. He was the product of great parents, who raised him and guided him to become the man that he was. Scott attended a communications course, and on the last day, students are asked to put together a presentation about a significant event that influenced their philosophy of life. I will never forget scotts story. It was that impactful. Scott told the story of when he was a young boy and i dont recall exactly how old he was, but i think about 10 years old. His dad, paul an incredibly hard worker himself, asked scott and his brothers mike and todd to complete just one task that day and that it be completed and completed well before he got home from work that night. The task was to move a large pile of wood that had been unloaded from a recent trip to the mountains where paul and the three boys had cut and loaded firewood for the upcoming winter. Scott shared with the class that he did what most young boys do on a day off from school. A whole lot of nothing. Television snacking horseplay, but no wood stacking anywhere in that tight schedule. And then suddenly it was the end of the day and dad was due home. Scott ran outside and threw the wood to the side of the driveway in a pile not neatly tightly stacked, like dad had taught his boy. Paul arrived home after a tremendously long day at work and without saying a word started the Monumental Task of restacking the wood as it should have been done the first time. Scott and the boys ran outside to help but paul wouldnt allow it. I so clearly remember how very choked up scott was as he got to this part of the story. He told his classmates the lesson that he took away from that day. Scott talked about his philosophy of doing things right the first time and without delay. Scott never forgot that lesson of excellence. The impact that event had on him watching his dad complete a task he had been assigned clearly defined scotts future work ethic