PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Funeral services were held Thursday for a Providence, R.I., police officer killed in the line of duty.

A sea of blue came to Providence by the thousands to the church where Detective Sgt. James Allen had been in charge of welcoming worshippers for services every week.

Video

Amalia Barreda Reports On Funeral RESOURCES James L. Allen Memorial Page

They came to pay tribute to the 27-year police veteran, slain with his own gun at police headquarters.

It was an enormous display of respect for the fallen officer: A sea of law enforcement stood in mournful silence as an endless parade of police cruisers drove past the church where Allen and his family worshiped.

Many colleagues remembered Allen as a gentle giant and great investigator.

"Right away, you felt his gentleness and his compassion. It didn't matter who you were or where you were from, victim or someone in need, he wanted to help," Cmdr. Paul Kennedy said.

A priest remembered Allen as a man of faith.

"With Jim's death, our parish is now diminished. A living stone of our Catholic faith has been removed, and we too feel a profound emptiness," the priest said.

Bagpipes from the New York Fire Department provided the backdrop to the ceremony, which included a riderless horse. The son of a police captain, Allen, 50, leaves a wife and two daughters. He was promoted to detective sergeant posthumously.

The FBI has indicated that the agency wants to meet with Providence and Rhode Island State Police to talk about whether excessive force was used in the arrest of the man accused of killing Allen.

Esteban Carpio appeared at his arraignment with a badly bruised face that was partially hidden behind a plastic mask.