Police Officer Laid to Rest in Oregon (VIDEO)

Thousands lined the aisles of the New Hope Community Church in Clackamas Friday to honor of this police officer who impacted so many with his compassion and his desire to help others.

Photos by Q Madp/IraqWarHeroes.org

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - The life of a police officer who will never be forgotten was celebrated and mourned Friday as loved ones and friends laid to rest 40-year old Mark Zylawy, a Portland Police Bureau Officer who was known on the street as "Z-Man" and remembered by the people he served as a smart and streetwise cop who really cared.

Officer Mark Zylawy was known on the Portland street as "Z-Man"

He lost his life after a mechanical breakdown left his pick-up on the side of the road. The truck was not in the way of traffic, and the hood was up. A semi truck struck the Z-Man's private vehicle though, and ended the life of a man who dedicated his life to honor and the pursuit of justice.

Thousands lined the aisles of the New Hope Community Church in Clackamas Friday to honor of this police officer who impacted so many with his compassion and his desire to help others.

Mark Zylawy's loss is also felt in Montana, where he grew up as a boy in the small railroad town of Alberton. They said he was quickly accepted in Portland and known by countless numbers of people in the community he patrolled. Mark was actually born in France.

The Z-Man died last Sunday shortly after his pick-up broke down while he was driving to work on Interstate 5. He got out with the apparent intention of trying to figure out what was wrong with the vehicle when he was hit by the semi-truck and trailer rig.

He lived just north of Portland in Ridgefield, Washington. According to the Washington State Pat­rol and the Columbian, Mark was killed about 6:30 AM near the Clark Coun­­ty fairgrounds when he was struck by a truck driven by 55-year old Lawrence Stieben of Milwau­kie, Oregon.

One person in the Northwest who regularly honors fallen heroes is Q Madp of IraqWarHeroes.org. He sent a series of images from the service of Mark Zalawy to Salem-News and we set those images to the sound of Amazing Grace. You can see Q's other photos of the service at Honoring Z Man. Special thanks to Google Video.

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z-man helped me to realize that my life was more important than the streets-thank you

Our deepest condolences to this family in their time of loss.

My condolences, rest in peace.

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