Visitation for Slain West Bloomfield Officer to be held in Highland

Patrick O'Rourke may have been known as a respected police officer in West Bloomfield, but the people in his hometown of Fenton also remember him as faithful churchgoer and good citizen.

was a 12-year veteran of the He was shot and killed on in the line of duty.

The funeral mass for O'Rourke will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Fenton.

Visitation will be 2-8 p.m. on Wednesday and 2-8 p.m. on Thursday at Elton Black and Son Funeral Home at 3295 E. Highland Rd., in Highland.

A rosary service will be held at 5 p.m. on Thursday at the funeral home.

O'Rourke will lie in state at the church on Friday from 9:30 a.m. until the time of service. Rite of committal will be in St. John's Cemetery, Fenton.

David Harvey, a priest a in Fenton, remembers the slain police officer as a family man.

Harvey performed the wedding ceremony for O'Rourke and his wife, Amy. He also performed Baptismal Masses for their four children, three girls and a boy. The youngest, the O'Rourkes' son, had his Baptismal Mass in January. The second-oldest daughter received her First Communion on the same date.

"He was a very, very faithful parishioner here," Harvey said.

Fenton City Councilman Ben Smith said O'Rourke's ties to Fenton show how small the community is.

"We're all connected," he said.

Fenton Councilwoman Pat Lockwood said O'Rourke's death is a tragedy for the entire community.

"Our hearts and prayers go out to the family," she said.

To leave a message for the family, visit eltonblackandsonhighland.com.

in front of the , 4530 Walnut Lake Road Tuesday night at 7:45 p.m.