It was a thick blue line Thursday as a steady stream of police officers and community members filed through Leak & Sons Funeral Home for the wake of slain Chicago Police Officer Thomas Wortham IV.

Family arrives Thursday at A.R. Leak and Sons Funeral Home for the viewing of slain Police Officer Thomas Wortham IV. His funeral is today. (Scott Stewart/Sun-Times)

"He was just a good man. He represented our city as well as our country," said friend Dana Gill.

The slain officer was a first lieutenant in the Army National Guard and had recently completed a second tour of duty in Iraq.

At the funeral home at 7838 S. Cottage Grove, the officer's body was flanked by his framed police hat, his military boots, rifle and helmet and a picture of him in his military uniform, as law enforcement officers passed, many of them saluting.

Chicago blue weren't the only ones in uniform there. Officers from Evergreen Park and Metra were among those paying respects and visitors in military uniforms and Traffic Management Authority vests viewed the body.

Flowers from Evergreen Park and New York police departments were among the tributes.

Many wore buttons with his picture, name and the words "In Loving Memory."

"He meant so much to so many people and touched the lives of so many," said Ray Jackson, whose son grew up with Wortham. "This is just a testament to that."

Lots of people at the viewing had never met Wortham but read about his death and knew of his efforts to make a local park safer. The Englewood Police District officer was shot to death across the street from that park, in front of his parents' Chatham neighborhood home, last week when four men tried to steal his motorcycle.

Wortham's father, retired Chicago Police Sgt. Thomas Wortham III, was standing outside when his son was attacked, and the elder man shot and killed one of the alleged assailants.

Funeral services are today at 11:30 a.m. at Trinity United Church of Christ, 400 W. 95th.