More than 2,000 mourners, many of them law enforcement officers, packed the First Baptist Church in Elk Grove this morning to honor and remember fallen Sacramento County Sheriff Deputy Larry Canfield.

"Together we have served with this man, together we have appreciated this man, and together we feel the pain of losing someone extraordinary," Chaplain Frank Russell said in the opening prayer.

Deputies flanked Canfield's casket, cloaked in an American flag, on either side. Dozens more, including Sheriff John McGinness, sat behind it on a stage displaying a large photo of Canfield and the motorcycle officer's helmet.

Canfield, 43, died last Wednesday while pursuing a speeding motorist along Coloma Road in Rancho Cordova. His westbound motorcycle collided with a 2004 Toyota Camry turning left from the eastbound lanes into a church's driveway near Chardonay Drive. He died shortly after arriving at Mercy San Juan Medical Center.

Today's funeral marked the fourth in four years for the Sheriff's department.

In 2005, a sheriff's helicopter crash claimed the lives of Joe Kievernagel and Kevin Blount, whose joint funeral was held at St.John Vianney Catholic Church, near the site of Canfield's crash. Jeff Mitchell was shot to death in 2006 in the rural roads of south Sacramento while on patrol. In 2007, gang detective Vu Nguyen was fatally wounded while pursing a suspect.

A 13-year veteran of the Sheriff's department, Canfield had been assigned to the Rancho Cordova Police Department's motorcycle unit since 2004. (The Sheriff's Department provides police services to Rancho Cordova under a contract.)

Speakers and friends spoke his love for his family and his dedication to his job.

Sacramento Sheriff John McGinness said Canfield ultimately lost his life doing what he loved to do and asked that those who grieve to take comfort in knowing that Canfield pursued and achieved his dreams.

Only minutes into the service, several Rancho Cordova police officers seated on the stage wiped away tears with gloved hands.

"He was described as always showing up to work on time with an impeccable uniform with a positive attitude," McGinness said, calling Canfield a "good and honorable man" who had shown fidelity to his family, his country, his department, chosen profession and the community he serves.

McGinness closed his comments by officially retiring Canfield's badge number and call sign.

Chaplain Father Joe Ternullo said Canfield was "truly a peace officer" because he believed that God's love was greater than evil and justice was stronger than the injustice he had encountered.

"He was a man who's able to share love," Ternullo said, even though his crusty exterior earned him the nickname of "Scary Larry."

Speakers also mentioned his signature cigar and his sense of humor.

"When he walked up he knew he was in charge, with that twinkle in his eye, that smile and that cigar," Ternullo said.

A picture of Canfield in his uniform and shades, an unlit cigar sticking out of a corner of his mouth, was printed on the covers of the program sheets.

Mourners began filing into the church's parking lot hours before the service began. Two fire truck ladders hoisted a flag between them over the parking lot's entrance. Members of law enforcement agencies from throughout the state and out-of-state stood at attention in the parking lot, waiting for the hearse to arrive.

As the flag-draped casket was taken into the church by pallbearers in motor uniforms, law enforcement officers lifted their hands in salute and bagpipes sounded a dirge.

Canfield's wife, Michelle, his two young sons and another officer walked solemnly behind, accompanied by friends, family members and the officers from the motorcycle unit.

Other law enforcement officers followed, some of them teary-eyed and plucking tissues from a box that community chaplain Marilyn Chenault was holding as they walked by her into the church.

"It's hard, it's hard. This is their buddy. It can happen to them at any time," Chenault said.