SEATAC, Wash. - Thousands of officers from across the region joined family and friends Friday to mourn the loss and celebrate the life of King County Sheriff's Deputy Steve Cox, killed in the line of duty last week.

Before Cox's funeral service, his casket made its way through White Center, the community where he grew up and eventually patrolled.  His passion was to make the neighborhood a safe place to live, and scores of residents lined the streets to bid him a final farewell.

Cox, a nine-year veteran with the sheriff's department, was questioning an alleged gang member at a White Center house about an assault case last Saturday. Unaware the suspect, Raymond Porter, was armed and had possibly killed someone hours earlier, Cox was taken by surprise and shot in the head by Porter, say police.

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About 3,000 - 4,000 mourners gathered at the Christian Faith Center in SeaTac to honor King County Deputy Steve Cox.

About 3,000 to 4,000 people crowded the Christian Faith Center in SeaTac to honor the highly respected and beloved deputy. Officials and colleagues who spoke at Cox's funeral described him in superlatives - one of the most dedicated and hardest-working deputies who epitomized the role of public servant and community leader.

"Fellow deputies worried how we could ever replace him," said King County Sheriff Sue Rahr. "One very honest deputy said, 'Sheriff, I'm not kidding. It's going to take at least five guys to do the stuff that Steve does. I'm afraid he really is irreplaceable.'"

"Riding around with Steve was like riding around with a rock star. As we rode around the streets of White Center, people would yell his name at the car and wave," said Mike Schemnitzer, Cox's patrol partner. "He was more than a just a partner and a friend - he was a legend."

"If there was anyone born to be a cop, it was my brother Steve," said Ron Cox, Deputy Cox's brother.

"Though his life was way too short, he was a role model.  He was an inspiration. He was a hero and he is a superman to all of us," said Governor Christine Gregoire.

Following the service, a private burial for Deputy Cox was held at the Washington Memorial Park in SeaTac, with family, friends, King County Sheriff's deputies and residents of White Center present.

Cox, 46, was the third officer killed in the King County area since August. Business owners and residents in White Center said he helped make the streets safer and called him their "superman."

Cox had joined the force after spending years as a King County prosecutor, just to work in his home town. He took his mission seriously, becoming president of the White Center neighborhood council.

"He was just a helluva guy ... He was so well respected over there in the White Center community it's just hard to believe," said his father, Ron Cox.

Cox grew up in the Shorewood neighborhood southwest of White Center. He played basketball at Evergreen High School and later graduated with a bachelor's degree from Central Washington University. He received his law degree from Willamette University in Salem, Ore.

In 1991, Cox began working as a deputy prosecutor in Franklin County. By the mid-1990s he handling high-profile murder and gang cases in Pasco, but he wasn't completely happy.

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Flowers and signs honor Deputy Cox at the church where his funeral is held.

Franklin County Prosecutor Steve Lowe said Cox talked to him on several occasions regarding his misgivings about the legal system.

"It's not a perfect system, and sometimes we lose cases because of technicalities. That really, really bothered him," Lowe said. "He made it clear that his goal in life was to go back and be a patrol officer. He was frustrated with what is frankly an imperfect system, and he wanted to always help people and make the community safer. He felt he could do that better back in law enforcement."

He briefly served as a prosecutor in King County before joining the county sheriff's office nine years ago.

Cox soon married his wife Maria, whom he met at a gym, and the couple adopted a baby boy from Guatemala earlier this year. The child, Bronson, turned 1 in October, and Cox and his wife planned to adopt a second child next year.

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The hearse carrying the remains of King Co. Sheriff's Deputy Steve Cox passes below the extended ladders of fire trucks as it enters the church.

Three years ago Cox was assigned to White Center. He often told friends and colleagues he wanted to serve there because he felt he'd make a difference in the area.

"He was the one that, because he grew up here, made us feel like it was okay to live here," said Betsy Harris.

Last year, Cox was given a Community Builder Award from the Seattle Neighborhood Group for his efforts in White Center.

Cox also spoke in local schools, helped organize community festivals and maintained several rental properties in the area.

"You'd see him driving around in his beat-up pickup truck with his dog and plywood hanging out the back," said childhood friend Tony Benavides. "Everyone here knows Steve. I can't even believe it that he's gone. It's surreal."