Family, friends gathering to mourn death of Officer Kevin Ambrose

WILBRAHAM, Mass. (WWLP) - Family and friends continue to mourn fallen Springfield Police Officer Kevin Ambrose .

A steady flow of friends stopped by the Ambrose's home in Wilbraham Tuesday morning, less than 24 hours after he was tragically killed in the line-of-duty. 22News did not try to go to the Ambrose's home, in order to respect their privacy.

Officer Ambrose coached baseball, basketball and soccer and loved spending time with his family. He loved his friends and family, and his job. Everyone loved his sense of humor.

Kevin Burnham is a neighbor, co-worker and longtime friend of the Ambrose family. He told 22News that they are doing everything they can to cope.

"They're devastated, they're absolutely devastated, but they have a good family. Their family has all come together, Kevin father and his brother, they're really truly doing what they have to do to get through this,” Burnham said.

Springfield Police Detective Charles Youmans told 22News that Ambrose was the kind of co-worker anyone would want to have.

"If you all really got to know him or had any run-in with him, you would see that he was just an outgoing cop who had a great personality; would do anything for you," Youmans said.

The wake for Officer Ambrose will be Thursday afternoon at Sampson's Chapel of the Acres in Springfield, while the funeral will be Friday morning at St. Catherine of Siena Church in Springfield, with burial at Hillcrest Park Cemetery.

A memorial fund has also been set up for Officer Ambrose at the Greater Springfield Credit Union on Wilbraham Road.