Services honor life, legacy and sacrifice of Sonny Kim

CINCINNATI – Thousands of people have come together over the past seven days to honor the legacy of a superhero who wore a badge instead of a cape.

District 2 Police Officer Sonny Kim suffered fatal injuries June 19 in an exchange of gunfire with a suspect in Madisonville.

Officer Kim, 48, was a 27-year veteran of the Cincinnati Police Department. He is survived by his wife, Jessica; and three sons, Tim, Joshua and Jacob.

“Today is a tragic day for all Cincinnatians. One of our first responders was shot and killed in the line of duty,” Mayor John Cranley wrote shortly after the announcement of Kim’s passing. The Mayor was on his way to the U.S. Conference of Mayors meeting in San Francisco at the time and immediately made plans to return to Cincinnati when he learned the news.

“We will always remember the sacrifice made by Officer Sonny Kim, and we will pray for his wife and family that they find some comfort during their grief.”

Mayor Cranley, City Manager Harry Black, the Cincinnati Police Department, FOP Lodge 69 and the entire City of Cincinnati have rallied behind Officer Kim’s family and his brothers and sisters in blue since the tragedy occurred.

Supporters flocked in droves to Cintas Center on the Xavier University campus Thursday afternoon to pay their respects. More than 1,000 people had lined up before the event had even started.

Attendees came in all shapes, sizes and from various backgrounds. Friends and neighbors were there, so were complete strangers. Uniformed first responders from across the country were in attendance, as were martial students from the Japanese Karate-Do dojo in Symmes Township, where Kim was an instructor.

The Fraternal Order of Police held a private service after Thursday’s public visitation.

"You empathize with the families, because you know that could be you," Sgt. May Fong, a police officer from Pittsburgh, told The Enquirer at the visitation. "It's such a tragic situation, so we always try to lend support and anything that can help, we try to do."

The somber mood lingered Friday morning during Kim’s funeral service at Cintas Center. Speakers focused on how Kim loved his family, the city and helping people. Those same qualities are what made Kim a great police officer.

“[Officer Kim] lived a life both professionally and privately worthy of your presence, worthy of your condolences and worthy of this display of love,” Cincinnati Police Chief Jeffrey Blackwell told the estimated crowd of 7,000 at Cintas Center and  those watching on television across the City. “He exemplified what a police officer should look like and act like. He was the absolute best of us.”

Blackwell added that Kim’s boys have “1,023 aunts and uncles” in the Cincinnati Police Department to watch over them. Many of those officers were there to hear the statement, while the rest were out on duty protecting the city.

City Manager Black echoed the Chief’s sentiment, reminding the Kim family that the City is “here for you. You’re not alone.” He also reminded the boys their father was “a true hero. He served with distinction.”

City Manager Harry Black's Remarks

After being a great father and husband, all Kim ever wanted to be was a great at his job.

"He was always a police officer … When I was growing up I wanted to be an astronaut or a baseball player. But with Sonny it was always one thing – that tunnel vision to be a police officer,” said Micky Kim, Sonny’s brother. “He was so proud to wear that uniform. He was so proud to be part of that fraternity.”

Later in the day hundreds of law enforcement officers would take part in a procession along Montgomery Road to Gate of Heaven Catholic Cemetery, where Kim was buried. Throngs of people who wanted to say thank you one last time lined the 12-mile stretch of road from Cintas Center.

FOP president Kathy Harrell and the Mayor also spoke during the funeral service. The Mayor had asked earlier in the week that everyone blue on Friday to honor Officer Kim's life and his commitment to serving the city he loved.

Kim grew up in Norwood after he emigrated to the U.S. from South Korea in 1973. He moved to Chicago shortly before starting high school before coming back to the Queen City to attend the University of Cincinnati. That’s where he met and became lifelong friends with Police Specialist Buddy Blankenship nearly three decades ago. 

The two were groomsmen in each other’s weddings.

"One of the things I came to appreciate most about Sonny was he was never out of place, he always belonged – no matter where we went. Whether  a blues bar in Corryville, a night club in Oakley, a corner pub in Norwood or a chili parlor in Pleasant Ridge, Sonny was welcomed with open arms," Blankenship said.

Even though he and his family moved to Chicago when he was still a boy, Kim always considered Cincinnati home, his brother said. Hit won his heart.

"I've often thought, maybe it was something about the people here – something about the values, the sensibility of the people here, the way people here shake hands, the way people here hug each other, the way people here say hello," Micky said.

"He loved this city. He loved the people here."

The people and the City of Cincinnati loved him back.