3 Pennsylvania detectives killed in York County ambush remembered at funeral

RED LION, Pa. -- Hundreds of police officers gathered for a closed funeral Thursday for three Pennsylvania detectives shot and killed last week by a man who had been inside the home of a woman he was accused of stalking.

The service at Living Word Community Church in Red Lion began at noon, following a motorcade to escort the bodies of Northern York County Regional Police detectives Cody Michael Becker, Mark Edward Baker and Isaiah Emenheiser from a funeral home.

The event was not open to the public, but the church did streaming the service online. It's the second time this year that the church has hosted services for police killed in the line of duty.

Autopsy results released this week indicated that all three officers died of multiple gunshot wounds.

A prosecutor said the stalking suspect, 24-year-old Matthew James Ruth, fired on the officers as they opened the door to the woman's home. The three were killed and two other officers were seriously wounded.

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York County District Attorney Tim Barker said he believes Ruth, who died in the exchange of gunfire, had planned to ambush the woman he was accused of stalking.

The three veterans of the police force have been remembered as devoted to their families and community.

Becker, 39, a resident of Spring Grove, had been a star multi-sport athlete in high school.

"He was humble, a caring and compassionate man," said retired Chief Mark Bentzel. "He was a leader in life, long before he was a leader at Northern Regional."

Baker, 53, who lived in Dover, was a computer forensics investigation specialist. He was known affectionately as "Bake."

"My dad, Detective Mark Baker, was courageous, fearless, kind and compassionate, and he will always be remembered as a hero," said his daughter, Rebecca Baker.

Emenheiser, 43, of York, was called a perfectionist with dreams of opening a gym. He was remembered for his love of family, faith, home improvement projects, and the Philadelphia Eagles.

"Izzy, you were a strong presence in the office," said Cpl. Steve Lebo of the Northern York County Regional Police Department. "And you were passionate and driven to anything you set your mind on doing."

Becker, who was known as "Booker," served as sergeant of detectives and had been on the Northern Regional force for 16 years. His obituary recounted how in 2010 he climbed to the second story of a burning building to catch children who were escaping through a window. He is survived by a wife and two children. A second service, a public funeral for Becker, will be held Sunday at Spring Grove Area High School in Spring Grove.

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Baker, a U.S. Army veteran, spent three years with the Philadelphia Police Department before he joined Northern Regional in 2004, first as a patrol officer and then in computer forensics. He had been a detective for 15 years. He was an Eagle Scout and an adult Scouting leader. Survivors include a wife and four children; a fifth child predeceased him.

Emenheiser was a York College criminal justice graduate and served in the U.S. Secret Service before being hired by Northern Regional. He made 104 DUI arrests in 2010 and was named officer of the year, among other professional honors over two decades with the department.

In 2005, Emenheiser broke a window in a burning mobile home in Thomasville and carried a man to safety. Emenheiser's interests included fitness, home renovations and coaching youth soccer. His surviving family includes a wife and two children.

Northern York County Regional Police Chief David Lash closed the service with a message of remembrance and resolve.

"They will be missed deeply but remembered often," Lash said. "Rest easy, brothers. We have the watch."

The department said it will carry forward the legacy of the three men who died doing what they loved-helping others.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.