ATLANTA - Dennis Carmen Stepnowski was known as a jokester who took his police work seriously, even stepping out of his engagement party to help protect and serve. About 1,100 mourners - mainly fellow police officers from Georgia - attended his funeral Monday.

The 12-year veteran of the DeKalb County Police Department, known to his colleagues as "Step," was killed Thursday in Stone Mountain, Ga., after pursuing a Hurricane Katrina evacuee wanted in a February homicide in Louisiana.

Officer Stepnowski, 33, and another officer on routine patrol saw Lucas D. Palmer, 25, of Lacombe, La., and chased him in an apartment complex where dozens of hurricane evacuees lived.

Near one of the complex's playground areas, Mr. Palmer shot Officer Stepnowski, police and witnesses said. Mr. Palmer was killed after other officers returned fire. Neighbors said Mr. Palmer got out of jail Thursday and did not want to go back.

"Step gave his life, and nobody else was hurt that day because Dennis Stepnowski was on the scene," said DeKalb County police Maj. Frank Kliegrath.

Hundreds of police officers stood at attention as Officer Stepnowski's casket, covered with the U.S. flag, was brought into First Baptist Church in Atlanta. Inside the church, officers placed Officer Stepnowski's dark SWAT team-issue helmet, backpack and door-battering ram beside his casket.

"Dennis Carmen Stepnowski, you are our brother," Chief John E. Pearson Sr. said. "We will forever keep you in our thoughts and in our prayers. Thank you Dennis, God bless you Dennis. I look forward to seeing you again."

Officer Stepnowski was to be buried with a 21-gun salute by police today.

Originally a deputy with the Clayton County Police Department, Officer Stepnowski later joined DeKalb County police. He was part of the department's drug interdiction strike force before joining the department's SWAT team in 2003.