Pittsburgh police Officer Stephen J. Mayhle left his native Indiana, Pa., to make his mark on the world. A proud but anguished town took him back yesterday.

Officer Mayhle, 29, fatally shot along with two colleagues while answering a domestic-disturbance call in Stanton Heights on April 4, was laid to rest in Oakland Cemetery, just outside the borough, in a ceremony that drew at least 350 onlookers.

"We had to be here," said Beth Fletcher, an employee of Indiana Regional Medical Center, who attended with friends and co-workers.

Officer Mayhle's casket was borne to the cemetery by a horse-drawn caisson with liveried drivers. About 48 hours after a memorial service for the fallen officers at the Petersen Events Center on the University of Pittsburgh campus, hundreds of police and emergency workers turned out again to bid Officer Mayhle goodbye.

"To be included in this is an honor," said John Marthens, a member of the Pittsburgh Firefighters Memorial Pipe Band.

A wall of Pittsburgh police officers ringed the gravesite and saluted the casket. Buglers played taps, bagpipers played "Amazing Grace," and a state police helicopter flew over the scene.

"We're just happy to be here to give him the kind of sendoff he deserves," said Wilkingsburg police Sgt. Larry Singer, a member of Pittsburgh Police Emerald Society Pipes and Drums.

Onlookers gathered across the street, all but shutting down a strip shopping center for a couple of hours.

"I had to go to McDonald's to get extra tissues because bagpipes tear me up," Indiana resident Kim Myers said.

Richard Poplawski, 22, is charged with the slaying of Officers Mayhle, Eric G. Kelly, 41, and Paul J. Sciullo II, 37, at 1016 Fairfield St. He is being held in the Allegheny County Jail.

Police said Mr. Poplawski's mother called 911 to have him removed from the house. Officers Mayhle and Sciullo answered the call, and Officer Kelly, just off duty, decided to back them up.

The three officers lay in repose at the City-County Building for about 20 hours before a solemn procession to the Petersen Center for a 21/2-hour public memorial service Thursday. Officers Kelly and Sciullo were buried that day.

Officer Mayhle attended Indiana Wesleyan School and majored in criminology at Indiana University of Pennslvania, graduating in 2002. He leaves a wife and two daughters.

The tragedy has gripped Indiana and IUP much as it has Pittsburgh.

"We've been talking about it all week," said Dennis Giever, one of Officer Mayhle's criminology professors.

After a private service at Lefdahl Funeral Home for family, friends and police, Officer Mayhle's casket was borne about three miles to the cemetery in a procession involving dozens of police cars. Indiana Mayor George Hood said he was proud of area residents who lined the streets and sidewalks outside the funeral home and along the route to the cemetery.

Dr. Giever walked from the funeral home to the cemetery. At one point, he said, he saw a single blue balloon swept away by the wind and was reminded of "how quickly Stephen and the officers were taken from us."

Mayor Luke Ravenstahl, Public Safety Director Michael Huss and police Chief Nathan Harper attended the funeral. Afterward, Mr. Ravenstahl said police officers will need more support in coming days.

"We're going to make sure the officers are getting the opportunity to receive counseling and really regroup as a department," he said.