Former baseball teammate remembers Sgt. Scott Lunger on, off the field

HAYWARD, Calif. (KGO) -- The viewing for Hayward Police Officer Sgt. Scott Lunger was held Wednesday at Chapel of the Chimes in Hayward. The 15-year veteran, who was killed during a routine traffic stop, will be laid to rest Thursday.

DETAILS: Procession, memorial for fallen Hayward Sgt. Scott Lunger

There are feelings of solidarity, respect and sadness in Hayward Wednesday. Sgt. Scott Lunger's close friend Tony Jackson and baseball teammate attended the viewing and he described Lunger as a big bear in life and a beast on the baseball field.

Inside Jackson's garage are walls full of memories.

"Good memories for us," Jackson said.

PHOTOS: Hayward police sergeant shot, killed

While many knew Lunger in his police uniform, Jackson knew him in a different one. Lunger had the energy of 10. After his police shift ended around 2 a.m. Jackson says he would nap in his car before games began at 9 a.m.

"Many times we'd have to go out there and wake him up, 'Hey, ball game time,'" Jackson said.

Once he was up, he was on.

"He was a beast, yes. He played hard," Jackson said.

Jackson lovingly called him Dolph, as in Dolph Lundgren, an actor who faced off with Sylvester Stallone in Rocky.

The morning Lunger died, Jackson texted him, "Dolph, are you OK?" Then again by his name: "Scott, please answer me." He heard nothing back.

"Just sad to lose such a gentleman like that," Jackson said. A gentleman whose gentle presence Jackson says he still feels.

"Each morning I tap my roof, 'hey, how you doing?'" Jackson said. "He'll still be with us no matter where we're at, on the field, off the field and looking over us as they all do when they leave us."

Sergeant Lunger will be laid to rest with full honors Thursday. A police motorcade will escort his casket from Hayward to Oracle Arena in Oakland. The procession begins at 8:45 a.m. and the service at Oracle Arena begins at 10 a.m.

Those who would like to make donations to help with the college expenses of Sgt. Lunger's two daughters Saralyn and Ashton can send donations here:

HPOA (Hayward Police Officers Association)
C/O Family of Sgt. Scott Lunger
300 West Winton Avenue
Hayward, CA 94544

Click here for full coverage on the Hayward police shooting.