PEARLAND - Hundreds of members of law enforcement joined family and friends in mourning the death of a Pearland police officer, remembering a rookie who was a widely considered a "man of value."

Officer Endy Ekpanya was killed in the line of duty June 12 in a collision with a Friendswood woman who investigators believe was intoxicated at the time of the crash.

Ekpanya's family, colleagues from the Pearland Police Department and officers from other agencies around the state gathered to remember his life at Grace Community Church in a service steeped in tradition and filled with fond memories of an officer who went beyond what was required.

"This is just something you simply cannot prepare for," Ekpanya's wife, Lucy Lugo, told mourners. "But even now that I say that, Endy did. Endy always went a step above."

Ekpanya is survived by Lugo and their 2-year-old son, Julian. Ekpanya worked for the Pearland department for less than a year and was just a few days shy of his 31st birthday.

Pearland Police Chief Chris Doyle said Ekpanya was valuable in every way and possessed "integrity without question."

"He was one of our best trained, highly educated and well-rounded officers that I had been honored to have in my command," Doyle said. "However, Endy went that one step beyond being what he was trained to be and in the process became something that he never professed to be - a man of value."

Ekpanya's colleagues shared stories of Ekpanya's commitment to being accomplished in his profession, saying he always aimed to be the highest performer in his police training. He would even take his family on drives around Pearland on weekends so he could memorize city blocks, Lugo said.

Chaplain Jerry Skinner encouraged the hundreds of firefighters and police officers present at the funeral to be more like Ekpanya in their service.

"If you are to be Endy in your calling, in this endeavor we call law enforcement, you must take your knowledge and move one step farther," he said. "You must take your future, and make one step broader. And you must take your calling and push one step higher."

Amber Willemsen, 38, a former assistant elementary principal in the Clear Creek Independent School District, was arrested in connection with the crash that killed Ekpanya. Willemsen sustained injuries in the wreck and remains in the hospital, but she is facing a first-degree felony charge of intoxication manslaughter of a police officer.

At the time of her accident, Willemsen was out on bond after being arrested on a charge of possession of methampethamine just two weeks earlier. She was also charged with driving while intoxicated in 2012, but the charge was dismissed after she completed a probationary period.

Lugo said Ekpanya was deeply passionate about everything he did, and he has inspired her to remain strong. Officer Natisha Lucas, Ekpanya's friend and mentor, assured Lugo that she and her son will always be a part of the police department.

"You and Julian have two types of family, your blood family and your blue blood family," she said through tears. "On behalf of Pearland Police Department, we have your back."

Honor Guard officials completed the ceremony, and law enforcement officials joined a procession through east Pearland to reach South Park Cemetery, where officers and family attended a private graveside ceremony. Officers also wore his badge number on arm bands or on their badges.

In addition to the several hundred law enforcement officials present, Pearland community members as well as Mayor Tom Reid were in attendance to praise Ekpanya for his service to the city.

"I believe it is important to remember law enforcement officers work every day prepared to give their lives to protect our lives," Reid said. "Endy made the ultimate sacrifice."