By Janet Zimmerman, The Riverside Press-Enterprise

The Riverside police officer who was gunned down last week while on patrol was identified Sunday as Michael Crain, a decorated Marine who leaves behind a wife and two young children.

Crain was described by a former patrol partner as a family man who could easily calm a situation on the job by the way he spoke to people. He was one of the department’s finest officers and was “everybody’s friend,” Patrolman Joshua Ontko said.

“Mike was just a good person that made a great cop,” said Ontko, who rode with him almost a decade ago.

Crain’s funeral is set for 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 13, at The Grove Community Church, 19900 Grove Community Drive, Riverside. Ontko will be one of his honor guards.

Police withheld Crain’s name for three days after the attack, fearing that his family would be targeted by the suspected gunman, Christopher Dorner, an ex-Los Angeles policeman who has vowed to kill police officers and their families. The Press-Enterprise agreed not to publish it until shortly before it was announced Sunday.

Crain was a Riverside County resident. His family is under protection, Riverside police Lt. Guy Toussaint said.  Read more at The Press Enterprise