What was planned as a "Gathering of Peace" rally at Heinz Field today turned partly into a wake for three slain police officers, as speaker after speaker mourned both the deaths this morning and the hundreds of homicides in the county over the last several years.

"Today, the heart of Pittsburgh is broken," City Councilman William Peduto told the hundreds of people assembled at the gathering.

The rally was organized by former police detective Jimmy Cvetic in response to a record number of homicides in Allegheny County last year. Mr. Cvetic, now director of the Western Pennsylvania Police Athletic League, asked attendees to be the messengers in stopping the violence.

Police Detective Robert White, speaking in place of Chief Nate Harper, began the rally by calling for a moment of prayer to remember "three of our lost brothers."

Throughout the rally, the Jumbotron at Heinz Field scrolled the names of homicide victims in Allegheny County in the last seven years -- about 700 names in total.

Attendees were given a paper bag containing a loaf of Breadworks bread and a breaded piece of fish from Wholey's -- a symbolic peace offering blessed by Bishop David Zubik.

Bishop Zubik said that he had just met with two of the families of the slain police officers and was meeting with the third just after the rally.

"What a heartbreaking experience it is for them and what a heartbreaking experience it was for me and what a heartbreaking experience it is for the city of Pittsburgh and beyond," he told the crowd.

The rally also included an appearance by actor Nick Nolte, who is in Pittsburgh filming the movie "Warrior," heard about the rally and wanted to speak on behalf of peace.