Politicians, well-known figures and family, filled Saint Patrick’s Cathedral Tuesday afternoon at the funeral of John Timoney — who was known as a cop’s cop and who once stood among the top of the NYPD’s brass before leaving the Big Apple to lead police departments in Philadelphia and Miami.

“John Timoney was one of a kind. He was also the last of his kind. How fortunate for us. How fortunate for this great city,” NYPD Commissioner Bill Bratton said at the start of the rites as hundreds of people filled the grand cathedral’s pews in Manhattan.

Timoney, 68, joined the NYPD in the 1960 and served as a cops in the tough 44th Precinct in the Bronx, Bratton pointed out.

The Irish immigrant even learned to speak Spanish, Bratton said, adding that “he wasn’t half bad even with an Irish accent.”

In 1994, Timoney became the youngest person in NYPD history to be named Chief of Department.

Former Philadelphia Mayor Ed Rendell took to the church dias and said his city was mired in crime when he asked Bratton – the first time he lead New York’s department – to advise him. Bratton told him he needed help, and suggested Timoney.

“I met with John for about 30 minutes,” said Rendell, who was also later elected governor of Pennsylvania. “After 30 minutes, I didn’t just want to hire him, I wanted to hug him because he mapped out a mission. I was sold.”

While he was a cop’s cop, Timoney surrounded himself with friends who weren’t. One of them was author Tom Wolfe – who wrote the novel “Bonfire of the Vanities,” which was set in the gritty Bronx of the 1980’s.

“John was one of the toughest Irish cops you ever met,” Wolfe said.

Those at the funeral spoke of Timoney’s athleticism – he was a runner, rower and bicyclist.

He was also an intellectual who earned his bachelor’s degree in American history from John Jay College of Criminal Justice in 1974 and a master’s degree from Fordham University.

Deputy Commissioner John Miller said Timoney told him he changed he name from Sean to John when his family came from Ireland because he wanted to be more American.

“He once told me he secretly regretted it,” Miller shared.

But the most heart-wrenching words came from family.

“He went out at the top. Not cancer, not anything would scare my father,” Sean Timoney said.

Timoney’s daughter Christine choked up while she spoke of him, leaving many attendees teary eyed as well. She said her dad was joking and laughing right up until the end.

“I’m going to miss you, Dad,” she said.

The cathedral’s microphones were lowered so Timoney’s young granddaughter, Leah, could speak as well.

“He saved a lot of people,” she said to polite laughter. “Everybody would give him compliments, including himself. He changed America and the whole world and mine.”