BY KELLY MARIE MANCUSO
As part of National Police Week, the 104th Precinct held a special candlelight vigil on Wednesday night at the precinct’s Ridgewood stationhouse, with residents showing support and appreciation for officers and law enforcement.
Members of the 104th Police Precinct Community Council, the 104th Precinct Civilian Observation Patrol (104COP) and neighborhood residents joined officers and precinct leaders in remembering and honoring the sacrifices police officers have made in the line of duty.
They paid special tribute to P.O. Brian Moore, the young 25-year-old officer who was shot and killed on May 2 while on patrol in Queens Village.
Capt. Gregory Mackie, the precinct’s executive officer, offered a prayer and reflection during the vigil: “Tonight, we remember our city and its police. Day in and day out they protect and serve the community and its property. On Friday, we said goodbye to a young police officer murdered in the prime of his life while doing his job. Officers like Detective Moore bring to life the biblical teaching, ‘Greater love has no man than this to lay down his life for his friends.'”
Deputy Chief Steven Silks also spoke about the dangers officers face on a daily basis.
“It’s not ever-present, but as recent events have shown, you could be in the busiest place or quietest place, and evil could end up on your doorstep. We have to be vigilant,” he said.
Silks commended NYPD officers in Manhattan who, earlier that morning, stopped a hammer-wielding attacker who struck a cop and was believed to have assaulted several pedestrians earlier in the week. The suspect was shot by the partner of the attacked officer and later charged.
“Who knows, if we didn’t get him today, how many more people he would have injured or killed,” he said.
Vigil attendees wore blue and held small blue votive candles and signs that read “Never Forgotten” as a show of support and appreciation for local officers. Capt. Mackie led the group in a moment of silence honoring Moore, as well as officers from the precinct who lost their lives while in the line of duty.
The officers thanked the community for their continued support. Silks explained that such outpouring acts as a much-needed morale boost for officers.
“Usually, people call us when things aren’t so good, so when someone actually says thank you and says something positive, it rings home,” he said. “The recognition when the community comes out like this goes a long, long way.”
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