Candlelight vigil outside police precinct
Dec. 23, 2014 By Christian Murray
The community and the officers of the 108 Police Precinct came together last night and held a candlelight vigil in honor of the two NYPD officers that were tragically killed in the line of duty in Brooklyn over the weekend.
More than 150 residents and about 30 police officers held candles to pay their respect to the two fallen officers outside the 108 precinct house, located at 5-47 50th Ave.
Captain John Travaglia, the 108 commanding officer, thanked the Long Island City community for its support during this time of great sadness.
“The tragic death of Police officers Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu has shocked everyone,” Travaglia said.
However, it has been particular tough on New York’s finest.
“It is tough for someone like me, with 22-years in law enforcement to comprehend this, and is even tougher for our families and our community to understand,” Travaglia said.
“But what gets us through is the knowledge that our brothers in sisters in blue will never forget… and that the community will embrace and care for the love ones we lost,” Travaglia said.
Travaglia, who stood in front of crowd, said the police and the community will get through these tough times—and called the LIC community a beacon of light in this time of darkness.
Deputy Chief Steven Silks, who oversees the northern precinct in Queens, also thanked the community for coming out.
“You have no idea how much this means to the men and women of the police department,” Silks said. “Thank you very, very much on behalf of all of us.”
Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer expressed the rage and emotion that was felt by so many in the crowd.
“We as a community just want to grieve over the horrific murder of two officers,” Van Bramer said. “We are all saddened and outraged… something like this should never happen.”
“We also want to let all the officers out there know that we support them and that we as a community value their work,” he added.
Police Officers Rafael Ramos, 40, and Wenjian Liu, 32, were shot and killed while sitting in their patrol car in Bedford-Stuyvesant on Saturday afternoon, just before 3 pm.
A Rabbi and a number of priests were present to lead the community in prayer for the fallen officers.
Brent O’Leary, the president of the Hunters Point Civic Association, reflected on the vigil and said, “We hope that coming together as a community tonight we could in our way show our policemen and woman that we care for them.”
“We in this community are a model, a beacon of light in the darkness” thank you for your continued support #NYPD pic.twitter.com/hKcQ8xDxXo
“We in this community are a model, a beacon of light in the darkness” thank you for your continued support #NYPD pic.twitter.com/hKcQ8xDxXo
— NYPD 108th Precinct (@NYPD108Pct) December 23, 2014
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