Memorial wall honors fallen New York cops

When Angelica Rosado saw her father's name newly inscribed on a memorial wall honoring fallen law enforcement officers yesterday, she crossed herself and said, "I love you, Daddy."

Jose Rosado, 45, a New York State trooper from Deer Park, was killed in a car accident while on duty in January 2007. His daughter said she also wants to become a trooper.

"It was so hard," said Rosado, 18, of North Babylon, after yesterday's ceremony. "It's just a wake-up call for me that I lost my father."

Jose Rosado's name and 10 others were recently etched beside those of more than 1,300 New York officers on the marble and granite wall outside the state headquarters of the Fraternal Order of Police in Hicksville.

Seven of those were killed in the line of duty last year. Four others gave "the ultimate sacrifice" in years past.

At yesterday's solemn and overcast outdoor ceremony, the 11th annual, they were honored before more than 100 relatives, friends, officers, lawmakers and others from across the state.

"If there's never another officer killed in the line of duty, we'd never miss this," said Charles Caputo, president of the state's Fraternal Order of Police, in an interview.

Among those commemorated were Eugene Marshalik and Nicholas Pekearo, New York City auxiliary officers killed last year when they tried to apprehend a gunman. Families of both officers received federal death benefits last month after a previous denial because they were not peace officers.

"So many will see his name and know that he's somebody," said Pekearo's brother, Christopher Latman, 42, of Staten Island.

Others remembered included three members of the New York City Police Department - James Zadroga, John Young and James Godbee - who all died from illnesses related to their work at Ground Zero.

Russel Timoshenko, the New York City police officer who died in July after being shot during a traffic stop in Brooklyn, was also honored.

Some family members whose relatives' names were added to the wall in years past also attended the ceremony.

Marge Dwyer's son, Anthony, of Elmont, a New York City police officer, died in 1989 after a would-be robber pushed him off a Manhattan roof. His name has been on the memorial wall since its inception in 1997, but Marge Dwyer, 67, of Elmont, president of the Elmont-based group Deceased Officers Parents, said she's never missed a ceremony.

"It's a little sad, but I just feel good that he's being remembered," she said. "As long as I can, I'll keep coming here."

Forever etched

Added to the memorial wall yesterday:

David Crandell

New York State Capital Police policeman

Died April 18, 1868

William Buckley

Long Island Rail Road crossing patrolman

Died Dec. 23, 1926

James Godbee of Manhattan

NYPD officer

Died Dec. 30, 2004

James Zadroga of Little Egg Harbor, N.J.

NYPD officer

Died Jan. 17, 2006

Jose Rosado of Deer Park

State Police trooper

Died Jan. 24, 2007

John Young of Highland Mills

NYPD detective

Died Feb. 19, 2007

Eugene Marshalik of Valley Stream

New York City auxiliary officer

Died March 14, 2007

Nicholas Pekearo of Manhattan

New York City auxiliary officer

Died March 14, 2007

Thomas Lindsey of Utica

Utica police officer

Died April 12, 2007

David Brinkerhoff of Coxsackie

State Police trooper

Died April 25, 2007

Russel Timoshenko of Staten Island

NYPD officer

Died July 14, 2007

- CHRISTINA HERNANDEZ

By BY CHRISTINA HERNANDEZ
Posted Monday, May 5, 2008

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