BCVFD attends 100th Pct Candlelight Vigil

A Vigil For The Fallen

By Dan Guarino

A large crowd filled the sidewalk and spilled into the street in front of the 100th Precinct on Rockaway Beach Boulevard, as more than 100 community members gathered for a candlelight vigil on Wednesday, May 13.

From 8:30 to 9 p.m. they held flickering candles and other lights in memory of the murdered NYPD Police Officer Brian Moore, Officers Liu and Ramos, who were killed in December and law enforcement officers across the country who have died in the line of duty.

In a brief ceremony followed by a moment of silence, Rockaway’s Justin Zemser, a U.S. Navy midshipman -- who died in a massive train derailment the night before -- was also remembered.

Several policemen from the precinct also came out to be with the crowd and accept their thanks.

Members of the FDNY, whose firehouse adjoins the precinct, attended the vigil. The Broad Channel Volunteer Fire Department was also present to show support.

Danny Ruscillo, President of the 100th Precinct Community Council, which organized the vigil, said the personnel inside the precinct were surprised and encouraged by the large turnout. He also urged everyone to contact the mayor and elected officials to go forward and budget for 1,000 more police officers citywide.

Council member Joe Young noted that they had just come from a meeting about the new community policing program which will start in the 100th and 101st Precincts on Monday, May 18.