Thousands Line Jersey City Streets for Funeral of Fallen Police Officer
Friday, July 18, 2014
WNYC
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Police officers salute fallen Jersey City police officer Melvin Santiago, 23, who was gunned down responding to a robbery.
(Sarah Gonzalez/WNYC)
Two by two, police officers on motorcycles from Philadelphia,
New York State and around New Jersey led thousands of fellow officers in
a procession, as they directed the march behind Officer Melvin
Santiago’s casket.
Santiago was just 23 years old. He was a rookie police officer, who had been on the force for seven months, before he was shot while responding to a robbery early Sunday.
Residents poured out of restaurants, office buildings and classrooms, lining the sidewalks to witness the service.
Gladys Mercado was in tears. She said the procession was breathtaking. “He’s just a young man starting his career as a policeman,” she said. “I’m glad I’m standing here to watch this moment. How beautiful and how many people love him. He’s a hero."
The shooting has rattled residents, like Alexa Pascual. “It makes me
feel uncomfortable because if they’re killing the cops, what are we
going to think, us as residents,” Pascual said.
Another resident, Jesus Martinez, was watching from the top of a set of stairs. He said he has a son on the Jersey City police force.
“I’m really worried,” Martinez said. “It isn’t easy for someone who has a police officer in the family. Tomorrow it cold be another family. It could be my family.”
Officer Santiago received a medal of honor and was posthumously promoted to detective.
The man who killed Santiago was later shot by other responding officers and died at the scene.
Santiago was just 23 years old. He was a rookie police officer, who had been on the force for seven months, before he was shot while responding to a robbery early Sunday.
Residents poured out of restaurants, office buildings and classrooms, lining the sidewalks to witness the service.
Gladys Mercado was in tears. She said the procession was breathtaking. “He’s just a young man starting his career as a policeman,” she said. “I’m glad I’m standing here to watch this moment. How beautiful and how many people love him. He’s a hero."
Another resident, Jesus Martinez, was watching from the top of a set of stairs. He said he has a son on the Jersey City police force.
“I’m really worried,” Martinez said. “It isn’t easy for someone who has a police officer in the family. Tomorrow it cold be another family. It could be my family.”
Officer Santiago received a medal of honor and was posthumously promoted to detective.
The man who killed Santiago was later shot by other responding officers and died at the scene.
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Sarah Gonzalez, Reporter, WNYC/NJPR
Sarah Gonzalez is the northern New Jersey enterprise reporter for WNYC and NJPR. Her investigative and feature reporting has received national awards by the Education Writer’s Association, SPJ Sigma Delta Chi and PRNDI, and several regional Edward R. Murrow awards.
Her investigation into charter schools turning away students with severe disabilities was awarded an Online News Association award for Innovative, Investigative Journalism. The San Diego native graduated from Mills College in Oakland in 2009 with a bachelor’s degree in sociology and journalism. Follow her @GonzalezSarahA
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