Hundreds attend NY Cathedral to remember Dominican police officers murdered a year ago
EL NUEVO DIARIO, NEW YORK.- Hundreds of people attended the Mass to honor the memory of Dominican policemen Jason Rivera and Wilbert Mora, shot to death on Saturday morning at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan. a year ago in the line of duty in the Harlem sector.
Mora and Rivera died a few blocks from the 32nd precinct on the night of Friday, January 21, 2022 after responding to a call about domestic violence in Harlem.
Mayor Eric Adams, NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell, Dominican Congressman Adriano Espaillat, Department of Transportation (DOT) Commissioner, police officers, and family members were on the front lines at the Cathedral.
Also attended by politicians, businessmen, professionals, community members, friends, relatives, and ordinary citizens, who prayed to bring eternal peace to said officials.
For his part, Mayor Adams said: “We can’t take that pain away. We are here for you.”
“And the family that embraces him, not just his immediate family, but the men and women who wear the blue uniform and adorn that crest.” They see their loved ones, Jason and Wilbert, standing in the path of violence to protect their fellow New Yorkers,” the city executive said.
“I say it over and over again, this profession waters the tree of freedom that allows us to sit back from the beam of violence and crime, and we know that the pain is real; when they made the transition from the physical to the spiritual they left behind a symbol of everlasting understanding and respect,” he said.
“When you think of these two young Dominican immigrants, coming to the country, embracing the country they love, but looking at how we can do a better job of ensuring that we have the peace that we all need, we are dedicated and committed to this everlasting understanding that It is peace that we deserve and that we are committed to,” Adams said.
While Congressman Espaillat expressed “we have to fight against violence, delinquency and crime to protect communities.”
For his part, Commissioner Rodríguez said: “It is an honor for me to be at this Mass paying respect to the memory of two young Dominican police officers, along with Mayor Adams, Police Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner Keechant L. Sewelly and Edward ( Eddy) Caban, Congressman Adriano Espaillat and other brothers in government.
“Their deaths will not be in vain, the administration will continue to implement measures to reduce the number of weapons in the city to improve security for all NYC residents,” Rodríguez said.
Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell said it was “an honor” to be in front of members of Precinct 32, to which the officers belonged, and to the surprise of many, she addressed the families in Spanish.