LONG ISLAND POLICE OFFICER (Also an Active Volunteer Firefighter) KILLED IN THE LINE OF DUTY, A Tragic Weekend For Law Enforcement

While not a fire service LODD, a Nassau County (NY) Police Officer who was also an active member of the Selden (Suffolk County) NY Fire Department was killed in the Line of Duty Saturday in an incredibly horrific incident. NCPD Special Operations Officer Geoffrey Breitkopf, 40, was shot and killed by a Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA, railroad) Police Officer following a confrontation with knife-wielding man at a home.

Police said that the tragic accident may have occurred because a man at the scene yelled ‘gun’ when he later saw Officer Breitkopf approaching with a rifle.

While Officer Breitkopf was known to other NCPD cops at the scene, the 2 MTA Police Officers “didn’t recognize who he was" and one of those MTA officers, Glen Gentile, shot and killed Officer Breitkopf. The tragic shooting came a reported 8 to 13 minutes after police had initially arrived at the Massapequa Park scene and came upon 21-year-old Anthony Digeronimo, who had knives strapped to his body and in his hands. Digeronimo ran into his parents’ home, barricaded himself inside a bedroom before charging police with a knife. Police drew their weapons before shooting and killing Digeronimo.

Funeral Services for Officer Breitkopf will be held Wednesday and Thursday at the headquarters of the Selden FD, where the officer had been a Volunteer Firefighter for 14 years. His funeral mass will be held noon Friday at St. Margaret’s of Scotland in Selden. Viewing services will be held Wednesday and Thursday from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. and from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Police and fire services will be held at 8 p.m. Thursday. The Selden Fire headquarters is at 44 Woodmere Pl., Selden (link below).

Officer Breitkopf had been a member of the NCPD Special Operations Unit for 7 years. During his 12 years on the NCPD, Breitkopf received 5 Command Recognitions, 4 Meritorious Police Service Awards and a Medal of Commendation. He was a member of SFD’s Heavy Rescue Co. 4.

HERE is the SFD website http://www.seldenfd.com/

HERE is the NCPD website: http://www.police.co.nassau.ny.us/

Officer Breitkopf leaves behind his wife, Paula, and two young sons Owen, 3, and Connor, 6. Our sincere condolences to all affected.

IT HAS BEEN A VERY TOUGH COUPLE OF DAYS FOR POLICE OFFICERS IN OUR COUNTRY

=A New York City Police Officer was killed in Brooklyn yesterday morning. In an altercation, NYPD Officer Alain Schaberger fell 9 feet to his death during a domestic violence call. A suspect with a criminal history has been charged with 1st degree murder. The Officer was pushed over a railing, fell down a cement stairwell, broke his neck and died in the Line of Duty. Officer Schaberger, 42, was a nine-year member of the NYPD and was a decorated officer, having earned an Excellent Police Duty medal.

=In Virginia, 2 Sheriff’s deputies died in the Line of Duty after being shot, and 2 other Deputies were critically wounded yesterday afternoon in Buchanan County in far southwestern Virginia.

The four deputies were all shot by a single bad guy, who was later found dead. The first 2 Deputies to arrive were immediately shot and killed, and when backup arrived, they were shot as well.

Deputies Cameron Neil Justus, 41, and William Ezra Stiltner, 46, both died in the Line of Duty. The deputies who were wounded were Wayne Rasnake, 32,., and Shane Earl Charles, 25. Rasnake remains in the intensive care unit at Bristol Regional Medical Center, while Charles is being treated at Holston Valley Medical Center in Kingsport, Tenn. Both are listed in critical condition. RIP.

The Long Island incident is the second time in 5 weeks a Nassau County Police Officer died in the Line of Duty. NCPD Highway Patrolman Michael J. Califano was killed in the Line of Duty when a trucker dozed off and slammed into the officer’s stopped patrol car. The driver as arrested shortly after the crash on charges including criminally negligent homicide. it also comes 11 days after NCPD Officers killed a man who shot Firefighter/EMT Justin Angell, a 20-year-old in Bellmore, who had arrived to assist at the crash. FF Angell survived and has since been released from the hospital.

NOTE REGARDING POLICE OFFICER LINE OF DUTY DEATHS:

Firefighters, EMT’s and Paramedics save numerous Police Officers lives each year. According to our partner, Gordon Graham, this Country lost 285 cops in 1974 and 129 in 2009. And while the numbers are still tragic, that reduction in many cases is due to the rapid response of FF’s and responders providing BLS and ALS to their Brothers and Sisters from the PD. Our sincere thanks to ALL who have made a difference, or attempted to save the lives of all Police Officers affected. More HERE: http://www.odmp.org/

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