Thousands mourn Officer Brian Moore
Tens of thousands of mourners converged on the Seaford-Bethpage border last Friday afternoon to pay tribute to Brian Moore, the slain New York City police officer.
Moore, 25, of North Massapequa, was shot on May 2 while on duty in Queens, and died two days later. Funeral services for the Plainedge High School graduate were held at 11 a.m. on May 8 at St. James Church at the northern end of Seaford. Thousands of police officers from New York City, Nassau and Suffolk counties and other departments attended, and roads were shut down in Seaford and Bethpage.
“Our hearts go out to Officer Moore’s family,” Nassau County PBA President James Carver said. “He hails from a long line of police officers. His father and uncle served in the NYPD, and many of his cousins are police officers on Long Island. This is a family that knows service.”
Moore had served less than five years, but had already made more than 150 arrests and had earned several medals for meritorious service, Carver added.
The suspect, Demetrius Blackwell, was a convicted felon, who shot Moore as he and his partner approached. “Due to these cowardly actions, a mother and father are left without their son, a sister is left without her brother and his family and friends are left with emptiness in their hearts that can never be filled,” a statement from the Moore family read.
Judy Ruff, who lives on Stewart Avenue in Bethpage, one of the roads that was closed for the wake and funeral, said the services were quite a sight. She said while St. James has held some high-profile funerals before, nothing compared to this. There was a heavy police presence with snipers and canine units, she said, in addition to all those who came to mourn.
Ruff noted the line of motorcycles on Friday, “For as far as you could see in every direction,” she said, adding that it went from Hempstead Turnpike to the Seaford-Oyster Bay Expressway. “They came from everywhere. They were just so nice.”
Ruff’s husband, son-in-law, grandson and neighbor were giving out water to the motorcycle police officers, who came from Connecticut, Canada and other areas, as they waited on a hot, sunny day for the funeral to end. Soon after the procession began, the hearse stopped in front of Ruff’s home, and she said prayers.
The procession went past Moore’s house, underneath American flag arches set up by local fire departments, then down Seaman’s Neck Road in Seaford, where it passed East Broadway Elementary School. More than 600 students, in their school T-shirts, lined the front lawn and placed their hands over their hearts as the procession went by.
“We felt that it would be a nice tribute,” Principal Jeanmarie Wink said. “I think when you see little children supporting grownups, it warms your heart.”
Wink said that she felt it would be an important experience for the students, and a chance for them to show unity and respect for police officers.
The procession passed by at about 1:30 p.m. “It wasn’t very long but it was very emotional,” Wink said. She added that the Seaford Wellness Council provided American flags to place in front of the school for the day.
There were other tributes to Moore throughout the area. Blue ribbons lined Park Boulevard in Massapequa. Flags at local schools flew at half mast and Seaford Board of Education Trustee Stacie Stark offered condolences to the Moore family at last week’s meeting. On Friday, nine helicopters passed over the area in formation.
