An Extended Family

Retired ESU Police Officer Richie Powers (center) poses with his "family," the sons and daughters of Patrick O'Connor, who was killed in the line of duty nearly 31 years ago. Officer O'Connor was Richie Powers' partner and since that time Richie has formed a very special bond with those offspring: (l-r) Det. James O'Connor of the Firearms Task Force, Ann Marie Golden, Maureen Paradine and Det. Patrick O'Connor of the Bomb Squad.

An extended family is what New York City police officers form, perhaps even more than do their counterparts in the rest of the world. In times of trouble, that sense of kinship intensifies. Retired ESU Police Officer Richie Powers is a case in point. When his partner Patrick O'Connor was killed in the line of duty nearly thirty-one years ago, Richie Powers took his "family" responsibilities very seriously indeed. We'll let Officer O'Connor's daughter Maureen Paradine tell the story in her own words:

On November 24, 1971, my father was killed in the line of duty, forever changing our lives. Suddenly, the O'Connor family consisted of four children ranging from 3 to 8 years old and a 31-year-old widow left to raise us on her own. As they always do, the NYPD stepped in and took us under their wing. They were always there for us and made us feel that we were part of a bigger family that really cared. Even today, they are still remembering and honoring the memory of my father.

Richie Powers' life was also shattered that day. Richie was my father's partner and he showed up at our house in the middle of that dark night to console my mother and to help her with the unbearable task of trying to explain to her four young children what had happened to their father. He took charge of making all arrangements, informing people and all the other unpleasant things that need to be done in times like those. From then on, he acted as a father figure for our family.

Even though he had his own beautiful wife and daughter, Richie always made time for us. He paid us weekly visits, bringing us candy, camping out with us in a tent in our backyard, telling us ghost stories until we all ran back inside the house. He taught us how to catch frogs and how to ride a bike, would join in the fun of our Fourth of July block parties. He also came out for birthdays, holidays and to accompany us on visits to our father's grave. We looked forward to his arrival because he was always full of energy and of stories about being on the job with our father. My mother especially looked forward to his visits because he had the unique and uncanny ability to keep us four totally engrossed in his stories or involved in his antics. Often, other neighborhood kids ran over to our house when they saw his car to join in the festivities. While his visits seemed like fun, I look back now and realize how much we all learned from him. The magic about Richie was that he never acted like a parental figure, but he naturally earned our love, respect and admiration.

Almost 31 years after he arrived in the middle of the night, Richie is still a father figure in all our lives. At our weddings, he gave away my sister and me. He was there when both our brothers graduated from the Police Academy. He was there when we needed advice, comfort or just someone to talk to. He treated us like his own children and made us feel so special.

Now that we're all grown up enjoying successful careers and our own beautiful families, I would like to take a moment to thank Richie for all he has done to help us get where we are today. Without him, I am afraid to think of how our lives may have turned out. I only hope that we have been able to return the joy, happiness and love that Richie has shown us over the years. Richie, we love you always and forever and you truly are the wind beneath our wings. Thank you for being you!