I’m sorry to say that I’ve been to far too many police funerals during my time on the job. Before Parker and Rafferty, there were Keith Ferguson, James Nemorin, Rodney Andrews, Salvatore Cafiso, Disdale Enton, Jamie Bentancourt. And that’s just since the monumental loss of 23 of our ranks in the World Trade Center terrorist attacks only three short years ago.

Sadly, the list of friends and colleagues who perished doing the job they loved seems to be endless.

And while the sadness is deep, sometimes beyond our own understanding, there is a pride that comes from standing in that long blue line as the bagpipe band marches by and taps is played for the fallen hero. It is a pride that comes from knowing that these were men and women of great personal courage. They had a passion for the job — and a greater passion for life.

The funerals for Bob Parker and Patrick Rafferty were the biggest I’ve ever seen in my years on the job. There must have been 15,000 cops from countless departments who stood shoulder-to-shoulder with us to honor two great men who happened to be detectives.

We are grateful to all the other police departments who joined us at the funerals to show their respect for our fallen comrades. It looked like the entire Nassau County police force had joined us at Rafferty’s funeral. The Southern State Parkway’s median resembled a parking lot, filled as it was with the overflow of vehicles belonging to the sworn personnel who attended that funeral service. And Bob Parker’s funeral was also inundated by a sea of blue extending as far as the tearful eye could see. An army of police officers completely encircled the church and filled the surrounding streets as well.

We need to look to the lives of our fallen heroes and to take some lessons from them. We need to enjoy life while we have it, to appreciate our families at home and on the job. And we must continue to show each other the utmost respect because we never know when any one of us will be called upon to make the ultimate sacrifice.

But for now, Detectives First-Grade Parker and Rafferty, we salute you. And so do your fellow officers from near and far.

Pat Lynch
President