NYPD widows give to slain officer’s fund
NYPD WIDOWS Maritza Ramos and Pei Xia Chen felt compelled to reach out when a cop-hating killer executed Officer Miosotis Familia as she sat inside a police vehicle.
The two women joined the rest of the city Friday in rallying around the murdered cop’s family — including her oldest daughter, who delivered a sad and sweet homage to her mom.
The Tunnel to Towers Foundation announced the collection of $130,000 so far to benefit the murdered Familia’s 20-year-old daughter Genesis Villella and her 12-year-old twins, Peter and Delilah.
“She was an especially warm and erudite woman who fiercely loved her children and went to work every day proud to do her job, to protect us,” said Genesis.
“She was a loving mother, daughter, sister and aunt to all of us. We will miss her so. Our mom Miosotis Familia was our pride. We love you, Mom.”
The families of Detectives Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu, both executed under horrifyingly similar circumstances in December 2014, each contributed $5,000 to aid the Familia clan.
“When I heard the news, it was very devastating to me personally because I know unfortunately first-hand what it means to lose a loved one over something so senseless,” said Maritza Ramos.
“My heart breaks for the family to know they have to go through the same thing.”
Tunnel to Towers Chief Operating Officer John Hodge said the foundation will immediately assist the Familia children with any immediate housing needs. Their 86-year-old grandmother lived with the kids in their Bronx home.
The rest of the donations will go into a trust for the three siblings. NYPD Chief of Patrol Terence Monahan said the children are devastated by the loss and unsure of the future.
“They didn’t know how they were going to survive,” said Monahan. “You try to comfort them. They are part of our family, forever.”
Ramos and Liu, like Familia, were executed while sitting in their NYPD vehicle. Both gunmen spouted antipolice rhetoric via Facebook before the ambush killings.
“This is a tragedy that neither of our families should have had to experience,” said Liu’s widow Pei Xia Chen in a statement. “Please know that you always have a friend in me.”
A third police widow joined in via Skype: Dallas Area Rapid Transit Officer Emily Thompson, whose husband Officer Brent Thompson was killed last year.
“My heart is completely broken for this family,” said Thompson after the Dallas Police Association pledged $2,500. “Her babies shouldn’t be feeling this burden.
“Nobody should feel it, and those are just children.”
The NYPD’s baseball team is also accepting donations for Familia’s family. They have raised $1,500 of their $12,000 goal. One of the responding officers who took out Familia’s killer plays on the team.
According to the NYPD, a wake for Familia will be held Monday from 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m., with the funeral one day later at 10 a.m. Both will be at the World Changers Church at 2417 Grand Concourse in the Bronx.
“Our dear and amazing mom was selfless and sacrificed so much for us,” said daughter Genesis. “She was so stunningly beautiful and always had a piece of wisdom to share with us.” A fund to aid the children of slain NYPD Officer Miosotis Familia has reached $77,526 — a total that includes an initial $10,000 donation from The Daily News, which launched the drive.
Familia left behind a 20-year-old daughter and 12-year-old twins, a boy and a girl.