The reputation of police officers has been a bit tarnished in recent years due to high profile homicide cases like George Floyd, Dante Wright, Andre Hill and Breonna Taylor. Yes, there are a few bad cops, rotten to the core from the get go. Others panic and get careless in the heat of the moment. But if you ask any police officer why they signed up for such a dangerous job, most will cite a desire to help their community, to protect and serve.
That was exactly the case when officers Wilbert Mora and his partner Jason Rivera responded to a 911 domestic violence disturbance last week in Harlem. An elderly woman who placed the call said her 47 year old son was being problematic and had threatened her with a weapon. Both officers entered the apartment and as they walked down a narrow hallway, the man exited from the back bedroom and fired his gun, killing Rivera and seriously wounding Mora. Another cop who was called in for backup shot and killed the attacker.
Rivera, only 22 and a rookie policeman, was pronounced dead at the scene. Mora, 27 and a four year veteran, was shot in the head and died a day later at the hospital. Services were being held this week for the officers at St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Ironically, both men lived in neighborhoods near the building where the shooting occurred. Indeed, they died trying to serve their community.
“Officer Mora and his partner, officer Rivera, are true heroes who faced imminent danger to protect all New Yorkers,” noted Attorney General Letitia James. “Their bravery exemplified their commitment to protecting the city they loved.”
Mora’s family also indicated that the officer’s organs have been donated, possibly saving the lives of others in the future. In New York, about 30 percent of the NYPD force is of Hispanic descent, fairly adequate representation for the Spanish speaking communities within the different boroughs, But with law enforcement becoming more stressful, cops are starting to wonder if their low wages are worth the risk. After graduating from the various academies across the country, rookie officers like Rivera usually start out at $35,000 a year, while more experienced rank and file cops like Mora make under $50,000 annually.
In Houston, a city equally diverse as New York City, police recruitment is down and the department is understaffed. This week, three officers were shot and last week, another was killed in the line of duty. That shouldn’t happen. The same goes for San Antonio, a beautiful city although suffering from pockets of high crime. Ditto San Francisco and also San Diego, where officers on the street are down about 20 percent. Yet as everything from murders to smash and grab robberies have been on the rise, some Americans still insist on defunding the police in favor of community outreach groups to enforce our laws. What a brilliant idea.
Back to reality, newly elected New York mayor Eric Adams might have a better series of plans.
“We will have boots on the ground on every block of this city,” says Adams, who also wants to summon help from state and federal authorities.
Adams would like to conduct spot checks at bus and train stations to halt the flow of illegal weapons and “ghost guns” into the city. He also wants to expand cash rewards to tipsters who share information on gun related crimes.
Yo, Mr. Mayor… how about sweetening the pot in salaries for your NYPD crew, since you’re in the mood to spend more money. Maybe it will start a chain reaction in other cities, and bolster the numbers of future cops who want to protect and serve while receiving decent compensation. That way, the ultimate sacrifice of Officers Mora and Rivera will create positive change.
