Nassau police officer Patricia Espinosa remembered as 'great person' at visitation in St. James

Friends, colleagues and other mourners paid their respects Wednesday to Patricia Espinosa, a Nassau police officer remembered for her devotion to her community and the job she loved.

Two ladder trucks from the St. James and Nesconset fire departments hoisted a large American flag over Middle Country Road in front of the funeral home.

Espinosa, 42, was killed Saturday morning in St. James when police said an alleged drunken driver ran through a red light at 6 a.m. on Route 347 and struck her 2019 Alfa Romeo as she was on her way to work.

Matthew Smith, 20, of Hauppauge, who was driving a 2017 Chevrolet Silverado pickup, was also injured. He was charged with driving while intoxicated and is waiting to be medically cleared for arraignment.

Espinosa was a nine-year veteran of the department and married to fellow Nassau police officer Francisco Malaga, whom she kissed goodbye that morning before they both headed to work at Nassau's Fifth Precinct.

Malaga came upon the crash near the Smith Haven Mall just a few minutes later. Espinosa leaves behind a nearly 2-year-old daughter, Mia. Her brother Cristian Almeida is also a Nassau police officer and another brother, David Almeida, is a police officer in Philadelphia.

Among the residents who came to remember Espinosa's contributions to the community, Tanya Brandes, 47, of Kings Park, said while she didn't know the police officer personally, the two shared mutual friends who trained in martial arts with her husband.

"Even though I didn't know this young woman, it's nothing more than heartbreaking and there are a lot of heartbroken people in there," Brandes said. "I don't know how to make sense of this tragedy. This was a young woman with a vibrant life ahead of her and her husband is connected to the community. I think the community is mourning."

A steady line of police officers from neighboring departments streamed into the funeral home, including from Nassau and Suffolk, the NYPD and the MTA.

Police officers on horseback stood watch outside the funeral home as a Nassau police SWAT vehicle was parked nearby.

Nassau County Legis. Carrié Solages remembered taking a picture with Espinosa at a Christmas party last year in Elmont.

"What makes this even more tragic is that she died on her way to serve Elmont, our community," Solages said. "She has a reputation of honor, diligence, professionalism. She went out of her way to help many people in our community — countless efforts that she would not even take credit for. She was a truly great person."

Solages said Espinosa, who came to the United States from Ecuador when she was 21, also added to the diversity of the police department and was dedicated to helping her immigrant community.

"She wanted people to know that our police department are friends, are assets, and that we have to work with all individuals in our community," Solages said. "I admired how she was a product of an immigrant family, and that she encouraged individuals that you can pursue the American dream through career in law enforcement."

Visitation continues Wednesday from 7 to 9 p.m. A funeral Mass will be  offered Thursday at 10:20 a.m. at St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Church in Smithtown, to be followed by cremation.