Family, cops attend wake of slain NYPD officer Peter Figoski

Hundreds of mourners, including New York City Police Commissioner Ray Kelly, filed into a Babylon funeral home Saturday for the wake for slain NYPD Officer Peter Figoski.

"I've gone to an awful lot of wakes for police officers in my career," Kelly said at the Claude R. Boyd/Spencer Funeral Home. "It never gets easier. It's always jolting. It's always, of course, traumatic for the families and for their fellow officers. . . . The family is, of course, just heartbroken."

Figoski, 47, a decorated officer and father of four from West Babylon, was killed Monday responding to a botched robbery in his Brooklyn precinct.

Police said five men met in a Queens apartment at 1 a.m. and hatched a plan to rob a drug dealer. Less than 90 minutes later, Figoski was gunned down when he encountered the shooter, Lamont Pride, police said.

The suspects were indicted on murder charges Friday and ordered held without bail.

"It is senseless because here's an officer taken from us at the prime of his life, killed for simply doing his job . . ." Kelly said. "He never had a chance to defend himself, never had the ability to take out his weapon."

Attendees at the wake included dozens from the 75th Precinct, where Figoski served. Inside the funeral home, a flat-screen TV showed images of Figoski, his former wife and four daughters. A low murmur of conversation and the fragrance of bouquets and wreaths filled the room where Figoski lay in repose. Officers saluted the coffin or knelt in prayer.

"To me, he was a gentle giant, a loving soul and always had a smile," said Bill Haramis, 45, of Lynbrook, a retired NYPD sergeant who worked with Figoski early in his career.

Police from throughout the country visited the funeral home. Police Officer Leslie Baker said he came to Long Island with two other Philadelphia officers "just to show respect, show support for the family."

Nicholas Valentino, 58, of North Babylon, a former neighbor, also attended. "It's a shame because Peter was a good guy. He's a hero," Valentino said.

The wake will also be held Sunday from 2 to 4:30 p.m. and 7 to 9:30 p.m. The funeral Mass will be offered at 11 a.m. Monday at St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church in Babylon.

NYPD spokesman James Duffy said they expect the funeral "will be attended by a great many," including Kelly and New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg. Suffolk County police said motorists should avoid the area around the church from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The Silver Shield Foundation, established by former Yankees owner George Steinbrenner to support families of police officers and firefighters who die in the line of duty, is giving $80,000 to an education fund for Figoski's daughters, The Associated Press has reported. Caroline, 16, and Corinne, 14, are in high school, and Christine, 20, and Caitlyn, 18, are in college.

Speaking at the funeral home, Kelly said, "It looks like they're going to be, at least as far as their college education is concerned, taken care of . . . but it can never bring back their father."

With William Murphy

and Igor Kossov