One year after the tragic murder of detective first class Miosotis Familia, a street was renamed in her honor.
On Thursday, July 5 scores of community members, law enforcement officials and loved ones descended upon the corner of Ryer Avenue and East 181st street, right outside the 46th Precinct, in remembrance of her.
The morning’s events started with a memorial service at the World Changers Church on Grand Concourse, followed by a procession, led by the NYPD pipes and drums, to the intersection outside the precinct.
“I wish we could go back in time and undo it all because Miosotis didn’t deserve to be targeted the way she was,” said NYPD commissioner James P. O’Neill.
“There’s nothing I can say that will bring her back, but each and every day we think about her and her legacy,” continued Commissioner O’Neill, addressing Familia’s three children, 21-year-old Genesis Villela and 13-year-olds Delilah and Peter Vega.
During the procession to the precinct, O’Neill along with fellow women and men in blue marched alongside Familia’s three children, who spoke at the street renaming ceremony, still visibly pained by the loss of their only parent.
Genesis explained her mother had always been selfless and cared for others, standing up to her own bullies and that of her fellow peers, while growing up.
“A hero is someone who makes it their duty to put the lives of others before their own,” she said as tears filled her eyes.
“[My mom] truly believed being a police officer was her calling,” Genesis continued. “She would tell me she really believed she was making a difference.”
When Familia was murdered, many were quick to recall the 2014 assassination of detectives Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu in Brooklyn, who were also killed unprovoked.
Familia’s death, like theirs and others, sent shockwaves through the city, with many still reeling from the senseless act of violence.
“Miosotis’ murder was an act of hate against a group of people who believe society can be better,” Commissioner O’Neill continued during the street renaming ceremony. “All her killer could see was a uniform, even though Miosotis was so much more.”
The new blue colored street sign, was placed at the southwest corner of the intersection, just beneath the Ryer Avenue sign.
It reads ‘Detective Miosotis Familia 46 Precinct’ with the NYPD logo dawning on the left hand side of the sign.
Sponsored by Councilman Ritchie Torres, the legislation for the street renaming was passed unanimously by the NYC Council.
“[The renaming] is the least our city can do for a hero who has given us more than we can ever repay,” said Torres during the renaming ceremony.
Forty-eight-year-old Familia was shot and killed shortly after midnight on July 5, 2017 while sitting in a marked NYPD mobile command vehicle in an unprovoked attack on the corner of East 183rd street and Morris Avenue.
Miosotis’ murderer, Alexander Bonds, was a convicted felon with mental health issues who was released from St. Barnabas Hospital with a prescription for anti-depressants only four days before.
Bonds was shot and killed by responding officers shortly after the attack.
