By COLlive reporter
A memorial ceremony was held at the 71st Precinct of the New York Police Department (NYPD) in Crown Heights to mark the 15th anniversary of the murder of Detective Russel Timoshenko who was shot on July 9, 2007, and died five days later.
Timoshenko, 23, was shot after pulling over a stolen BMW automobile in Crown Heights. After a four-day manhunt that stretched across three states, all three suspects, Dexter Bostic, Robert Ellis and Lee Woods were eventually apprehended and convicted—two of murder, and the third for weapons possession.
Over 30,000 people attended Timoshenko’s funeral, where then-Mayor Michael Bloomberg delivered the eulogy. He praised the fallen officer and called him a hero.
The case garnered national media attention because the weapons used were all illegally obtained handguns. This sparked widespread debate over gun control laws in New York City, and over the process by which firearms are traced by police departments.
On Thursday, 15 years after his murder, members of the NYPD’s top brass paid tribute to Timoshenko, praising his bravery, and honoring his parents Leonid and Tatyana Timoshenko, who tragically lost their only child in the horrific shooting.
In attendance at the ceremony were elected officials and local residents, among them Jewish community activists Yaacov Behrman, Gadi Hershkop and Mendy Hershkop of the Shomrim neighborhood patrol.
Could these types of gatherings (Please no more !!) be announced in advance so that those of us in the Community who want to show our respect & gratitude to the family and fellow officers can join ? I am sure that a large turnout would be noticed and appreciated …
And yet they still insist on defending the criminal and ignoring the rights of the Jews who support law and order. Go figure.