An emotional farewell: thousands attend wake for Officer Kevin Ambrose

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - Thousands turned out to the wake Thursday night for fallen Springfield Police Officer Kevin Ambrose. Some were police officers, others were family and friends, some were even complete strangers. All came and waited their turn to say goodbye one last time.

 

Badge number seven. It’s the number fallen Springfield Police Officer Kevin Ambrose wore on his heart for thirty six years of his life. It’s the number he'll take with him in death. The Springfield Police Department will permanently retire badge number seven when Ambrose is buried Friday.

At Ambrose's wake Thursday night, 1,300 state and local officers joined thousands of civilians for an emotional salute.

Springfield Police Officer Jim Mazza served alongside Officer Ambrose. He told 22News it’s been a tough week for his fellow patrolmen.

“When an officer, someone that you know and you've been around and worked with for many years... it really does hit home,” said Mazza. “It’s tough.”

Colonel Marian McGovern, Superintendent of the Massachusetts Police said she’s not surprised that up to ten thousand visiting officers are expected to pay tribute Friday.

“This is our way of showing how much we care about our brother and sister officers,” said McGovern. “But more importantly it really is about honoring the legacy and the honor of Officer Ambrose.”

The wake was an emotional experience for the local law enforcement community. It was also especially difficult for another group of people, the only ones who really know what the Ambrose family is feeling right now: other families from across New England who have lost loved ones in the line of duty.

Like Maura Schiavina, whose brother Michael was shot and killed during a routine traffic stop in 1985 along with his partner Officer Alan Beauregard.

Schiavina told 22News being at Officer Amrbose’s wake Thursday night was “like re-living it. When I walked in there and saw him, it was like seeing Michael all over again.”

In 1999 JoBeth DiNapoli lost her father John, a Holyoke officer who was shot and killed while answering a call for a disturbance.

“It happened almost thirteen years ago with my dad,” said DiNapoli, “but you come to something like this and it all comes back to you. It all comes rushing back like it was yesterday.”

Both women know all too well the process of mourning is long and painful.

“The hardest part is when everything's over,” reflected Schiavina. ”When they're left to their own thoughts.”

“When the phone stops ringing and they're home and they realize he's not there,” added DiNapoli.“That'll be when it really hits them, and that's when people should reach out to them. Because that's when they'll need it the most.”

Both Schiavina and DiNapoli belong to the New England Chapter of a national survivor support group called COPS: Concerns Of Police Survivors.

From the COPS website:

"Concerns of Police Survivors, Inc. provides resources to assist in the rebuilding of the lives of surviving families and affected co-workers of law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty as determined by Federal criteria.  Furthermore, C.O.P.S. provides training to law enforcement agencies on survivor victimization issues and educates the public of the need to support the law enforcement profession and its survivors.

Each year, between 140 and 160 officers are killed nationally in the line of duty and their families and co-workers are left to cope with the tragic loss. The national and local chapters of C.O.P.S. provide resources to help them rebuild their shattered lives. There is no membership fee to join C.O.P.S. - the price paid is already too high.

The New England Chapter of C.O.P.S. began its mission in July, 1995. C.O.P.S. as an organization DOES NOT solicit money by telephone. If you ever get a call by any organization by that name (which has been happening) it is not the Concerns of Police Survivors on the national or local level

Aside from our occasional fundraisers (like our fun annual golf tournament), we rely on donations from supportive organizations, businesses and individuals. We are a tax exempt 501(c)(3) charity. All of our board members are volunteers and survivors—parents, spouses, co-workers, and others. Unlike some organizations, we have very low administrative costs and there are no salary costs.

If you would like to donate, please use the mailing address listed below - any amount would be appreciated. (We will soon have an online option for donations!) You will then receive a thank you letter which will act as a receipt for your donation for your tax purposes. All of us thank you in advance for your generosity. Your check can be made out to The New England Chapter of Concerns of Police Survivors."

Links:

http://www.nationalcops.org/

http://www.ma-cops.org/

http://www.newenglandcops.org/donate.htm