Memorial for Eastchester Police Officer Frey

[grumpyff 1,159]

Found this article on another site, from the Journal News website,Journal News-LOHUD. Its hard to believe this happened 10 years ago, I remember it like it was yesterday. I believe it led to a vast improvement to the county police resources, I remember NYPD ESU responded from the Bronx to assist.

Eastchester police to remember slain comrade at service

By RICHARD LIEBSON

rliebson@lohud.com

THE JOURNAL NEWS

(Original publication: March 20, 2006)

Slain Eastchester Police Officer Michael Frey will be remembered tomorrow evening at a special memorial service that's expected to draw hundreds of police officers, friends and family members on the 10th anniversary of his death.

Frey, 29, was shot and killed in his police car on the afternoon of March 21, 1996, by Richard Sacchi Jr., 26, who a short time earlier had called police to report an intruder on the lawn of his Morgan Street home.

Sacchi also wounded Officer Richard Morrisey and killed his grandmother and his dog before taking his own life during the hours-long standoff that followed.

"I can't believe it's been 10 years," Police Chief Tim Bonci said. "It doesn't seem possible."

Bonci said a number of retired town officers are coming from as far away as Florida for the memorial service, where they will join officers from throughout the region expected to pay their respects to their fallen comrade.

"Mike was a great guy, and he's certainly never been forgotten by his brother officers or the town," Bonci said. "This will be a big, emotional thing for all of us."

The service will be held at Immaculate Conception Church in Tuckahoe, where Frey was a grade-school student and an altar boy.

Monsignor John O'Keefe, who served as headmaster of Archbishop Stepinac High School in White Plains, where Frey graduated, will preside over the 7:30 p.m. service.

"It's an important and noble thing to do," said the Rev. Eric P. Raaser, the pastor at Immaculate Conception. "I think something like this reawakens in our own minds the sacrifices others make to keep us safe."

Edited March 21, 2006 by grumpyff