23 BRONX WEEKLY February 24, 2019 www.BXTimes.com
Street co-named for slain
police offi cer Thomas Rutolo
from Page 1
when 30-year-old Ruotolo
and his partner, on patrol,
heard the report of a stolen
moped over their police radio.
W
hen the duo stopped
at the corner of the notorious
gas station, the offi cers
observed the suspect, later
identifi ed as George Agosto
fi lling the moped with fuel.
Police offi cer Ruotolo
pulled his patrol car up
behind Agosto as Rutuolo
and his partner exited the
squad car.
As they approached,
Agosto opened fi re at the offi
cers from a snub nose revolver
he had been caring.
Upon discharge, police
offi cer Ruotolo was fatally
struck in the head, dying
immediately at the spot
where he fell.
His partner returned
fi re, but was also wounded
by the assailant. An offduty
offi cer who was using
a pay phone at the gas station,
and witnessed the incident,
opened fi re on the
suspect, but he too was shot
and wounded.
The NYPD conducted an
extensive manhunt to catch
Agosto, searching roofs
and basements all over the
Bronx.
Once captured, Ruotolo’s
killer was found guilty and
sentenced to 40 years to life
in prison. He will not be eligible
for parole until 2024.
The incident is considered
one of the most infamous
cop killings in all
of America, let alone New
York and the Bronx.
The event inspired a
retired NYPD police offi
cer ,who now resides in
Florida, to create a re-enactment
of the shooting in
efforts to raise awareness
of the legitimate danger
the ‘Men in Blue’ face every
day, even on the simplest of
patrols.
“Thirty fi ve years ago
the community and police
offi cers of Fort Apache and
41st Precinct vowed to never
forget his sacrifi ce,” Said
Salamanca after honoring
Rutuolo’s family. “I was
only three years old then,
but today I am proud to
have been part of that vow,”
the councilman added.
Even all these years
later, Ruotolo is remembered
so fondly by the
NYPD as well.
An online memorial for
the police offi cer is still receiving
condolences for the
NYPD member as of press
time.
“Tommy was a great guy
to work with when I was
a rookie in Fort Apache!
I was deeply saddened to
hear of his passing that day.
He’ll always remain alive
in my heart!” posted retired
NYPD detective Willie
Grimball.
Even police from Onatario,
CA have left condlances
on the page, as well
as many others.
Melody Velez-Ortega,
a famed Bronx baker even
decorated a cake of Rutuolo’s
uniform for the renaming
ceremony and current
41st Precinct staff.
From all of us at the
Bronx Times, we remember
the sacrifi ce police offi cer
Rutuolo and all those that
his fellow police offi cers
make daily.
Melody Velez-Ortega’s cake in tribute to police offi cer Ruotolo. Photo courtesy of MDV Custom Cakes
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