NYPD Go Out Of Their Way To Support The Son Of A Fallen Officer Making First Day Of School Memorable

Sometimes out of tragedy and heartbreak, beautiful things happen, and it reminds us all that the world can be a wonderful and loving place. That was the case at the beginning of this school year when a dedicated group of police officers from the New York City Police Department stepped up to the plate and made good on a solemn vow to not only protect and serve but to support and love. They did this by being there for a five-year-old boy when his father could not be there, a former colleague of theirs had been killed in the line of duty last year.

So it was that when Austin Tuozzolo, the five-year-old boy in question, was ready for his first day of school in Suffolk County, Long Island, over 30 New York City police officers from the Bronx’s 43^rd Precinct surrounded him and walked with him and his mother to the school bus.

This morning we continued our vow to #NeverForget Paul’s family, as we send off Austin on his 1st day of school. pic.twitter.com/mWGEXa9f8v

— NYPD 43rd Precinct (@NYPD43Pct) September 5, 2017

Austin’s father had been Sgt. Paul Tuozzolo, and he was 41 when in November of 2016 he was responding to a report of a home invasion in the Bronx and killed in the line of duty. He was not the only officer shot that day, but the other officer there, Lt. Emmanuel Kwo, not only survived but credits Paul, who had been a 19 year veteran of the NYPD, with saving his life and the lives of several others there that day.

After the fateful events of that November tragedy, Paul’s brother and sister officers in the 43^rd Precinct knew that from then on, it was their duty to make sure they were there for Paul’s family in a way that he could no longer be. To them, that included walking little Austin to his bus on the first day of school.

Austin was nervous, even running back to his mother Lisa for a hug after almost getting on the bus, but had all the support a little boy could ask for, with the dozens of officers surrounding him and showing him how loved he is.

This is especially true for Officer Kwo, the officer who feels that Austin’s dad saved his life. Officer Kwo started a Facebook group called Patches4Paul that sells patches with the name of Paul Tuozzolo on them, along with his badge number, and the words, “Never Forget”. He wants to serve two purposes – he wants to keep Paul’s memory alive in the minds of those who knew him, and even those who didn’t, and he wants to help provide financial support for Paul’s wife and two young sons, in addition to the emotional support the 43^rd Precinct is providing.

It was on this very Facebook that Officer Kwo posted about the officers meeting up with the Tuozzolo family that day, saying, “Since Sgt. Tuozzolo couldn’t be here to put his son on the bus for his first day of Kindergarten, his 43 family made sure little Austin was not alone on his first day getting on the bus! We promise to never forget and to always be here for his family! Have a great day Austin!”

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Source: Today Show

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