Candlelight Vigil Tonight in Princeton to Remember Slain New York Police Officers

A candlelight vigil will be held from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. tonight at Tiger Park on Palmer Square in Princeton to honor slain New York City Police officers Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu.

The event is being organized by local residents, including Carl DeFazio, a former New York City Police Officer and local businessman.

“Everyday the men and women in law enforcement place their lives on the line to protect their communities,” DeFazio said. “These officers are fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, friends and neighbors. Each day their loved ones see them off never certain they will return home that evening. New York City Officers Ramos and Liu made the ultimate sacrifice while protecting their city. Tonight is an opportunity for people to join together to show members of our local law enforcement community that we support their efforts and to honor the memories of Officers Ramos and Liu .”

Ramos, 40, was a two-year veteran of the NYPD who previously worked as a school security officer. The lifelong Brooklyn resident was married and had two sons, the youngest of whom is 13.

Liu, 32, was a seven-year veteran of the NYPD. He moved earlier this year to Brooklyn’s Gravesend section and was married two months ago.

The officers were fatally wounded as they sat inside their parked patrol car in Brooklyn’s Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood on Saturday. The gunman, identified as Ismaaiyl Brinsley, later shot himself to death. Mourners held vigils across New York on Sunday to honor the lives of the slain officers.

An earlier edition of the story indicated that the vigil would be held on Hinds Plaza. The story has been updated with the Tiger Park information.