Thousands of Officers Attend Funeral for Slain P.O. Miotosis Familia

By Katie Honan and Kate Pastor, THE BRONX — Thousands gathered to mourn Officer Miosotis Familia at The World Changers Church on Tuesday, after she was shot and killed by a mentally unstable ex-con last week. Familia, 48, was a 12-year veteran of the NYPD.

Officer Familia was a mother of three and the youngest of 10 children. She was compared to more than one superhero by those who spoke and was called “role model.” A program handed out at the service said that her favorite past-time was shopping and that her children were the “loves of her life.” “She laughed with them, she played with them and taught them how to embrace life with love. They were the apple of her eye,” it said. The commanding officer of the 46th Precinct, Inspector Philip P. Rivera, called on the city to make the Grand Concourse a Canyon of Heroes in honor of the officer he called “Mio.” Officer Familia has been promoted posthumously to detective. “To the family of blood and the family of blue, we celebrate her,” NYPD chaplain Rev. Dr. Barbara Williams-Harris said. But there were also indignation. Speaking at the funeral, NYPD Commissioner James O’Neill said Alexander Bonds, who killed Familia, had consumed a “toxic” mix of anti-police messaging in the media. “There is anger and sorrow. But why is there no outrage,” he said. Mayor Bill de Blasio has been criticized by some for his trip to Germany shortly after Officer Familia was murdered. As he spoke, some officers appeared to turn their backs to the church. Officer Familia’s wake was held at the same church on Monday. Her oldest daughter, Genesis Villela, 20, said her mother was “selfless and sacrificed so much” for her children, who she loved “fiercely.” She was proud to protect not only them but the rest of the city, she said. “Our mom, Miosotis Familia, was our pride. We love you mom.”

She was shot and killed July 5 by Alexander Bonds as she sat inside an NYPD patrol vehicle, police said. Bonds, 34, who served at least two terms in state prison for drug and armed robbery, had been tracked by police and emergency medical workers in the hours leading up to the shooting after his girlfriend called officials. She didn’t know he was armed, and only feared he would hurt himself, according to the NYPD. Bonds was later shot and killed by officers during a short chase after he fled following the single fatal shot to Familia.

Hours before she was killed, Familia gave an extra hug to her children as she went off to work on the 4th, but never returned, according to Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association President Pat Lynch. Her eldest daughter is now tasked with taking care of her twin siblings. “We will take care of them. We will never replace their mother, but we can make sure that they hear the stories, they remember her for what she was, and equally important — the folks on the street here they realize what’s been lost,” he said. “After this funeral is over, we can’t just go away.​” dnainfo.com/new-york