One of president-elect Donald Trump’s first acts after winning the 2016 presidential election was to call and offer condolences to the widow of a fallen NYPD police officer, The New York Post reported.
Trump reportedly called Lisa Tuozzolo Thursday morning, the day her husband, Sgt. Paul Tuozzolo, was laid to rest.
“I’m very sorry I cannot be there with you today,” the Republican businessman reportedly told her. “My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family during this difficult time. I want to express my condolences from me and my family.”
Police sources also told the Daily News that Trump called to offer his thoughts and prayers to both Lisa Tuozzolo and her two young sons, ages 3 and 4.
Trump’s reported phone call came just before thousands of police officers — and around 12,000 people overall — came together in a solemn ceremony on Long Island to honor and remember Tuozzolo.
The police officer was reportedly shot and killed in the Bronx last week by Manuel Rosales, an ex-convict, while Tuozzolo and another officer, Sgt. Emmanuel Kwo, approached a crashed vehicle the suspect was driving. Tuozzolo, realizing Rosales allegedly had a gun, shouted “Gun!” to his fellow officer before being fatally shot.
Ed Millins, president of the Sergeants Benevolent Association, said Kwo believes Tuozzolo saved his life by calling his attention to the gun, which Kwo had not seen.
“He saved my life,” Kwo reportedly said. “He saw something we didn’t see. He yelled at us, ‘Gun! Gun! Gun!'”
Throughout the 2016 presidential campaign, Trump has defended police officers amid ongoing debate over the deaths of unarmed African American men and other associated controversies.
The president-elect specifically made mention of the NYPD during his presidential victory speech earlier this week.
“And law enforcement in New York City. They’re here tonight,” Trump said. “These are spectacular people, sometimes underappreciated unfortunately, but we appreciate them. We know what they go through.”
The Republican’s support for cops certainly isn’t new, as he has consistently spoken out in defense of law enforcement on the campaign trail. Back in February, Trump released a video on Facebook defending cops against the disrespect they face.
“The police in our country do not get respect,” he wrote in a Facebook post. “Our law enforcement officers deserve our appreciation for the incredible job they do.”
(H/T: New York Post)
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