Fallen Newark detective’s City Hall memorial vandalized by ‘emotionally disturbed’ woman: cops
An “emotionally disturbed” woman trashed a memorial for fallen Newark Det. Joseph Azcona this week — just days before the officer’s private wake on Thursday.
Set up in front of Newark City Hall by the local Fraternal Order of Police union, the memorial featured the detective’s police cruiser decorated with black bunting, balloons, flowers and a photo of Azcona, the 26-year-old cop allegedly shot to death during a March 7 gun sweep by a teen wielding an automatic weapon.
But the unidentified vandal ravaged the shrine at about 8:10 p.m. on Tuesday, Newark Public Safety Director Emanuel Miranda said — and photos taken afterward showed the scope of the damage.
Several flower bouquets — which sat atop the cruiser’s hood and roof — were torn off, destroyed and callously thrown to the ground.
It wasn’t clear if the other decorations — which included patches from other police departments left at the site and at least one arrangement in the shape of an officer’s shield — were damaged during the woman’s tirade.
A patrol officer noticed the disturbed suspect walking with some of the flowers in hand around Market Street and Mayor Kenneth A. Gibson Boulevard, Miranda said.
The suspect returned the arrangements to the site after the officer stopped her.
The cop also issued her a summons for desecration of a venerated object, the director added.
EMS workers arrived to evaluate the suspect, but it’s not clear what they concluded — Miranda said no other information was available.
The disgraceful act came just two days before Azcona will be laid to rest — with his Friday funeral set for 10:30 a.m. at the revered Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart on Ridge Street in Newark.
On Thursday, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy ordered flags throughout the Garden State to fly at half-mast in honor of the fallen officer.
“Our hearts are broken by the tragic and senseless murder of Detective Joseph Azcona,” Murphy said in a statement accompanying the order.
“By all accounts, Detective Azcona was a hero. From a young age, he knew he wanted to follow in the footsteps of his family members who devoted their own lives to public service,” he said.
“And that is exactly what he did by becoming a Newark Police Officer and working every day to give back to his beloved city … We are forever grateful for his service.”
In the same statement, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka said the city is grateful Murphy chose to honor Azcona “in such a prominent and distinguished manner.”
“May all who see this solemn display be reminded of our dependence on each other and redouble our commitment to acts of kindness and the protection of all.”
Azcona was murdered Friday night by a 14-year-old boy wielding an automatic weapon on a Brick City street corner, authorities have said.
Essex County officials said the five-year cop — who was working a gun probe with federal authorities — didn’t stand a chance during the ambush, which left him mortally wounded after the kiddie shooter allegedly unloaded a stream of 29 bullets.
Azcona and his partner had been near a McDonald’s and White Castle by the intersection of Carteret Street and Broadway when the gunfire erupted about 6:30 p.m., officials said.
“Based on criminal intelligence, the [officers] were investigating the possibility that these individuals had illegal firearms,” Essex County Prosecutor Theodore Stephens said at a news conference last weekend.
“Shots were exchanged upon the interaction with the police and those individuals, and unfortunately two officers and one suspect were hit by gunfire.”
Both Azcona’s partner and the suspect were also shot, but both are expected to survive.
Azcona wasn’t that lucky. He died at about 2:30 a.m. Saturday at University Hospital with his mom, dad and several brothers mourning at his side.
Stephens said Azcona was “shot before he even had the opportunity to leave his police car.”
“That was my baby,” mom Martha Vargas, 56, told The Post on Saturday. “He always said he wanted to be a cop when he was little.”
“I thought it was something simple,” she said as she talked about the moment cops called her to the hospital. “[But] they shot him in the head.”
The shooter has been charged with murder, attempted murder and several weapons offenses.
But because of his age, he will be tried as a juvenile in secret proceedings — and faces a far more lenient sentence if convicted.
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