A 'Sea of Blue' Say Good-Bye To Fallen NYPD Officer

Hundreds of family, friends and fellow police officers lined Wellwood Ave. in Lindenhurst Friday to pay their final respects to NYPD Officer Joseph Pritchard, who lost his life tragically in a Monday morning crash on the Long Island Expressway.

A North Babylon resident, Pritchard's parents John and Maryann, his brothers John and Michael and his sister Lisa and were joined by a sea of rank-and-file NYPD officers from the Midtown South precinct where he served.

During a Friday morning blessing at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, a prayer was offered by the priest asking for Pritchard "to be carried safely to Heaven."

The next two readings — one from the Book of Wisdom and one from the First Letter to John — were done with heavy hearts by two people from Pritchard's circle of family and friends.

Both readings underscored Pritchard's early passing at 30 years of age and how he was loved by many.

The eulogy — delivered by one of the three priests who presided, Father John Sureau, Bishop Brennan and Bishop Murphy — offered some comfort to those mourning the loss of Pritchard, a beloved son, brother, uncle, cousin, friend, football player and officer.

The priest said told mourners, "Your loss, is our loss, your pain is our pain, your grief is our grief, and your tears are our tears."

When he shared his favorite line from The Wizard of Oz when the Tin Man received his heart and was told, "My friend, you are not measured by how much you love, but by how much you are loved," he said the same applied to Pritchard.

"Joseph was loved by many, many people, by his family of blood and his family of blue," he said.

He went on to say that while now it's hard to accept, and hard to believe, that Pritchard's time was so short and he'd no longer be with them, they should know they'll "all be reunited in Heaven" - and that he'll be there when they are.

"I'm sure during the past few days there've been many Joseph stories shared," the priest said. "Every time one is told know that he's alive and well in your minds and hearts."

He asked for strength to help his family and friends through their grief.

After the homily prayers were asked for his family and all of those closest to him, for "all of those who came and prayed" with them in the past few days, for "all of those who risk their lives for our safety" and "all of the members of the NYPD" - as well as for those who've passed before him.

At the end of the service six NYPD officers carried the casket down the center aisle followed by the priests, with everyone filing out behind them, pew by pew, to the hymm, The Silent Farewell.

They headed to Breslau Cemetery in Lindenhurst to lay Pritchard to rest.