Holly MatkinBy Holly Matkin and Sandy Malone
Staten Island, NY – New York Police Department (NYPD) Officer Colin Rossiter died by suicide at his home on March 2.
Police sources told the New York Daily News that the 22-year-old officer, who was assigned to NYPD’s 60th Precinct in Coney Island, shot himself at about 1:45 a.m. at the home he shared with his parents in Woodrow.
The wounded officer was found by his father, a retired NYPD sergeant, the New York Post reported.
NYPD said responding officers rushed Officer Rossiter to Staten Island University Hospital North for treatment.
He died from the self-inflicted gunshot wound a short time later at the hospital, the New York Daily News reported.
The fallen hero joined the NYPD in October of 2021, the New York Post reported.
Officer Rossiter was one of four officers involving in the fatal shooting of 42-year-old domestic violence suspect Jermaine Hickson in a wild gunfight in Coney Island last year.
Although that incident is still the subject of an NYPD Internal Affairs investigation, law enforcement sources told the New York Post that nothing about the case suggests the officers did anything wrong with regards to their use of deadly force against Hickson.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams said he reached out to the officers involved in the shootout with Hickson shortly after it occurred, the New York Post reported.
“I just know that after an encounter like that…you know what officers can go through,” Mayor Adams said.
“These are young children, you know? Twenty-one, 22 years old,” the mayor said of the officers involved. “And when I communicated with them, I just told them, ‘You’re protecting New Yorkers,’ and I was hoping to ease the stress.”
Mayor Adams said he was devastated to learn Officer Rossiter took his own life, the New York Post reported.
“It just really broke my heart that we lost this young man,” he said.
A fellow NYPD officer who lives on the same block as Officer Rossiter described the area as “a civil service neighborhood,” the New York Post reported.
“This kid is well known and loved,” he said of the young cop.
Officer Rossiter leaves behind his parents, as well as his brother, grandfather, uncles, aunts, cousins, and friends, according to his obituary.
He was laid to rest on March 7.
🇺🇸 Rest In Peace 🇮🇪 💙
Colin P. Rossiter
New York City Police DepartmentBorn and raised on Staten Island, NY he died March 2, 2023.
He was 22 years old.
He achieved his dream of becoming a NYPD Officer in 2021.
A former star defenseman for the Monsignor Farrell Hockey Team pic.twitter.com/8wS1MMUaSD— 911 Emergency Communications Dispatcher II (@EastCoastAlert) March 8, 2023
Active Police Officer Colin Rossiter assigned to the @NYPD60Pct passed away on 3/2/23.
Today Police Officer Rossiter was carried to his final resting place at Resurrection Cemetery. May he rest in eternal peace. #NeverForget @NYPDnews pic.twitter.com/Gt9LFBMErF
— NYPD Ceremonial Unit (@NYPDCeremonial) March 7, 2023
Our heartfelt condolences go out to the family of Colin Rossiter, as well as the 60 Precinct. You are in our prayers during this difficult time. We are so very sorry for your loss. May Colin rest in eternal peace. pic.twitter.com/eUfwa9O9Wx
— NYPD 62nd Precinct (@NYPD62Pct) March 7, 2023
Our @NYPDchaplains gathered to celebrate a funeral mass for @NYPD60Pct Police Officer Colin P. Rossiter. May he rest in eternal peace. #NeverForget pic.twitter.com/4bwiB3hrz2
— NYPD Chaplains Unit (@NYPDchaplains) March 8, 2023
Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of New York Police Department Officer Colin Rossiter, both blood and blue. Thank you for your service.
Rest easy, hero. We’ll hold the line from here.
