Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

I learned the story of Anthony "Tony" Garaffa from Sgt. Ken Hogan, whose Survival Seminar I recently attended. I was telling a friend of mine, Mike Roudi, the story of Ken Hogan's miracle survival, and he told me a guy he knew as a kid in Irvington was killed years ago. Well it turns out that Mike was talking about "Tony". Mike went on to tell me what a great guy Tony was and I wanted to share that with Tony's family.

Sgt. Wayne Diana
South Plainfied, NJ Police

July 13, 2010

Rest in peace Brother.

Kevin T Ryan
NJ

August 10, 2008

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE, REST IN PEACE.

N.J. TROOPER
NEW JERSEY STATE POLICE

March 16, 2008

The Badge"

He starts his shift each day
To respond to calls unknown.
He drives a marked patrol car.
A police officer he is known.

He's paid by the citizens' taxes
To make it safe on the streets.
But he usually has a second job
'Cause a waitress has his salary beat.

Now he doesn't know a holiday
'Cause he works all year round.
And when Thanksgiving and Christmas finally arrive
At his home he cannot be found.

He's cursed and assaulted often,
The one whos blood runs blue.
He seldom ever gets a thanks,
To some he's just a fool.

His friends are always other cops
'Cause people just don't understand
That underneath his badge and gun,
He's just another man.

He knows there might not be a tomorrow
In this world of drugs and crime.
And he gets so mad at the court system
'Cause the crooks don't get any time.

And each day when he leaves for work,
He prays to God above.
Please bring me home after my shift
So I can see the ones I love.

But tonight he stops a speeding car,
He's alone down this ole' highway.
It's just a little traffic infraction.
He does it everyday.

Well, he walks up to the driver's window,
And his badge is shining bright.
He asked the guy for a driver's license,
When a shot rang through the night.

Yes, the bullet hit its mark,
Striking the officer in the chest.
But the Department's budget didn't buy
Each officer a bullet-proof vest.

So he lay on the ground bleeding.
His blood wasn't blue - His blood was red.
And briefly he thought of his loved ones
'Cause in a moment the officer was dead.

In the news they told the story
Of how this officer had died.
And some who listened cared less,
But those who loved him cried.

Well, they buried him in uniform
With his badge pinned on his chest.
He even had his revolver,
He died doing his best.

Written By:
David L. Bell
Sergeant
Richland County Sheriff's Department
Columbia, South Carolina
Used with Special Permission of the Author
Copyright © 1999 - All Rights Reserved
and may not be duplicated without permission

Investigator David L Bell
Richland County Sheriff's Dept., Columbia, SC

December 12, 2007

You will always be remembered.

Cpl/1 Steven Rizzo
Delaware State Police

August 9, 2007

23 years today, Patrolman Garaffa. We remember and pray for your family. Keep watch over them, as well as our officers on the beat still serving.

Patrolman Garaffa, never forgotten.

JIM SWEENEY CIVILIAN NEW JERSEY
A FRIEND TO ALL PEACE OFFICERS

August 9, 2007

Tony, its hard to find the words. I started my career as an Irvington Police Officer August of 1985. The first memory I have of the Irvington Police Department was the film of your funeral myself and the Irvington recruits viewed in the classroom. After wiping away the tears I remember thinking to myself, how could someone know so many people who cared so much. That’s when I knew that I was going to be a part of a family, a part of something special. I never new you but its very hard to believe that, considering I became so close to your wife and daughter. I’m sure you know what a beautiful and wonderful daughter Nicole has grown up to be. A couple of weeks ago I found out that she was getting married. I just can’t believe it’s been 23 years. You have a lot of great friends on the department some of them are still here, others have retired, and some are sharing some stories with you right now. I started out listening to those stories in your house in Union and we continued a Christmas tradition up until last year. You have touched so many people here and without you I would have never met Patty and Nicole and of course you’re MOM. One day we will all thank you in person for the ultimate sacrifice you made. Until then I hope you have looked down and approved of what your friends at IPD tried to do to keep your name alive here. Those who knew you miss you, and those of us who didn’t know you wish we did. Patty you did a wonderful job raising Nicole. I’m sure Tony is very proud of you.
One more thing Tony the wedding I mentioned? Don’t worry, a few of us here have had that little talk that all Dads have had with the boyfriends, and Nicole has grown to handle them pretty good. We have and always will be there for your family.

Love your Brother Officer
Jim De Angelis
22 year veteran of the Irvington Police Department

Detective James C. De Angelis
Irvington Police Department

February 1, 2007

I DROVE A TAXI IN IRVINGTON IN 1984. THIRTY MINUTES BEFORE THIS TRAGEDY, I SAW YOU, TONY, AND WE EXCHANGED OUR USUAL HI, HOW'S IT GOING. I STOPPED HOME TO GET SOMETHING TO EAT, AND HEARD THIS TRAGEDY DEVELOPING ON THE SCANNER. WHEN I SAW ANOTHER OFFICER LATER AND WAS TOLD IT WAS YOU, I COULD NOT BELIEVE IT, AND STILL DON'T.
SEVERAL YEARS LATER, COINCIDENTIALY, WHILE IN THE LIMOUSINE BUSINESS, I PICKED UP A LADY GOING TO NEWARK AIRPORT. IN THE COURSE OF OUR CONVERSATION, IRVINGTON CAME UP, AND SHE TOLD ME OF HER HUSBANDBEING A POLICE OFFICER WHO WAS SHOT AND KILLED. I STOPPED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND SAID, TONY. SHE SAID YES. WHAT A SMALL WORLD.
I DIDN'T KNOW YOU WELL, TONY, JUST ENOUGH THAT WE SAID HELLOS AT ORMOS AND EXCHANGED SMALL TALK. HOWEVER, I KNEW YOU WELL ENOUGH TO NEVER FORGET THE JOB YOU DID AND THE SACRAFICE YOU MADE PROTECTING ME, MY FAMILY AND THE CITIZENS OF IRVINGTON.
REST IN PEACE, MY FRIEND. A TRUE HERO, INDEED.

James Sweeney
A FRIEND TO ALL POLICE OFFICERS

July 19, 2005

Tony, I can still remember working with you, early in my career. Those days and the officer and friend you were, will remain with me forever.

Sgt. Rick Winowski (retired)
Irvington PD NJ

May 11, 2004