Police run on foot from Massachusetts to DC to honor officer | ABC6

WORCESTER, Mass. (AP) — Law enforcement officials in Massachusetts have begun a 425-mile (680-kilometer) journey on foot to the nation’s capital to honor an officer that drowned final yr as he tried to save lots of a teen.

Officer Enmanuel “Manny” Familia, a five-year veteran of the Worcester police division, died trying to rescue a young person drowning within the pond at Inexperienced Hill Park on June 4, The Telegram & Gazette reported Monday. The teenager additionally died.

Twenty officers launched their pilgrimage on Monday morning from Inexperienced Hill Park, the place Familia’s son Jovan was introduced a baton together with his father’s identify inscribed on it, the police division mentioned in a Fb submit.

Police mentioned that Jovan ran to Worcester police headquarters to go the baton to Chief Steven Sargent. The group of officers will carry the baton to Washington. They plan to finish the run on the Nationwide Regulation Enforcement Memorial the place Familia’s identify was just lately inscribed.

Officers will attend Nationwide Police Week occasions to honor Familia and different officers who’ve died within the line of obligation, police mentioned.