NYPD Officer Joseph Pritchard was killed in a car crash. (
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The NYPD football team played a game last night in memory of a Manhattan cop and teammate recently killed in a car crash on Long Island.
Joseph Pritchard, 30, of North Babylon died March 25 in a crash on the Long Island Expressway.
The NYPD’s team defeated the Long Island Panthers 7-0.
“It was a defensive game. Joe was a defensive player and he wouldn’t of had it any other way,” said NYPD team general manager Tony Hernandez.
Pritchard’s jersey was retired before the game. Joe’s father, John Pritchard, held his son’s jersey high at a tribute before the game.
Lisa Sforza, Joe’s sister, was in awe of the team and community’s support.
“Everything they’ve done for our family, for Joe, it’s bitter sweet,” she said. “It’s great how the community came together to remember him. This is how much he was loved.”
George Burke, a member of the team for eight years, recalled the fallen officer as “a great friend, a great team mate and a great cop.”
“It was an honor to get this game together,” Burke said. “We did this for our best friend. We’re going to miss him and we love him.”
The Lindenhurst Touchdown Club collected donations at the game, and shops all over Lindenhurst donated goods and gift certificates to help raise money for the Joseph Pritchard scholarship fund.