Kathy Estrada (Dennis Clark)
GOT YOUR BACK: Officer Glenn Estrada, applauded and patted on the back after yesterday’s arraignment of the accused killer of his partner, Peter Figoski, is “crushed” by Figoski’s death, says his wife, Kathy (below).
The day after a thug fatally shot his partner, Police Officer Glenn Estrada comforted his slain pal’s grieving children and then sought comfort himself in the only place that felt right: the two cops’ East New York station house.
There, amid the streams of black and purple mourning bunting and bleary, red-eyed police brethren, Estrada took solace knowing it was where he and tragic partner Peter Figoski forged their unbreakable bond, coworkers and friends said.
“The mood in the 75th Precinct is, as you can all imagine, very somber,’’ said the precinct’s stricken commanding officer, Lt. John Tennant, fighting back tears at a news conference with Police Commissioner Ray Kelly. “The 7-5 is one, big happy family.”
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As for Estrada, Tennant said simply: “He’s a hero. He’s very brave.”
Estrada, 42, had been struggling with one of two drug-theft suspects outside a Cypress Hills home early Monday when he heard the gunshot he’ll never forget. It left his partner mortally wounded. Estrada then spotted Figoski’s alleged killer sprint off down the street — so the hero cop made the quick, courageous decision to release the perp’s accomplice and chase the armed thug.
Four blocks later, he caught career criminal Lamont Pride.
But while colleagues and bosses praised the collar, it brought little comfort to a man who had just lost his partner of three years — and best friend.
“He’s crushed,” said Estrada’s wife, Kathy, standing near a Christmas tree in the family’s West Babylon, LI, home.
“Pete and Glenn spent so much time at work together,” Kathy Estrada said. “They each did a lot of overtime on their days off.
The officer spent part of yesterday at the family’s home huddled with them in grief.
He eventually made his way to Brooklyn Criminal Court — to face down Pride and his cohorts at their arraignment hearing.
Additional reporting by Larry Celona