An army of police officers descended on Jersey City Thursday to pay respects to a slain cop — and to watch each other’s backs.
Emergency Service cops in full battle gear holding automatic weapons greeted mourners and the family of Officer Melvin Santiago, 23, who was killed while Âresponding to reports of an armed robbery at a drugstore.
Santiago was killed by Lawrence Campbell, a glory-seeking thug who stole a security guard’s gun before telling witnesses to watch the news.
Campbell was shot dead by police after killing Santiago, triggering a revenge threat from gang members that has cops on alert.
Cops from as far away as Washington, DC, came to Jersey City’s McLaughlin Funeral Home to pay their respects.
Mayor Steven Fulop stopped by in the evening for a posthumous promotion ceremony to make Santiago a detective.
Just two hours before being shot to death by the thug, Santiago was at the scene of another shooting, searching the ground for spent shells.
Santiago’s funeral is scheduled for Friday morning.