Newark, NJ - Cranbury Man Sentenced To 30 Yrs Prison For Stealing Police Car That Crashed And Killed Newark Police Officer
CBS 2 HD News
NEWARK (CBS) ―
It was an emotional day in a New Jersey courtroom where a man was sentenced
for crashing a stolen police car and killing a Newark police sergeant who left
behind a wife, two young daughters and a department full of admirers.
Sgt. Tommaso Popolizio was killed in the line of duty. On Wednesday, his
killer was sentenced. But for his family, the wounds will never heal.
"I think about him every day, I dream about him every night. I miss him with all
my heart," said the victim's brother, Newark Sgt. Pasquale Popolizio.
William Rodriguez, 22, was sentenced to 30 years in prison with no possibility
of parole. In March 2007, Rodriguez was arrested during a drag racing sweep in
Newark. He was handcuffed and placed in a patrol car. Somehow he slipped into
the drivers seat and took off. Officer Popolizio pursued him, the two vehicles
crashed, and Popolizio was killed.
Rodriguez, who has a long criminal record, offered no apology. He thanked his
mother and fiancé for their support and said he had what it took to do hard
time.
The courtroom was a sea of blue. More than a hundred of his family of officers
were there. His immediate family was moved to tears throughout the sentencing.
His brother and fellow officer said his daughters have suffered an immeasurable
loss.
"From now on he won't be there for their occasions, weddings," he said.
The sorrow was deep, and so was the admiration, for a man and the cause he
served.
"Police officers don't just give tickets, they sometimes have to give their
lives and that's what Tomasso did," said Anthony Campos, Director of Public
Safety