On a late summer day in Staten Island, New York, the life of Edward Rosa, a 48-year-old retired New York Police Department officer, came to a tragic end. On Sunday, September 1, 2019, Rosa was discovered in his vehicle at a park-and-ride transit center located at the intersection of Arthur Kill Road and Richmond Avenue in Eltingville. He was found with a fatal gunshot wound to his chest, and his death was subsequently determined to be a suicide.
The location where he was found was less than a mile from his home.
Edward, known affectionately as Eddie, had dedicated 20 years of his life to the NYPD, last serving in Transit District 30 before his retirement in 2012. His passing sent ripples of grief through his family and the law enforcement community, where he was remembered as more than just a police officer, but also as a mentor and a cherished friend to many. A fundraiser was established to help his family with the unexpected funeral costs and to provide support for his children during this difficult time. The outpouring of support reflected the high regard in which he was held by his colleagues and friends.
Edward Rosa was a beloved husband and a devoted father. His death was a profound loss to his family, who remembered him as a cherished brother and a loving uncle. Funeral services were held in the days following his passing, allowing friends and family to gather and pay their respects to a man who had been a significant presence in their lives. His death was noted as another instance in a troubling trend of suicides among active and retired police officers that year.
