A police officer who died last week after rushing into a burning building was mourned at his funeral as an example of valor and devotion to duty. Brynn Gingras has more.
A police officer who died last week after rushing into a burning building was mourned at his funeral as an example of valor and devotion to duty.
Dennis Guerra, 38, and his partner, 36-year-old Rosa Rodriguez, were among the first police officers who responded to the fire last weekend in the building on Surf Avenue.
They took an elevator to the 13th floor to warn residents and help evacuate the building, but when they emerged from the elevator they were overcome by smoke.
Both officers, who are members of the force's housing bureau, were found unconscious by firefighters. Guerra, a married father of four and seven-year NYPD veteran, died of his injuries Wednesday morning. He had two daughters, 20 and 14, and two sons, 17 and 7.
"Dennis was a great cop and an even better person," said Deputy Inspector Carlos Valdez.
Mayor de Blasio said Guerra would be posthumously promoted to detective.
Rodriguez is still recovering.
A teenage boy was charged Friday with second-degree murder for allegedly setting a mattress on fire in the building.
Five people suffered minor injuries, including two firefighters, authorities said.
