Officer suffered serious injuries in Newark hit-and-run
Antonio Cruz, Terrell Day, James Stewart, Josue Duran, Jennifer Jeffra, Nancy Caballero, Sherri Dillard, Ana Colon, Angel Pared and Teresea Johnson of the Newark police with Ramos family (Photo: FOP)
However, thanks to a contingent of law enforcement officers, the veteran cop was well represented by a group of stand-ins at his boy's graduation. About 15 officers showed up at the ceremony Wednesday in Scotch Plains wearing uniforms with patrol cars to make sure the fifth grader still had a special night.
"We went to show the young boy that he wasn't alone and we wanted to show his family that they weren't alone," said Newark Fraternal Order of Police President James Stewart Jr. "They were ecstatic."
When the police union learned that Ramos would be forced to miss the graduation, Stewart said they sought permission for officers to attend and the idea was immediately approved by Newark Public Safety Director Anthony Ambrose.
"That's the least we can do for the officer's son," the director said. "His father couldn't be there because he was doing his job protecting the residents of Newark."
Ambrose thanked members of the police division and the FOP president for showing their support at the graduation.
Newark police officer struck, dragged by hit-and-run driver
The younger Gonzalo Ramos got to sit in the police cars, snap photos with the officers, use the lights and received special recognition from his school principal. Former Newark officers, now working for the Union County Sheriff's Office, also attended to show their support.
Ramos, a 14-year veteran of the city police force, was issuing a summons to a car near Foundry and Roanoke streets around 3:40 a.m. Sunday when the driver took off, according to investigators. The 37-year-old officer suffered serious injuries and needed surgery after he was hit, police said.
"The sight of [the officer] brought tears to his son's eyes. I told the son a lot of policemen cried too," Stewart added.
Though he faces another surgery, Ramos was released from the hospital Thursday afternoon, Stewart added.
"Short term [Ramos] missed a very important event in his son's life but long term, thankfully, he has an opportunity to make every other one," he said. "Things could have been a lot worse."
Essex County prosecutors on Thursday said they charged a 27-year-old city man with aggravated assault on a police officer, assault by auto and other offenses in connection with the incident.
Noah Cohen may be reached at ncohen@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @noahyc. Find NJ.com on Facebook.