Sgt. Gary Morales funeral: Retired NYPD detective among the thousands in attendance

FORT PIERCE, Fla.-- Thousands of people attended the funeral Monday for Sgt. Gary Morales of the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office.

One of those in attendance was Enrique Colon of Palm Bay. Colon is a retired New York City Police Department detective. He responded to the Twin Towers when they were hit by terrorists on September 11, 2001.

He said when he heard about Sgt. Morales’ death, he got his old uniform ready and traveled south to Fort Pierce.

Colon says, “Just because you retire on paper doesn’t mean you retire with your heart. Your heart is always with your job.”

Colon spent more than two decades on the police force with NYPD. Unfortunately, he says, he’s been to a lot of officers’ funerals.

“It’s always heartbreaking. Until I can breathe no more I will continue coming to funerals representing the N.Y.P.D.”

Colon says he never met Sgt. Morales, but says he feels for Morales’ family. As for how Morales was killed, Colon says, “People don’t understand the risk you take daily. From every car stop to domestic violence, you just never know.”