Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

Remembering Officer Lopez' amazing smile. We attended JBHS together and he was a kind person that will be missed. My condolences to him and his family.

Dawn CUSTIS
JBHS Friend

September 12, 2023

In Honor And Respect, Officer Arthur Lopez... Today, October 23, 2022 Is "10" Years Since Your Precious Life Was Taken From You... Your Dedication, Caring Heart And Ultimate Sacrifice Will Never Be Forgotten... A True Hero Gone Way Too Soon!!! Thoughts, Peace And Blessings To Your Family... May You Rest In Eternal Peace, Officer Arthur Lopez... NY Lost One Of Their Finest "10" Years Ago Today...

Gail Mercado

October 23, 2022

It's so sad that the people that live among us would do this to another person especially to a police officer God bless my family

Howie

May 16, 2022

May God rest his soul and comfort his family.

Det. Sgt. Louis J. Savini
Second Squad NCPD

October 23, 2021

In Honor And Respect, Officer Arthur Lopez, Thank You For Your Dedicated Service To Law Enforcement... A Beautiful Soul Is Never Forgotten... May You Rest In Eternal Peace, Officer Arthur Lopez... Blessings To Your Family...

Gail Mercado

October 23, 2021

Rest in peace Officer Lopez.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

October 13, 2021

Rest in peace

Nick mottola
None

October 23, 2020

Rest In Peace. Heaven needed another guardian.

Detective Bob Schiller retired
PDCN

October 23, 2020

RIP Blue Angel and thank-you for your service.

P.O.Donald Chyrch
Nassau County

October 23, 2020

The gunman, who killed Nassau cop and parkway driver, dies in prison, officials say

Posted December 30, 2019 on Newsday

A cop killer who went to prison for life after his conviction in the 2012 murders of Nassau police Officer Arthur Lopez and a motorist from Brooklyn is dead after spending about seven years behind bars for the slayings.
The gunman, 40, died Dec. 9 while in custody at maximum-security Elmira Correctional Facility, according to the state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision’s the convict’s death remains under investigation but “is not considered to be suspicious,” State Police spokesman Beau Duffy said Monday.

Authorities pronounced the convict dead at 7:25 a.m. on Dec. 9 after he received emergency medical care at the prison, a state corrections spokeswoman said Monday.

Investigators still are awaiting the official cause of death from the convict’s autopsy, according to authorities. Sources said he was found unresponsive in his cell.

Along with State Police, the state corrections department’s Office of Special Investigations and the state Commission of Correction also are looking into the prisoner’s custody death, law enforcement officials said. Testimony during the convict's trial showed he was a dialysis patient.

A judge called the gunman “a menace to society” and “despicable” while sentencing the Queens man to life in prison without parole after a Nassau jury in 2014 convicted him of crimes including first-degree murder.

Charo Lopez, the slain officer’s sister, said learning of the convict’s death made for an emotional day, punctuated by a feeling of relief, some tears and calls to family members.

“It brought back the entire trial, the murders, losing my brother, the burial, everything," she said Monday. "But as a family, we’re thankful that we don’t have to go through anything else.”

Lopez, 48, added that the convict’s death meant her family didn’t have to be afraid anymore that he ever would be set free on appeal. “We had evidence, everywhere. But still, you have that fear, as a human,” she said.

She added she wasn’t glad that another person was dead. “Regardless of what his actions are, I’m a Catholic. I believe in God and I believe in my morals," Lopez said. "He was wrong, yes. But like Mahatma Gandhi said, an eye for an eye makes the world blind.”

Nassau Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder reacted to the convict’s death by saying Monday that the man had murdered Lopez and motorist Raymond Facey “in cold blood.”

“I will continue, along with the members of the Nassau County Police Department, to always keep the Lopez and Facey families in our thoughts and prayers," the commissioner said. "As far as the convict goes, I will not give him a second thought as he showed no regard for life. Good riddance.”

The convict’s family couldn’t be reached by phone Monday.

The gunman fired a bullet into Lopez’s heart on Oct. 23, 2012, during a traffic stop at 241st Street and Jamaica Avenue at the Nassau-Queens border.

The shooting happened after Lopez and his partner pursued the gunman when he fled from a crash shortly after leaving a hospital where he’d had a dialysis treatment.

Lopez, then 29 and part of the police force’s Emergency Service Unit, approached the hit-and-run suspect with his Taser out, according to trial testimony. But the gunman shot Lopez before fleeing a short distance on the Cross Island Parkway.

The gunman then shot and carjacked Facey, 58, a construction worker and Jamaican immigrant who had pulled over to speak to his daughter on his cellphone about a family vacation.

The Nassau district attorney’s office said during the gunman’s trial that he fled the crash while on parole and in possession of a loaded gun — an offense that would have sent him back to prison after he had served time for attempted murder.

The gunman orchestrated his own shooting to try to look like a third victim in the case while on the run after shooting Lopez and Facey, prosecutors said during his trial.

Some of the prosecution's evidence included video of the gunman inside a Queens preschool, where he hid for part of the time he tried to elude police, along with testimony from six eyewitnesses who picked him out of a lineup.

Police also found Facey’s DNA on clothing they recovered from the gunman at the hospital where he went for gunshot wound treatment before his arrest.

Tests showed the same gun was used in all three shootings and police recovered the murder weapon in a car linked to one of the gunman’s friends.

Last year an appellate court upheld the gunman’s convictions for murder, robbery and weapon possession.

In an appeal, Garden City Park attorney Alan Katz had argued in part that prosecutors hadn’t established a proper chain of custody for DNA blood evidence and that some DNA test results had been disclosed too late.

Katz said Monday that he hadn’t had any contact with the gunman recently and declined to comment upon hearing of his death.

“Our thoughts are with the families of Detective Arthur Lopez and Raymond Facey,” Nassau District Attorney Madeline Singas said in a statement Monday.

Nassau County Police Benevolent Association President James McDermott said Monday that “after a few years of a life behind bars, the gunman must now account for his actions before a different judge.”

He added: “The Nassau County PBA has no comment on his death, rather, we will forever remember the courage of Nassau County Detective Lopez and his family, and hope that the gunman’s death brings the loved ones of Arthur Lopez and Raymond Facey much-overdue closure.”

Lopez, who had lived in Babylon Village, was an eight-year veteran of the police force and posthumously promoted to detective.

A bridge in Bellerose that spans the Cross Island Parkway near where the gunman shot him was renamed in the slain officer’s honor in 2015.

Retired Police Officer
NYPD

December 30, 2019

I remember getting pulled over by this guy with friends in the car and he was the best guy ever! Was so kind and needless to say I wasn’t doing anything wrong he conducted a traffic stop just to make sure nothing was going on (Which it wasn’t) but anyways he was very kind once he conducted the traffic stop and realized nothing was going on and it was just me and my friends driving innocently listening to loud music which is why he got suspicious I think. Needless to say the guy was very funny cause I told him I know a lot about the law and wouldn’t do anything to disobey it. He cracked some jokes with me and it was very funny. I remember going into the nassau county precinct cause I got a traffic ticket from a different cop and I asked them
What I should do cause it was a license plate light and he said to just fill out a form and what not and I saw on the counter a news article stating he died and a flashback hit me. The flashback was I remembered him pulling me over and the kind gentleman he was. I’m reflecting almost 3 years after the incident with this awesome individual. I miss him and I didn’t even know him but this guy really sought to make the world a better place and I could see that just the one time I encountered him. R.I.P Officer López you are amazing :(.

Christian Pino
Driver who got pulled over

November 25, 2018

John 5:28, 29 - "Do not be amazed at this, for the hour is coming in which all those in the memorial tombs will hear his voice and come out". I pray that everyone can find peace in knowing that we will see this officer as well as many others again in Paradise soon. Until then, please accept my condolences.

A.W. Montgomery
Concerned Citizen

September 17, 2018

Artie was a friend ! He would pass by the restaurant with his partner William Evans who was my childhood friend for many years. Artie was always a gentlemen and always willing to help when needed. Today is a sad day for many of us in Nassau County. My thoughts are with his family on the very tough day.

VIncent Pavlovsky
Owner /Partner - Pompei Restaurant

October 23, 2017

Rest well my brother. Thank you for your service to New York. Heros are never forgotten for their sacrifice. Until we meet, God bless you, your family, and the members of your department.

Lieutenant Ray Flores
NYPD (retired)

October 23, 2017

I am a US Marine infantry have been in Iraq and Afghanistan twice each and just want to say your job was harder then mine and most people don't thank you until you save them RIP and God speed Lopez.

SSgt Scott, Galen J
USMC 3rd BN 8th Marines

October 26, 2016

Can't believe how much time has passed by brother. Hope your having a great time up there looking down at us. Everyone misses you.

PO Joseph Boccio
Nassau County Police Dept

October 26, 2016

Rest in peace my brother. You are now in the hands of the Lord and St. Michael

Det.Sgt. Louis J. Savini (Retired)
NCPD

October 23, 2016

Rest in perpetual peace my brother. You are a true hero and will always be remembered as one.

N.Y.P.D. Lt. Ray Flores (Ret.)

October 23, 2016

R.I.P. my Brother

Lt. Robert Spiegel (ret.)
Hialeah Police Dept

October 23, 2015

REST IN PEACE. MAY YOU NEVER BE FORGOTTEN FOR YOUR ULTIMATE SACRIFICE

Ret. TFC Theresa Medcalf
Ga State Patrol

October 23, 2015

He was our nephew Keith's partner, and he and his family miss him every day. :( RIP Artie

John Gartelman Retired Nassau P.O.

October 23, 2015

Another year is still gone!
RIP Artie! You are never forgotten!
Iḿ sure youŕe watching over me now on my nightshift and every other day!
May god bless you and your family!

Nina
Germany

October 23, 2015

It has been three years already and it still agonizing to think that you are gone. But you will never be forgotten and will always be in our hearts and prayers. Miss & love ya buddy.

Ret-PO Michael Collins
Nassau County PD

October 23, 2015

Not forgotten. Rest in Peace Brother.

Corporal B.P. SULLIVAN, (RET)
Royal Canadian Mounted Police

October 23, 2015

Rest in Peace brother.

Ret/Det John Daly
NCPD ESU 1975-1980, !st Sqd.

October 23, 2015