NEW YORK — The two NYPD officers shot dead in Bed-Stuy over the weekend left behind stunned and grieving family members, and organizations are already mobilizing to help them.
Late Yankees owner George Steinbrenner's Silver Shield Foundation and other groups are collecting donations to support relatives of Rafael Ramos, 40, and Wenjian Liu, 32. The pair were sitting in their patrol car at Myrtle and Tompkins avenues Saturday afternoon when they were ambushed and killed by Ismaaiyl Brinsley, a disturbed 28-year-old man who had vowed on social media to kill police and later shot himself.
Ramos, who joined the NYPD three years ago, lived in Cypress Hills and was a father of two teenage boys. Liu, a seven-year veteran of the police force, was just married two months ago and lived in Midwood.
Here's how you can help their families:
► Steinbrenner's Silver Shield Foundation will donate $20,000 toward the education of each of Ramos' two sons, 13-year-old Jaden and 19-year-old Justin, who attends Bowdoin College, according to reports.
You can donate to the education funds, either online or by sending a check payable to Silver Shield Foundation to 870 United Nations Plaza, 1st Floor, New York, NY, 10017.
► The New York City Police Foundation, founded after 9/11 to help the relatives of NYPD officers who were killed, continues to support the NYPD.
"In the aftermath of the tragic events that occurred this weekend, the Police Foundation is working with Police Commissioner Bill Bratton on a number of ways to assist the Department including providing counseling and food for Officers in commands," the foundation said on its website.
You can donate online or by sending a check payable to NYC Police Foundation and a donation form to New York City Police Foundation, 555 Fifth Avenue, 15th floor, New York, NY, 10017.
► The Patrolmen's Benevolent Foundation has a Widows' and Children's Fund that supports the families of fallen officers.
To donate, you can send a check payable to the NYC PBA Widows' and Children's Fund to Michael Morgillo or Joseph Alejandro at the Patrolmen's Benevolent Association, 125 Broad Street, 11th Floor, New York, NY, 10004-2400.
A PBA representative suggested putting Ramos and Liu's names in the memo line of the check to ensure your donation reaches their families.