Partner of Slain NYPD Officer Promoted to Detective

Fellow police officers comfort Glen Estrada, the partner of the recently shot and killed New York Police Department officer, Peter Figoski, 47, after the arraignment of his accused assailant, Lamont Pride, Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2011, in the Brooklyn borough of New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

A police officer hailed as a hero for capturing a man accused of gunning down his partner was promoted on Friday to detective.

In remarks at a promotion ceremony for several officers, police Commissioner Raymond Kelly singled out Glenn Estrada for his “extraordinary bravery” on the morning Officer Peter Figoski was killed during a botched armed robbery. Figoski had already been posthumously promoted.

“The actions of Detectives Figoski and Estrada exemplify the courage shown day in and day out by our police officers,” Kelly said.

Five men, including shooting suspect Lamont Pride, have pleaded not guilty to murder charges. All are being held without bail.

Prosecutors allege the men were part of a hold-up crew that staged a Dec. 12 home invasion targeting a small-time drug dealer in Brooklyn. The robbery was interrupted by police responding to a report of a burglary.

While two officers were inside trying to sort out the chaotic scene, Figoski and Estrada arrived as backup. An armed Pride attempted to flee and, before Figoski had a chance to unholster his gun, shot the officer once in the face, police said.

Estrada was struggling with another suspect when he heard the shot ring out, police said. He broke free and began running after Pride while calling a dispatcher on his police radio, they said.

“With disciplined calm, Officer Estrada radioed precise descriptions of the shooter and his direction of flight,” Kelly said Friday.

In a recording, the New York Police Department dispatcher could be heard asking, “Do you have him or not?” Estrada responded, “Right behind him.”

Moments later, Kelly said, Pride “lay prone on the sidewalk as Officer Estrada handcuffed him.”

Figoski, 47, was a divorced father of four daughters. Thousands of police officers turned out for his funeral on Monday on Long Island.

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press.