Thousands of officers line streets for slain NYC sergeant

MASSAPEQUA, N.Y. (AP) — Thousands of police officers from across the nation have paid tribute to a New York City police sergeant who was killed last week.

Throngs of officers stood shoulder-to-shoulder for nearly a mile outside the Long Island funeral Thursday as a hearse passed with the body of Sgt. Paul Tuozzolo.  The 19-year veteran officer was killed Friday in a gun fight in the Bronx. A second sergeant was wounded, and the gunman was killed.

Tuozzolo's wife, Lisa, and their two young sons, Austin and Joseph, walked alongside the flag-draped casket. Fellow officers served as pallbearers.

Police Commissioner James O'Neill told mourners that Tuozzolo was "everything we could wish for in a police officer."

During the eulogy, with his voice cracking, O'Neill posthumously promoted Tuozzolo to sergeant-special assignment.