Funeral service held for NYS Trooper Robert Ambrose
PBA, 2002-12-23

Thousands of law enforcement officers, family and friends paid their final respects at a Monday morning funeral service for New York State Trooper Robert Ambrose, who was killed in the line of duty on December 19.

Ambrose, 31, had been a Trooper for five years and was most recently assigned to SP Tarrytown in Troop T (Thruway). He is survived by his parents, Wayne and Evelyn, and his brother and sister, Paul and Christina.

Ambrose was killed when an SUV slammed into the rear of his parked police cruiser as he prepared an report for a two-car accident along the shoulder of the Thruway in Yonkers. The SUV, which State Police said was traveling at a high rate of speed, had careened off an uninvolved vehicle and crashed into the parked police cruiser, which then crashed into the two other vehicles involved in the initial accident and a tow truck also parked along the shoulder of the Thruway. The police cruiser burst into flames upon impact by the SUV.

Troopers from State Police agencies from a dozen states, including California, Michigan and many states from the Northeast, joined municipal police officers at the funeral service at Our Lady of Victory in Floral Park. More than 100 police motorcycles provided an escort for the funeral. Gov. George E. Pataki spoke at the funeral, noting the Trooper’s six-foot, three-inch stature and his caring nature. Ambrose was remembered as a "gentle giant."

The State Troopers PBA expresses its condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Ambrose. The PBA also thanks all of the law enforcement personnel who attended the funeral and assisted in a multitude of ways, especially the Floral Park Police Department and its union.