Police Mourn Loss
GEMMA SAWA
Issue date: 10/22/07 Section: Campus News
- Page 1 of 1
Philadelphia police are mourning the
murders of retired officers Joseph Alullo
and William Widmaier.
Alullo, 55, and Widmaier, 65, were
killed on Oct. 4 outside a Wachovia
Bank while they were working as security
guards for Loomis Armored Car
Service.
"There's something personal about it,
and it hits you closer to home," said
police officer John Sweeney of the 15th
police district, in Philadelphia. "It's
always harder when you know someone,
particularly in a situation where
you understand the type of person they
were and what they did."
Mustafa Ali, a convicted bank robber,
has been arrested on murder charges in
connection with the shootings.
On the charges, Sgt. Michael Faust
said, "It takes someone to a higher level
when they kill a person of authority,
because it means that they are more
brazen… Ahomicide is a homicide, but
when it's closer to home, you'll make
sure you spend an adequate amount of
time covering all bases, to get to the
end."
Family and friends of Alullo and Widmaier
described them both as "beloved"
and "respected."
Alullo and Widmaier didn't leave
behind just family and friends, but their
band of brothers.
Faust said, "It is events like this that
have brought us back to reality and leveled
us out. Anytime a police officer
gets killed, it does impact you."
While Faust said he didn't know Alullo
or Widmaier personally, they were
part of a bowling league that many of his
friends knew. He recalled Alullo and
Widmaier being described as "loyal"
and "hardworking."
Police officers are more wary after a
shooting. Unfortunately, that mindset
won't last forever. "As time goes by, we
begin to put our guard down and forget
what happened," said Faust.
Faust is taking the precautions necessary
to assure his fellow officers are
safe. "I feel like it's my responsibility to
make sure we start wearing the proper
equipment and that our guard is up at all
times," he added.
Similarly, Officer Michael Murphy,
of the Philadelphia Narcotics Unit
empathized. The most alarming part,
according to Murphy, was the irony of
the situation.
"These two guys were cops for the
longest time and now that they've been
retired, they got killed at their second
job," said Murphy.
While the loss of both Alullo and Widmaier
remains tragic among the community,
`those directly affected will
suffer the most.
"It's still a brotherhood, and even
though I didn't know them personally,
I'm still affected by this," said Murphy.
murders of retired officers Joseph Alullo
and William Widmaier.
Alullo, 55, and Widmaier, 65, were
killed on Oct. 4 outside a Wachovia
Bank while they were working as security
guards for Loomis Armored Car
Service.
"There's something personal about it,
and it hits you closer to home," said
police officer John Sweeney of the 15th
police district, in Philadelphia. "It's
always harder when you know someone,
particularly in a situation where
you understand the type of person they
were and what they did."
Mustafa Ali, a convicted bank robber,
has been arrested on murder charges in
connection with the shootings.
On the charges, Sgt. Michael Faust
said, "It takes someone to a higher level
when they kill a person of authority,
because it means that they are more
brazen… Ahomicide is a homicide, but
when it's closer to home, you'll make
sure you spend an adequate amount of
time covering all bases, to get to the
end."
Family and friends of Alullo and Widmaier
described them both as "beloved"
and "respected."
Alullo and Widmaier didn't leave
behind just family and friends, but their
band of brothers.
Faust said, "It is events like this that
have brought us back to reality and leveled
us out. Anytime a police officer
gets killed, it does impact you."
While Faust said he didn't know Alullo
or Widmaier personally, they were
part of a bowling league that many of his
friends knew. He recalled Alullo and
Widmaier being described as "loyal"
and "hardworking."
Police officers are more wary after a
shooting. Unfortunately, that mindset
won't last forever. "As time goes by, we
begin to put our guard down and forget
what happened," said Faust.
Faust is taking the precautions necessary
to assure his fellow officers are
safe. "I feel like it's my responsibility to
make sure we start wearing the proper
equipment and that our guard is up at all
times," he added.
Similarly, Officer Michael Murphy,
of the Philadelphia Narcotics Unit
empathized. The most alarming part,
according to Murphy, was the irony of
the situation.
"These two guys were cops for the
longest time and now that they've been
retired, they got killed at their second
job," said Murphy.
While the loss of both Alullo and Widmaier
remains tragic among the community,
`those directly affected will
suffer the most.
"It's still a brotherhood, and even
though I didn't know them personally,
I'm still affected by this," said Murphy.
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