April 3, 2023 The artist responsible for a mural of fallen Worcester Police Officer Emmanuel “Manny” Familia removed black spray paint that vandals used to deface the wall artwork.
By Ryan Mancini Source masslive.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
A mural memorializing fallen Worcester Police Officer Emmanuel “Manny” Familia was touched up by its artist after it was found vandalized last week.
On Thursday, Worcester artist Ferdinand Nazario went to the Murray Avenue location and removed the black spray paint from Familia’s face on the brick wall.
“Mr. Nazario, please know how much we appreciate your talent and kindness!” said a post from the Worcester Police Department’s Facebook page. “Your mural is a permanent tribute to our hero Manny and it means so much to the community!”
The mural went up in June 2022 and features a smiling portrait of Familia outfitted in his Worcester Police uniform with his badge number 267 emblazoned on his cap. It was completed the same day Familia was buried.
Familia was one of several officers who attempted to save several teenagers in a pond at Green Hill Park on June 3, 2022, MassLive previously reported. Familia and 14-year-old Troy Love were unaccounted for. Almost an hour after jumping into action, Familia was found and taken to UMass Memorial Medical Center where he succumbed to his injuries.
At 3:25 p.m., the 14-year-old boy was located by divers. He was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Familia has since been recognized with several awards in his honor, including the George L. Hanna Medal of Honor and a Carnegie Hero Medal.
“We stand with you today,” Massachusetts Secretary of the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security Terrence Reidy said in November when Familia was honored with the Hanna Medal of Honor. “And we’ll always honor Manny’s legacy and remember his ultimate sacrifice.”