Tributes are pouring in for NYPD Highway Police Officer Anastasios Tsakos, who was killed in a hit-and-run on the LIE in Queens.
The outpouring of support comes as the woman accused of fatally striking Tsakos is being held without bail. Police say Jessica Beauvais, of Hempstead, was high and drunk when she slammed into Tsakos while he was directing traffic at a crash site Tuesday.
About five hours before the accident, Beauvais recorded a podcast and Facebook Live that starts off with an anti-police rap song. The 32-year-old then went on to make numerous anti-police statements, including a direct message to officers that stated, "We want you to know we don't give f*&k about you, your mamma, your children, your wife. You're nothing, you're nothing to us. Bug spray, roaches."
"I saw part of that podcast and it's disgusting quite frankly," says NYC PBA President Pat Lynch.
Beauvais apologized Tuesday as she was being led by authorities to a vehicle in handcuffs, when News 12 asked her to comment. Beauvais said, "I'm sorry that I hit him and that he's dead."
According to court documents, Beauvais told investigators that she smoked marijuana, drank wine and did shots of tequila before the crash.
The Suffolk County PBA responded to the incident.
"I think it's evident that her actions before the incident truly speaks to the character of the person," says Suffolk PBA President Noel Digerolamo. "Everybody could be apologetic after they're caught, it's how you conduct yourself when nobody's watching. That's what defines you as a human being."
Tsakos, of East Northport, leaves behind a wife and two young children.
Beauvais faces a long list of charges, including vehicular manslaughter, DWI, aggravated unlicensed operator, reckless endangerment and reckless driving.
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Fund the First campaign was started to help the family through this difficult time.