Pat Lynch, president of the Patrolmen's Benevolent Association, told reporters, “What we need to focus on is the fact we have a police officer in the hospital, every day struggling for his life.” (BARRY WILLIAMS/FOR NEW YORK DAILY NEWS)
A police union head said Wednesday that officers will be vigilantly watching every last development in the case of a Brooklyn teen who’s charged with dragging an officer from a stolen vehicle.
Punctuating the point, about 20 NYPD officers lined the aisles in a Brooklyn Supreme courtroom for a brief court appearance for 15-year-old Justin Murrell. The teen is accused of dragging plainclothes Officer Dalsh Veve more than two blocks in East Flatbush in June.
About 20 NYPD officers lined the aisles in a Brooklyn Supreme courtroom for a brief court appearance for 15-year-old Justin Murrell. (BARRY WILLIAMS/FOR NEW YORK DAILY NEWS)
Veve, 35, remains hospitalized with head injuries. He was questioning Murrell on June 3 about a shooting when the teen allegedly stepped on the gas of a stolen Honda Civic and took the cop with him on Tilden Ave.
When the panicked driver made a turn on E. 53rd St., Veve was slung onto the pavement. He was rushed to Kings County Hospital with catastrophic head trauma and immediately placed in an induced coma.
NYPD Detective Dalsh Veve with his wife, Esther. (SUSAN WATTS/NEW YORK DAILY NEWS)
Murrell is charged as an adult with attempted murder and assault.
Veve, who is married and has a young daughter, was promoted in October, getting a gold detective’s shield.
After court, Pat Lynch, president of the Patrolmen's Benevolent Association, told reporters, “What we need to focus on is the fact we have a police officer in the hospital, every day struggling for his life.”
During court, Brooklyn Assistant District Attorney Melissa Carvajal said Murrell’s lawyers have had a chance to inspect the car, which will be returned to its owner.
Murrell is due back in court on March 15, and he won’t be alone, Lynch said.
“We’ll be back here each and every time,” he said.