Bronx artist presents NYPD precinct with painting of fallen detectives Rivera and Mora

The precinct in Harlem is where both Rivera and Mora worked, and it's where community support continues to pour in.

News 12 Staff

Feb 14, 2022, 10:24 PM

Updated 1,045 days ago

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A Bronx artist and sister in blue on Monday presented the NYPD's 32nd Precinct with a portrait of slain detectives Jason Rivera and Wilbert Mora.
The precinct in Harlem is where both Rivera and Mora worked, and it's where community support continues to pour in.
"It's still painful. It's never easy," said Inspector Amir Yakatally, commanding officer of the precinct. He says it's been tough, but his officers are too.
"They're tough, they're resilient, and they're committed to the profession, and they're going out there every day, suited up to represent, and make Jason and Wilbert proud," Yakatally added.
Bronx native Shakaira Sanjuro is a U.S. Customs and Border Patrol and the artist behind the painting.
It's her passion to paint, but this was also personal for her.
"It could have been my family," Sanjuro said. "I was heartbroken because they were so young. It hit home because I, as a law enforcement officer myself, I wanted to pay homage to my fallen brothers in blue."
Her painting will go up inside the precinct and stand as a reminder of two young heroes.
"We're going to find a nice place to put it so that everyone who walks into that precinct will see them," she said.
Candles, letters and flowers are still outside the precinct in memory of the fallen detectives. Yakatally said the magnitude of support they've received has not gone unnoticed.
"Jason and Wilbert were members of the NYPD, but they're also members of the community, and to see an outpouring of support from both law enforcement and the community shows they're accepted and they share in our pain," Yakatally said. "Just feeling grateful that Jason and Wilbert are being remembered in such a way."