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Nassau Police Officer Patricia Espinosa remembered as 'a force' with 'a humongous heart'

The Fifth Precinct officer came to the U.S. from Ecuador when she was a young woman and ultimately “got the job of her dreams,” Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder said.

Cecilia Dowd

Feb 2, 2026, 6:41 PM

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Family members and friends are remembering Nassau Police Office Patricia Espinosa.

An alleged drunk driver struck and killed her early Saturday morning while she was on her way to work.

Espinosa “was a force,” Officer Victoria Ojeda said.

She described her colleague and friend as “a very strong female officer who had a humongous heart.”

Ojeda said Officer Espinosa “made sure that you felt loved and supported.”

Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder said his phone hasn’t stopped ringing since Saturday.

He described getting calls from all corners of the community, a testament to the impact Officer Espinosa made in the Elmont area where she worked. She also made an impact as Sergeant-At-Arms for the Nassau Police Hispanic Society,

Officer Espinosa leaves behind a husband, who is also a police officer, and a young daughter.

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