US mourns death of Anastasios Tsakos, NYPD police officer killed by drunk driver

The US city of New York yesterday mourned the death of Greek American Anastasios Tsakos, a NYPD police officer tragically killed by drunk driver.

The funeral was held a St. Paraskevi Greek Orthodox Church, where Mayor Bill de Blasio, NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea and Archbishop Elpidophoros, of the Greek Orthodox Church of America, all made touching comments.

The widow of Anastasios sobbed as she remembered her beloved hubby as “the love of my life” and an “awesome dad”.

“I wish we had more time — to watch our kids grow,” Irene Tsakos said in front of mournersat the packed Saint Paraskevi Greek Orthodox Shrine Church in Greenlawn.

“I wish we could grow old together. That was the plan, but you were taken from us too soon.”

She fought back tears as she continued about their two children, ages 3 and 6, “And now our kids will grow up without their dad, without their awesome dad. They will never forget. I will make sure of that.

“Tasos, you are the love of my life,” Irene choked, while bursting into tears. “I hope I made you proud.”

American and Greek flags stood side by side at the front of the Long Island chapel, next to Tsakos’ flower-draped open casket and a large portrait of the 43-year-old officer.

A massive wall of police officers lined the road outside the church.

Mayor Bill de Blasio called the fallen officer “a Greek hero for our time,” and the city is mourning a “lost guardian”.

Archbishop Elpidophoros heralded Tsakos’ service to the city — at one point drawing a round of applause after referring to the NYPD as the world’s finest.

“There is no justice on this Earth that can bring him back to us,” the archbishop said. “Officer Tsakos looks down today from heaven, looks down on all of you. In your tears, in your pain, in your righteous anger and your deepest sorrow, Tsakos is present.”

Tsakos, 43, was directing traffic on the Long Island Expressway after an earlier car accident when police said he was struck and killed by a 2013 Volkswagen driven by Jessica Beauvais, who allegedly admitted she was driving drunk.

Beauvais, 32, faces 13 charges, including manslaughter, vehicular manslaughter and driving while intoxicated, and is being held without bail.