The Passaic Gridiron Gladiators take to the field
to honor fallen officers and raise money for Spe-
cial Olympics.
on the field where the New York Giants and
Jets play. “This lets them know that we’re still
here; they’re still family. That bond that we
all have doesn’t go away, regardless of how long their loved one
has been gone.”
Another fallen officer represented was Jersey City Detective
Melvin Santiago, who was gunned down while responding to a
robbery at a pharmacy on July 13, 2014. Playing for the 23-year-
old, who had only been on the job six months before being killed,
was Passaic Officer Julian Gonzalez. Santiago’s mother, Cathy
McBride, sat in the stands, watching her son’s name in motion
on the field.
“To keep his memory alive going on three years after he’s gone
is overwhelming,” stressed McBride. “It’s a beautiful feeling. If
anybody takes the time out to do anything for Melvin, I will al-
ways be there to support.”
Gonzalez gifted McBride the jersey Passaic made to honor her
son, who never got the chance to live out his dream of having a
long career in law enforcement. “It kind of
hit home, knowing that with what we do,
nothing is guaranteed,” Gonzalez shared. “I
just wanted to honor his name and have him know that we are a
family. He’s never going to be forgotten for his sacrifice.”
The Passaic Gladiators prepared for weeks before the Snow
Bowl by holding practices and scrimmages with other teams,
including the Bloomfield Police Department and even Passaic
High School. The team’s offensive captain, Deputy Chief Louis
Gentile, led the way by shouting out intricate plays that showed
the Gladiators weren’t just there for recreation; they were there
to win. But above all, Passaic was there to represent the honor of
those names on their shoulders, and the athletes that the Snow
Bowl supports.
“This is to raise awareness among the ranks of law enforce-
ment by bringing others’ stories back to the surface,” confirmed
Delossantos. “And we are so thankful to be able to play to benefit
the kids of Special Olympics.” d
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www.njcopsmagazine.com
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