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Suffolk Police are grieving the death one of their own for the second time in a week.
Police Officer Christopher Durham died Monday morning, Greater Long Island has learned. It was the same day fellow officers gathered in Ronkonkoma for the funeral Mass of Det. Alexandra “Ali” DeLeonardo Infante.
Durham, 32, of Commack was a former NYPD cop who started his policing career working in Harlem before joining Suffolk Police.
“My beautiful boy, you forever will be on my mind and soul,” his mother, Maria Samaritano-Durham, wrote on Facebook. “You left us way too soon. I want to wake up from this nightmare.”
The department announced his death on Facebook Tuesday but did not name him.
“It is with the heaviest of hearts, the Suffolk County Police Department announces the death of one of our members,” the department posted. The post said the department’s thoughts were with the officer’s family and friends.
Suffolk Police declined to comment on the deaths of Durham and DeLeonardo Infante.
Suffolk Police grieves Det. Alexandra ‘Ali’ DeLeonardo Infante, 38,
of Ronkonkoma
Durham played football at Hicksville High School and was a wide receiver as a freshman at Buffalo State. He later earned an associate degree at Nassau Community College and worked as a UPS driver before going into law enforcement.
His father, Albert Durham of Salem, Virginia, remembered him in a Facebook comment on a post about his son’s death.
“My son was always caring and loved everyone,” he wrote. “When he was on the job in Harlem he would call me and tell me what had happened and how his day went.”
Fiancée’s GoFundMe for Suffolk cop Chris Durham’s funeral flooded with donations
Albert Durham wrote that his son had worried about telling his dad that he wanted to leave the NYPD for Suffolk.
“He thought I would have been upset. I always told him I supported all of his decisions. He is loved and missed so much,” he wrote.
Durham’s mom also shared a memorial graphic showing Durham smiling in his Suffolk Police uniform. It is marked “End of Watch.”
The Suffolk County Republican Club posted this message Monday night: “May God bless the soul of the police officer who has passed and watch over all those in uniform.”
Durham’s death comes as Suffolk’s law enforcement community is still mourning DeLeonardo Infante. The nine-year Suffolk Police veteran died suddenly Oct. 12. She was 38.
Her wake and police service were held Sunday at Moloney’s Lake Funeral Home in Ronkonkoma. Her funeral Mass was Monday at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church.
PBA issues statement
The Suffolk County Police Benevolent Association, the union representing the department’s police officers, shared a message Monday with members on Facebook.
“You are not alone. We are here for each other. We can help,” the PBA wrote.
The union urged anyone who is “struggling or just need[s] to talk” to reach out to its peer support team, delegates or trustees, or through its website at suffolkpba.org/PEER.
“Our members are there for everyone, we are here for them,” the post said.
Funeral arrangements for Durham were announced Tuesday afternoon.
If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988 to reach the 988 Lifeline, available 24/7.
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Top: Christopher Durham (Facebook/Maria Samaritano-Durham) and Suffolk Police car (GLI file photo).
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