Officer’s Death in Senseless Fire Troubles Police Chaplain

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What NYPD chaplain Father Carlos Rodriguez has difficulty dealing with is the senselessness of the act. Officer Dennis Guerra, a 38-year-old father of four, lies dead because a teenager says he was bored.

Officer Guerra, 38, died April 9 from the effects of severe smoke inhalation three days after he and his partner, Officer Rosa Rodriguez, 36, rushed into a high-rise Brooklyn apartment building after a fire was reported on the 13th floor. The two cops rode an elevator to the floor and when the doors slid open, they were instantly engulfed by heavy, black, suffocating smoke.

In custody, 16-year-old Marcell Dockery later told police he lit an abandoned mattress in the narrow hallway on fire because he “was bored.” He was initially charged as an adult with arson, reckless endangerment and two counts of assault against the two officers. Those charges were upgraded to felony murder following Officer Guerra’s death.

“He was bored! Can you imagine that?” Father Rodriguez said. “It’s phenomenal to me. And to do it in your own building! Where’s your care for your own family, your care for yourself? God knows what’s going on in that young man’s mind.”

Father Rodriguez, who has served the NYPD for more than 12 years as chaplain, is pastor of St. John Chrysostom parish in the

Bronx. He told CNY last week he has been with both the Guerra and Rodriguez families since the tragedy and will be there as long as he is needed.

“I was involved with them from the beginning,” he said. “I was attending when they took him off life support. I said prayers with the family. We did the prayers for the dead and we said our goodbyes accordingly. He went gently. When you go in your sleep it’s a blessing. It’s a saintly death.

“Our role basically is to comfort the family,” he explained. “As a Catholic priest we pray with the family, with their fellow officer. We’re there for their support.”

Officer Guerra died at 6:35 a.m. at Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx. He had been on the force eight years. Guerra’s father and uncles had also served on the NYPD. His wife, Cathy, and their children, Kathleen, Jonathan, Alyssa and Zachary, survive him.

Cardinal Dolan attended the family wake at the James Romanelli Funeral Home in Ozone Park, Queens, April 13. Police Commissioner Bill Bratton also attended. A Funeral Mass was offered April 14 at St. Rose of Lima Church in Rockaway, Queens.

Officer Rodriguez remained in critical condition at this writing.

“It always breaks my heart whenever any of my officers go down,” Father Rodriguez said. “But, poor Dennis, he was just doing what he’s always wanted to do. He leaves four beautiful children and a grieving wife, mother and dad. Thank God that their faith will help sustain them. They’re good Catholics and a strongly bonded family. He is one of New York’s Finest and he’ll be remembered as a hero in this city. Absolutely.”