A sergeant from a Manhattan police precinct is raising funds for the family of a cop who died last week in a vehicular collision over the holiday weekend in Orange County.
According to law enforcement sources, 25-year-old Police Officer Juliana Torsiello, of the 30th Precinct in West Harlem, was driving along County Road 51 in Campbell Hall at around 6 p.m. on May 24 when she somehow lost control of her BMW. The vehicle apparently traveled into a hillside and flipped over, killing her.
“Officer Torsiello with only 3 years of service, had already made a name for herself protecting West Harlem. Please keep her family in your thoughts and prayers,” a statement from the 30th Precinct read on X, formally known as Twitter.
While authorities are still investigating what caused the crash, police and firefighters, including NYPD officers, spent several hours combing over the collision scene for evidence.
Torsiello’s sudden death has left an emotional hole in the West Harlem station house as her fellow cops attempt to come to terms with the untimely demise.
“She was beloved by everyone who knew her and worked with her. Juliana was well known for her room-illuminating smile, her kind soul, and her unwavering passion,” fundraiser creator Matthew Erbetta, a sergeant at the 30th Precinct, wrote. “We are starting this GoFundMe in an effort to aid her family with any outstanding expenses and anything they may need to lay a beautiful soul to rest. Juliana will never be forgotten by anyone who loved her.”
Despite only being in operation for a number of hours, as of 9 a.m. Monday morning, the fundraiser has already garnered more than $22,000 of its $50,000 goal.
To learn more or to contribute, visit gofundme.com and search Juliana Torsiello.
