Mary Ann Collura

Legacy

It's been a year and a half since the shootout that claimed Collura's life. In that time, Farrell has recuperated, and though he is still hampered at time by pain, he returned after 13 months to active duty. His is engaged and will be married in July. His newfound friend, the Rev. Dave Boone, the same cop who served along side Mary Ann Collura throughout her career, will officiate.

Helen Collura, mother

On Morlot Avenue, not far from the George Washington Memorial cemetery in nearby Paramus where Mary Ann Collura is buried, in the house where she grew up, her family is still grieving. They visit her grave often, a grave marked by a glittering brass replica of her badge, number 136. But in all that time, her family still has not found closure. All you need to do is look at her brother's arm to see that. He carries her name and her badge number on a tattoo across his left arm.

Yes, the family has gotten some satisfaction in the fact that prosecutors have relentlessly pursued the case. Earlier this year, Ivan Marti was sentenced to eight years on drug and weapons charges. He will serve at least three years before being released. Brignoni also is in prison, serving a minimum of three years before his release, as is Joseph Marti; and Omar Marti, the killer, is dead.

But that's not the same thing as closure.

The Collura Memorial Pistol Range

With every tribute, every honor that Mary Ann Collura receives, their loss becomes fresh again. "It's been wonderful, the memorials, the tributes," her sister, Pat Snyder told New Jersey Monthly. "Everything has been wonderful...But as far as the family, sometimes it's like, if you ever (lost) a loved one and had to go through the funeral, we go through that funeral experience dozens of times. It's not easy, but it's something that we do...and we do it out of love for Mary Ann and respect for her because God knows if anybody deserved these things, she deserved them."

For all the pain, there is some solace, the family says, in the thought that Mary Ann will be remembered, and maybe, just maybe, there's a little solace in the fact that on Paulison Avenue in Passaic, on Oak Street in Garfield and on North Street in Binghamton, Omar and the memory of him is being erased.

• Print version
• Email this
• 

1. Point Blank
2. Holy Thursday
3. As If He Never Was
4. Small Time
5. An Easy Shift
6. An Act of Courage
7. Last Call
8. The Prodigal Son Returns
9. Not So Innocent
10. A Routine Stop
11. The Chase Begins
12. On His Own
13. Show Down
14. In the Killer's Eyes
15. "Oh, God!"
16. Marti's Flight
17. Legacy
18. Bibliography