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Family hails the life of cop who died in collision

WHAT 15-year-old Jazmin Nazario admired most about her mother, Philadelphia Police Officer Isabel Nazario, was something that she was surprised to find within herself yesterday - strength.

Police pay tribute yesterday to Officer Isabel Nazario at memorial near where her patrol car was hit Friday.
Police pay tribute yesterday to Officer Isabel Nazario at memorial near where her patrol car was hit Friday.Read moreJESSICA GRIFFIN / Daily News

WHAT 15-year-old Jazmin Nazario admired most about her mother, Philadelphia Police Officer Isabel Nazario, was something that she was surprised to find within herself yesterday - strength.

"Right now, I'm strong," she said. "This strength is from my mother and I feel that's her blessing to me."

Hundreds of people gathered for a vigil yesterday afternoon at 39th and Wallace streets in Mantua, where Nazario's life was taken Friday night by a teen driver in a stolen vehicle, according to police.

Police have charged 16-year-old Andre Butler as an adult with third-degree murder, aggravated assault and related crimes for the crash that killed 18-year-force veteran Nazario, 40, and injured her partner of seven years, Officer Terry Tull, 38.

Tull, a 12-year veteran, remains at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in stable condition, with a broken hip and broken ribs.

"He's doing good. He's coming along as well as can be expected," Tull's wife, Sharnell, said. "It's a lot to take in. It's overwhelming."

The officers, part of the city's Narcotics Strike Force Unit, were headed to assist in a pursuit of the 1999 white Cadillac Escalade that Butler was charged with driving.

Butler allegedly T-boned Nazario and Tull's marked cop car as they were southbound on 39th Street while he sped down Wallace Street, strike force Lt. Brian Dorsey said.

"Terry said he looked up and that quick, the guy was on them," Dorsey said. "The last thing Terry saw was Isabel with her eyes [wide] like this."

While the officers' car was so severely damaged in the crash that it took the Jaws of Life to extricate them from the wreckage, Butler was able to flee from the scene on foot. He was caught shortly thereafter at Union and Mt. Vernon streets, Lt. Frank Vanore, police spokesman, said.

Dorsey relived the night for Nazario's family yesterday, pointing to the spot where the crash happened, noting tire skid marks on the road and remembering how he and other officers just couldn't get Nazario out of the car.

"It was a trying night," he said.

Patricia Santiago, Nazario's mother, said she wanted to see the spot where her daughter lost her life.

"I wanted to know how that Friday night my daughter went to work and never came home," she said.

Santiago said Nazario was a "beautiful mother" and a "beautiful daughter" who was as pretty on the inside as she was on the outside.

"I'm very sick without her," Santiago said.

"She's in heaven now. She died doing her work and I'm proud of her."

Santiago recalled a particular moment of pride when Nazario told her that, while on patrol along South Street one day, she had seen a little boy walking barefoot.

Nazario told her mother that she pulled her police cruiser over and bought the child a pair of shoes.

Jazmine also was overwhelmed with pride yesterday, not only for the scores of officers who showed up but also for the support from the Latin community.

"I see everyone here today and I'm so proud of her," Jazmine said.

"She was a strong, working woman. I couldn't have asked for a better mother."

Santiago said she had planned to move back to her native Puerto Rico this year, but she will now postpone her plans until her granddaughter graduates from high school and enters college.

After services later this week, Nazario is expected to be laid to rest in her native Puerto Rico, Santiago said.

According to Vanore, Nazario's body will be escorted to Puerto Rico by fellow officers.

Cpl. Dennis Elmer, who said Nazario was the type of officer who'd "always make your day when she walked in the door," was still in shock over the circumstances of her death.

"Just like that. It was that fast. That crazy. That senseless," he said.

"A 16-year-old kid did this and for what reason? He destroyed the lives of thousands of people and for what?"

Vanore said Butler drew the attention of police about 9:30 p.m. Friday because he was driving in a "reckless manner."

As it would turn out, the Escalade Butler was driving had been reported stolen out of the city's East Division, Vanore said. He could not confirm whether Butler was driving without a license.

Until blood tests are returned, it's also unknown whether Butler was operating the vehicle under the influence of drugs or alcohol, Vanore said.

What is known is that in 2005, Butler was arrested for a theft or robbery that put him in a juvenile detention facility outside of the city, according to police.

Whether Butler was wanted for any crimes or for failing to appear at any court dates at the time of Friday's crash has yet to be determined, Vanore said.

Two of Nazario's loved ones remain on the police force - her fiance, Carlos Buitrago, an officer in the 25th District, and her sister, Maritza Mohamad, an officer in the 39th District, Vanore said.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at noon Friday at the Cathedral Basilica of Ss. Peter and Paul, 18th and Benjamin Franklin Parkway, with visitation starting at 7:30 a.m. *