Officers Injured In East Boston Shootout Drop Puck At Charity Game
BOSTON (CBS) – Everyone in East Boston's Porrazzo Skating Rink knew this game was important, even if it was only an exhibition.
The Boston Bruins alumni and the Boston Police team stood ready to play, but the spotlight shined down on officers Matt Morris and Richard Cintolo.
Both men from the East Boston precinct barely survived a shootout with a suspect who ambushed them in mid-October. The suspect, Kirk Figueroa, was killed when police returned fire.
Cintolo, with a sling on his arm, and Morris dropped the ceremonial first pucks.
"We all pull together," resident Steve Tankle said.
Morris got out of a rehabilitation facility this week.
Almost everyone at the Wednesday night hockey game knew one or both men. Former New England Patriots tight end Jermaine Wiggins, who was playing as a Bruin, grew up in East Boston with the Cintolo family.
"When you have good cops like Richie you want to help out in any way," said Wiggins.
Supporting all the men and women in blue was at the top of everyone's mind.
"As a police officer, every day you go to work you never know if it will be your last day," said Wiggins.
Mayor Marty Walsh has known Morris for a long time, as both grew up in Dorchester.
"Last time I saw his brother and dad was in the hospital. They weren't smiling. Tonight they were," said Walsh.
Walsh admitted the two officers were a little overwhelmed to see just how many people care about them.
"I think it made us closer as a community brought us more together to support our police officers," said resident Josephine Matthews.
"I think the whole city wanted to be here to show support," added Tankle.
The game was to raise money for the Morris and Cintolo families. The entry fee, raffle money and t-shirt money all goes to the both men.