Family, cops prepare for wake of slain officer Peter Figoski

Suffolk County police are preparing for a wave of mourners beginning Saturday, when a series of wakes are scheduled in Babylon for slain New York City Police Officer Peter Figoski.

The wake for Figoski will be held today and tomorrow from 2 to 4:30 p.m. and 7 to 9:30 p.m. at the Claude R. Boyd/Spencer Funeral Home.

The funeral Mass for the West Babylon resident will be at 11 a.m. Monday at St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church in Babylon.

After Friday's indictment of the five men accused in the shooting death, New York City Patrolmen's Benevolent Association president Pat Lynch spoke about the ordeal facing Figoski's kin.

"The family of our hero police officer is now at a funeral parlor, viewing the body, preparing for two days of wake and preparing for a funeral, the last time they'll see their father and son."

For the funeral on Monday, Suffolk County police advise motorists to avoid the area around the church from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. because of road closings. Montauk Highway will be closed in both directions from Little East Neck to Deer Park Avenue. Deer Park Avenue will be closed to southbound traffic from Park Avenue to Montauk Highway. North Carll Avenue, around the church, will also be closed.

Figoski will be buried in the North Babylon Cemetery in West Babylon.

Babylon Junior-Senior High School will be closed Monday because of the large turnout expected nearby for the funeral, which will be across the street, at 39 N. Carll Ave.

Other schools will remain open, the Babylon School District said in a statement Friday.

The five men accused in the fatal shooting were indicted Friday on murder charges and ordered held without bail.

Figoski, 47, a decorated officer and father of four, was killed Monday while responding to a botched robbery in his Brooklyn precinct.

Police said the five suspects met in a Queens apartment at 1 a.m. and hatched a plan to rob a drug dealer who lived in a basement apartment.

Less than 90 minutes later, Figoski was gunned down when he encountered the shooter, Lamont Pride, on the stairs, police said.

Pride, 27, faces the most charges: first- and second-degree murder, aggravated murder and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, prosecutors said.

The other suspects -- Kevin Santos, 30; Ariel Tejada, 22; Nelson Moralez, 27; and Michael Velez, 21, all of Queens -- each face charges of second-degree murder and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon.

None of the five men entered a plea at the hearing at State Supreme Court in Brooklyn, which was packed with police officers. The suspects are due to return to court Jan. 18.

"We witnessed evil get indicted," Lynch said outside the courtroom.

The Silver Shield Foundation, established by former Yankees owner George Steinbrenner, is giving $80,000 to an education fund for the daughters of the slain officer, The Associated Press has reported.

Figoski's daughters, Caroline, 16, and Corinne, 14, are in high school, and Christine, 20, and Caitlyn, 18, are in college upstate.

The foundation -- established in 1982 -- provides support to the families of police officers and firefighters who die in the line of duty.

With William Murphy