By Anthony Rifilato
As the media converged on the quiet neighborhood, police stood guard outside the family home as grieving relatives and friends streamed in and out, many having traveled from Haiti, Nemorin's birthplace. Two Nassau County police cars blocked Hayes Street between Schreiber Place and Western Boulevard, as cars regularly stopped and asked what was happening. The news media was asked not to film or photograph the home out of respect for the family and to avoid jeopardizing the safety of Nemorin's fellow undercover officers.
As the hunt for suspects came to a close late Wednesday afternoon, the family and community grappled with the pain of losing two brave detectives, a reminder of how much police put on the line while fighting crime.
Nemorin, 36, was killed along with his partner, Det. Rodney Andrews, 34, on March 10 during an undercover gun-buying operation in Staten Island. The pair had lost contact with their backup and were shot in what police officials said might have been an attempted robbery. An extensive manhunt ensued, and by Wednesday, six people were arrested in connection with the murder. One suspect could face the death penalty.
Nemorin was new to Baldwin, having moved to the community a little over a year ago from South Ozone Park with his wife, Rose, two sons, ages 7 and 5, and a 20-month-old daughter. He made the move to suburbia with his young family, neighbors said, for the excellent schools and community.
His neighbors and colleagues said he was proud to be a detective. After moving to Brooklyn about 14 years ago from Haiti, Nemorin attended John Jay College of Criminal Justice, where, in 1996, he received an associate's degree in police science. He became a police officer the same year, and returned to John Jay, where he received a B.S. in criminal justice in 1999. He was an active soccer player, and played at John Jay and for the Patrolmen's Benevolent Association team.
"James was always looking to better himself and life for his family," said Lt. James Russell, Nemorin's former supervisor at Brooklyn Narcotics South. Russell, who worked with Nemorin for over two years, had briefly lived in Baldwin, and the two talked frequently about the community. "We spoke often about the house, and I told him what a nice neighborhood it is," Russell said.
Russell described Nemorin as an optimist, a positive person who was very polite and worked extremely hard. "I didn't want to lose him," Russell said of Nemorin's decision to move on and become a firearms detective. "He had my blessing, and I gave him my recommendation."
Nemorin was an impeccable dresser, which earned him the nickname the "Haitian Sensation." Russell recalled that Nemorin would neatly tuck his sports jacket and shoes away at work, then dress down for undercover operations. At 6-foot-4, Nemorin had an intimidating presence, but was really a "sweet and gentle guy," said Russell.
"You could hear him talking baby talk on his cell phone," Russell said of Nemorin's conversations with his kids. "Then he would go out and do his job."
Although Nemorin treaded dangerous terrain as an undercover detective in the elite firearms investigation unit, neighbors said he rarely expressed fear about his job and was happily settling into suburban life. "He was a real gentleman," said retired NYPD officer Robert Briel, Nemorin's next-door neighbor. "He felt like he was doing a service and was a proud detective."
Neighbors described Nemorin as a soft-spoken, conscientious person who loved his family and was excited about his new home. His death shocked those who were still getting to know him. "People are stunned," said Alejandro Brown, who lives two doors away from the Nemorin home. "This community is supporting the family and doing everything we can."
Family, friends and fellow police officers spent much of last week at the Nemorins' neat, split-level home on Hayes Street, paying their respects and offering support. Nemorin's parents, who Briel said are in their 80s, flew in from Haiti, and his two brothers and five sisters came from various parts of the country. The family is overwhelmed with grief, said neighbors.
Crisis counselors and social workers from the police department and Meadow School, which Nemorin's 7-year-old son attends, assisted the family at their request, a school official and neighbor said.
Neighbors described this sliver of Baldwin Harbor as a diverse mix of Haitians, Hispanics, African-Americans and Italians, and said that Nemorin had made friends with many of them. "He had a party this past summer and invited all the neighbors over to celebrate the new house," said Brown, who added that Nemorin helped him work on his car the Sunday before he died. Brown described Nemorin as a devoted family man who regularly played with his children, worked on his lawn and helped others.
As a suburbanite, Nemorin routinely made runs to Home Depot and was proud to work on his new home, occasionally inviting neighbors over to show them his handiwork. "He was very conscientious of the way his house looked," said Briel, who was watching Nemorin's two boys last Thursday. Briel said Nemorin had renovated the home, refurbishing the basement and den and installing hardwood floors, and would frequently inquire about gardening tips.
Now, Briel said, the community that Nemorin embraced has been doing everything it can to help the family in its time of need, from watching the kids to bringing food to the house. "The neighbors have been excellent," Briel said. "I've never seen such an interracial neighborhood come together like this."
The Detectives' Endowment Association is establishing a scholarship fund for the five children of the two detectives killed on March 10. Donations should be sent to the DEA Widows' and Children's Fund, 26 Thomas St., New York, NY 10007, attn: March 10 Undercover Fund. For more information, call 212-587-1000.
