JERSEY CITY (AP) — Jersey City is dedicating its newest police station in memory of a rookie officer who was gunned down in the line of duty.

Jersey City police officer Melvin Santiago
Jersey City police officer Melvin Santiago (AP Photo/Jersey City Mayor's office)
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It was one year ago Monday that 23-year-old Officer Melvin Santiago died in what authorities described as an ambush by a man who had grabbed a security guard's gun at a 24-hour Walgreen's and waited for police to arrive before he started shooting.

The gunman was killed.

The new West District station on Jackson Avenue will be named in Santiago's honor.

Santiago had requested to work in the city's western section, where much of Jersey City's violent crime is concentrated.

He was promoted posthumously to the rank of detective and awarded the police department's medal of honor.

 

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