Tragedy has a way of spinning grief into the purest form of eloquence.

On June 22, 2024, 31-year-old Philadelphia police officer Jaime Roman was shot in the line of duty while patrolling the streets of the city’s Kensington section. The alleged shooter, Ramon Rodriguez Vazquez, fled the scene on foot when officers included Roman questioned him about a gun holster found in his vehicle, but then turned back and started shooting at them with a gun he had in his waistband. Roman was hit in the neck and was taken to a hospital.

He died on Sept. 10, 2024, leaving behind his wife Jasmine – also a Philadelphia police officer - and two young children.

The story of Jamie Roman again took center stage on May 5, when the 30th annual Pennsylvania Fraternal Order of Police Annual Memorial Service took place at the rotunda of the Capitol Building in Harrisburg. Among those attending the service were Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker. Philadelphia Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel and many elected officials from around the Commonwealth. They were there to honorably and without party affiliation respect those law enforcement officers who have given the ultimate sacrifice for the citizens of the Commonwealth.

As Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro began his comments by thanking whom he called “a bipartisan group” coming together to support the heroes “who literally run toward danger while others run in the opposite direction,” that included the Pennsylvania Fraternal Order of Police, State Attorney General Dave Sunday and Col. Christopher Paris, the head of the Pennsylvania State Police.

Shapiro then turned his attention to a small boy – Jaime Roman, Jr. - who was sitting with his mother at the ceremony, whom Shapiro had just met.

“I especially love the way Jaime, Jr. tore through my challenge coins on the table in my office,” he said. “The coins he took off the shelf that had the pictures of those who had fallen as heroes – those were the coins he was most attracted to, picking out the heroes who served us and made the ultimate sacrifice.

“Jaime, those were heroes just like your daddy, who was a hero to you, to your mom, to the city, and to an entire community who relied on him to keep us safe. He was so special, and Jaime, you are so special. All of these people came here today so that you know that you are loved, your daddy was loved and that your mommy is going to keep on being loved for years and years to come because everyone here is going to be there for you.”

Then he turned toward Jasmine.

“I want you to know that I am grateful for Sergeant Roman’s service – for the service of all of those who choose to wear the uniform every day,” he said, “and while my heart breaks for you, I hope you also know that in all of the people’s hearts here is a piece of your husband, who served us with distinction and served a life of service to this great commonwealth.”

As his time at the podium was ending, Shapiro then chose to speak directly into the face of partisan divide that our country now accepts as our common language, where the warring factions thrash about in a hornets’ nest of accusations and blame. He could have chosen what has become a tiresome and familiar route in our modern politics. He could have pointed a finger in the direction of the Republican party, or to those in public office who disagree with his policies and his principles.

Rather, Shapiro chose principle over party, dignity over disruption, and his words reverberated beautifully throughout the cavernous rotunda.

“The family that you have now is a family that we will always look after - today, tomorrow, next month, next year, next decade,” he said, addressing the families of fallen police officers in the audience. “As I have said to each of you in moments of privacy, we will always be there for you, not just to support you, but to honor your loved one’s memory not just with words and important moments like today, but to honor with action.

“You are joined here today by the members of the Pennsylvania Senate and the Pennsylvania House - Republicans and Democrats, alike - and when they go back and they vote in their chambers they’ve honored you with action – honored you by funding the hiring of more police officers than ever before in the Commonwealth, honored you by funding violence prevention initiatives that is bringing crime down in the commonwealth and protecting the lives of those who work our streets, both in uniform and to and from their schools.”

Shapiro gave Jaime Roman, Jr. the permission to walk into any elected official’s office in Harrisburg and take as many challenge coins as he wants. It is our hope that Jaime, Jr. takes the governor up on his offer and that the coins he collects and eventually carries someday remind him that dignity, respect and courage – the hallmarks that defined his father – are also forever hallmarks of human decency and our highest form of eloquence.