Widow of Officer who Drowned During Rescue Attempt Starts Foundation to Buy Officers Flotation Tubes

The widow of Worcester, MA, police officer who drowned while trying to save a boy is speaking out for the first time about the heartbreaking tragedy, as the family announces a foundation to help prevent drownings in the future.

“It’s been a bad dream that I just want to wake up from,” Jennifer Familia said in a newly released video about the loss of her husband, Enmanuel “Manny” Familia.

The father of two was 38 years old when he died in early June after attempting to rescue a 14-year-old boy in Worcester’s Green Hill Pond. The boy, Troy Love, also died, the Boston Herald reports.

The family is starting “The Manny 267 Foundation” in honor of Manny whose badge number was 267.

The foundation’s goal is to raise funds to provide rescue tubes for every police cruiser, and to provide swim lessons for kids. They’d like to eventually donate a “Manny tube” to every U.S. police department.