The widow of slain NYPD Detective Rafael Ramos welcomed a recruit her husband mentored to the force July 2 by pinning on the New officer’s shield.

Officer Mohamad Ghafari, 25, says as a young boy he spent every afternoon with Ramos, who was his school safety officer at the time, ABC7 reports.

"We would just hang out and talk for hours waiting for my mom to pick me up," Ghafari said. "We grew to become good friends."

Maritza Ramos wishes her husband was able to be there himself, but she said she is so proud to represent his memory and impact.

Detective Rafael Ramos and his partner Detective Wenjian Liu were ambushed and murdered in their patrol vehicle in December 2014.