Community Gathers To Remember Beloved NYPD Sergeant Paul Tuozzolo

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- There was tribute Monday night for the NYPD sergeant who was shot and killed on Friday.

A large crowd gathered outside the 43rd precinct stationhouse in the Bronx, where Sergeant Paul Tuozzolo worked.

Standing shoulder to shoulder with tears in their eyes, a community remembered a beloved sergeant who dedicated his life to everyone in attendance.

"Very difficult, but we had to be here for him and everybody else," Ellen O'Connell told CBS2's Jessica Layton.

Three days after Tuozzolo was shot and killed responding to a robbery, they gathered in grief outside the 43rd precinct where the father and husband spent 10 of his 19 years with the NYPD.

A memorial made of balloons, flowers, and cards from school children has been growing all day outside the precinct.

"In the final moments of his life he dedicated it to saving someone else and taking someone really violent off the streets," SBA President, Ed Mullins said.

Manuel Rosales, 35, had been arrested at least 17 times before he opened fire from his SUV -- murdering Sgt Tuozzolo and injuring Sgt Emmanuel Kwo.

Over the weekend, the killer's estranged wife expressed her sickness over the incident on social media while blasting Suffolk County officials who let the career criminal walk free.

"If anyone is truly to blame for this tragedy, I blame Suffolk County District Court and the judge who let him walk out of there knowing he was in mental distress, knowing he needed immediate psychiatric care," she wrote.

At the vigil Tuozzolo's colleagues vowed to deal with those concerns in time.

"When the dust settles and we deal with Paul's family, we'll take a better look at what happened with his killer," Mullins said.

For now, they're mourning the man who lived for his family and died protecting the city.

Sgt Tuozzolo's wake will be held on Wednesday afternoon and in the evening at Chapey And Sons Funeral Home in Bethpage, Long Island.

His funeral will be on Thursday morning at St. Rose of Lima Church in Massapequa.