STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Dozens of MTA Police and NYPD officers congregated at St. Charles Roman Catholic Church in Oakwood Tuesday morning to honor the life of one of their own.
Uniformed members lined Penn Avenue and saluted the hearse carrying Benjamin Rosario Jr., a longtime Staten Island resident and retired MTA Police detective, as it made its way along the road.
Members of the MTA Police pipes and drums played music to accompany the procession, which included Rosario’s wife and children. It was a solemn ceremony in memory of a man who gave his service to this city.
Rosario died at his home in Bear, Delaware, on Dec. 1 at the age of 67, according to his Colonial Funeral Home obituary.
Benjamin Rosario Jr. died at the age of 67 on Dec. 1, 2025.(Rosario family photo)
He was born in Manhattan on Oct. 12, 1958, and was raised by a loving family alongside his five siblings.
A Staten Island resident for much of his life, Rosario graduated from Cheyney University in Cheyney, Pennsylvania. He joined the NYPD and began his career in the 120th Precinct in St. George.
He eventually transferred to the Metro North Railroad Police, which eventually became the MTA Police.
Rosario rose through the ranks, his friend of 35 years, NYPD Detective Julio Martinez, told the Advance/SILive.com; during his time with the MTA Police, Rosario served at Grand Central Terminal and the 125th Street station in Harlem.
Rosario secured a promotion to detective. At first, he worked in the criminal detective squad before earning a role in the applicant investigation unit of the MTA Police.
“And that’s where he really excelled, because he became a mentor to a lot of the young cops coming in,” Martinez said. “You know, he guided them, he knew the quality of people he was bringing on the job.”
In 2006, Rosario moved from Staten Island to Delaware, seeking to raise his children outside of the city, Martinez explained. Still, Rosario continued to commute to the city to fulfill his duties.
The last 15 years of his career were spent protecting the executive staff of the MTA. According to Martinez, Rosario was the principal driver for the chairman of the MTA.
Rosario retired from the MTA Police on Nov. 1, 2017.
After retirement, Rosario worked part time, conducting national security background investigations for the U.S. Intelligence Community.
In addition to serving the people of this city, Rosario is remembered for being a beloved husband, brother and father.
He was a devout Roman Catholic who attended Mass every Sunday at Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton while living in Bear, according to his online obituary.
Rosario is also remembered as an avid sports enthusiast; he was a fan of both the New York Yankees and the New York Jets. He was a proud member of the New York Roadrunners Club and completed the New York City Marathon twice. And when his children partook in sporting events, he made sure to support their pursuits.
Another hobby was the collection of law enforcement challenge coins and police memorabilia, particularly those related to railroad policing, as noted in his obituary.
“We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Retired MTA Detective Benjamin Rosario,” a Facebook post by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority Police Benevolent Association stated in part. “Across 32 years of service, Detective Rosario dedicated his life to protecting New Yorkers with honor, professionalism, and an unwavering commitment to the people he served. His legacy reflects a career marked by courage, integrity, and steadfast devotion to public safety.”
Rosario is survived by his wife, Analisa James-Rosario, who is an active detective with the MTA Police. They share three children, Benjamin Rosario III, Marcux Rosario and Alexxis Rosario, as well as a granddaughter, Sophia Rosario.