by Eva Martino
POZZUOLI – Almost 5 years after the terrible events that led to the death of the Pozzuoli policeman Pierluigi Rotta and his colleague Matteo Demenego, the second edition of the Memorial in his honor took place in Pozzuoli with a religious ceremony presided over by Monsignor Pascarella and another civil in the presence of the Mayor Luigi Manzoni.
The event, sponsored by the Municipality of Pozzuoli and CONI, was organized by the Pozzuoli section of the ANPS. A gazebo was set up by the National Association of the State Police and the motorbikes of the “Moto Club” of the State Police and the “Moto Club” of Naples were exhibited. After the celebration of the solemn Holy Mass at the Cathedral, commemorative plaques were delivered at Palazzo Migliaresi.
THE FACTS – On 4 October 2019 Pierluigi Rotta and Matteo Demenego were shot dead in the Trieste Police Headquarters by a Dominican citizen who had been arrested and taken to the police headquarters after carrying out a robbery. During the arrest, due to a scuffle with officers Rotta and Demenego, the robber managed to remove the gun and fire first on Pierluigi Rotta and then on Matteo Demenego. The events shook both the local community of Trieste, in whose barracks the agents served, and the Pozzuoli community, where Pierluigi was born; his father, Pasquale, served for many years at the command of the State Police, located in the house which is now named after Pierluigi.
Pierluigi Rotta, on 12 April 2022 was awarded the medal for military valor during the celebration of the 17th anniversary of the State Police, in the presence of the Head of State Sergio Mattarella and other state officials, including the then Minister of the Interior Lamorgese and the Chief of Police Giannini.
