Top Suffolk cop apologizes to family of popular CVS worker — as hundreds mourn Christmas Day murder at packed candlelight vigil

Suffolk’s top cop joined more than 200 mourners at a packed vigil Monday night, where he brushed back tears and issued a heartfelt apology for failing to stop the Christmas slaying of beloved Long Island CVS worker Edeedson Cine.

Police Commissioner Kevin Catalina stood in front of the massive crowd gathered for Cine’s emotional candlelight vigil at Lindenhurst Village Square on Monday night and tearfully told the 23-year-old’s family he was sorry. 

“It’s my job to make sure that things like this don’t happen,” Catalina said, his voice dripping with emotion. 

“I want to offer my apologies to the family,” he added before giving a long hug to Cine’s father. 

Catalina vowed to work alongside Suffolk DA Ray Tierney to ensure John Pilaccio — the 43-year-old “monster” accused in the horrific stabbing Cine — will “spend the rest of his life in prison.” 

Pilaccio allegedly entered the CVS just before 7 p.m. and demanded money from Cine, who refused before he was knifed in the chest, prosecutors said in court. Cine worked the holiday shift so a coworker could spend the time with their family, employees at the store told The Post.

His dad, who credited his strong faith in God for being able to persevere through the tragedy, said he harbors no hate toward Pilaccio — and forgives him. 

“Love conquers all,” Cine Sr. said, adding that he is so proud of the man his son was and is not only grieving him as a person, but what he had yet to become. 

Loved ones, friends and even those who only knew Cine in passing all attested to the selfless person he was.

“He didn’t deserve not one bit of this,” an emotional woman who only identified herself as the victim’s “best friend” told the crowd, holding a frame plastered with photos of the pair together. 

Daniel, 12, recalled heading into the CVS on a hot day over the summer to get a Gatorade — only to realize at the counter that he didn’t have enough money. 

Luckily for him, Cine — known as Eddy — was at the counter and told the middle schooler he would hook it up, and paid the difference out of his own pocket for the boy, Daniel said.

“I always remembered him because of that,” he added.

“Eddy was a good guy, I wish there were more people like him in the world.”