Bellaire Community Mourns Officer Zarate, Outpouring of Support

Players from 12U All Star Team expressed their condolences to the Bellaire Police Department by signing a card, making and delivering goodies. (Back row, from left) Charlie Mullen, Jacob Stavinoha, Noah Beinart, Josh Blum; (front row, from left) Max Melamed, Aidan Reichek.

The Bellaire community is mourning the loss of Officer Anthony Marco Zarate, who died Tuesday while pursuing robbery suspects. Officer Zarate was known for always wearing a smile, according to Bellaire Police Chief Holloway in a press conference, and since Tuesday, there has been an outpouring of support from the community. 

The Starbucks at S. Rice and Bellaire, where Zarate frequently visited for coffee, put out a poster in which residents and customers signed their thoughts and prayers, along with a cup with his name on it. 

A memorial honoring Zarate was set up outside the Bellaire Police Department honoring Zarate and the department’s flagpole is at half-staff. Many neighbors have expressed their condolences on social media. Bellaire resident Tandy Camberg Harris has created an online Sign-Up Genius link so neighbors could organize sending meals to Officer Zarate’s family. The Starbucks at S. Rice and Bellaire, where Zarate frequently visited for coffee, put out a poster in which residents and customers signed their thoughts and prayers, along with a cup with his name on it. 

Cindy Reichek, whose child Aidan participates in Bellaire Little League, sent an email to the team and asked if anyone would like to join in delivering baked goods to the police station on Wednesday. “The support was overwhelming,” she said. “Our fields sit right next door to the police station so these officers are very visible to our children.” They met up at Jessamine field, signed a large condolence card that read “We know what it’s like to love our teammates. We are sorry for your loss.  We mourn with you. Your friends at Bellaire Little League.”

The BLL teammates and parents walked over to the police station and presented the goodies to several officers. League president Thomas Sloan told the officers that “we are the All Stars of Bellaire Little League but we wanted them to know that they are OUR All-Stars and that we were sorry for the loss of their ‘teammate.’” 

Suspect Dante Moore, 28, turned himself in Wednesday afternoon to the Bellaire Police Department. 

The viewing is at Memorial Oaks Funeral Home on Sun., July 17, 12-8 p.m. The service is at Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, Mon., July 18, 2 p.m. Donations can be made in his name at 100 Club or Prosperity Bank in Bellaire.