WORCESTER, Mass. — For mural artist Ferdinand Nazario, his most recent work is a departure from the norm.

In the past, Nazario’s murals have typically included designs inspired by the Taino culture from the early Carribean or other street art inspirations. Now, his mural to honor Worcester Police Officer Enmanuel Familia, who died after trying to save a drowning teen on June 4, is a vibrant memorial to a lost member of the community.

“I didn’t want to do it for publicity,” Nazario said. “I didn’t do it for likes. I didn’t tell the family that I was going to do it.”

Nazario saw numerous posts on social media about Familia, his legacy, what he meant to the community and other shoutouts.

“As I heard it more and more, after a couple days after he passed away, I learned more,” he said. “I spent all day last Saturday thinking about what I should do.”

One day later, Nazario was on a mission to create a mural in honor of the fallen police officer. After asking a few businesses for permission to create a mural on their property, he finally received the green light from Gala Foods Supermarket on Murray Avenue.

“I’ve been trying to do a mural there for years,” Nazario said. “They thought it was a good idea and allowed me to do it.”

The mural honors Familia, who was one of five officers that jumped into the pond at Green Hill Park in Worcester. Three teens became distressed while in the water. Familia and a 14-year-old boy did not survive.

Familia was a five-year veteran with the Worcester Police Department. He is survived by his wife, son and daughter.

“It’s a rare thing to hear so many people say so many good things about a single person,” Nazario said. “It’s unfortunate that he lost his life and so did the kid. It’s unfortunate that his kids lost their father, and his family lost their brother, their son, their cousin and so on. The Worcester police, they lost a good one. They lost a great one.”

The artistic process was similar to many of Nazario’s other murals: on the spot. The image comes from a combination of photos he found of Familia, creating a version of the officer in Nazario’s own style.

The mural has a graphic blue, white and black background with Familia in the foreground smiling in his police officer uniform, which is partially in bright yellow. The words “Five years an officer but a hero forever” are scripted next to him.

“I think it brings awareness of how somebody can sacrifice themselves for a complete stranger,” Nazario said. “Even if he wasn’t a police officer, he would have done it. I don’t even know this guy, but I’m sure he would from what other people told me.”

While Nazario says that an artist’s work is never finished, he was happy that the mural meant something to the community.

“It means a lot to people because it shows them that there’s good people out there.”