Law enforcement officers from various agencies across the state paused Tuesday to honor and remember 49 fallen brothers and sisters.
One by one, a list of names added to the State Of New York Police Officers Memorial in Albany was read aloud.
Thirty-five officers died as a result of illnesses brought on by their response to Ground Zero after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
“It was a scene out of a nightmare,” said New York Secretary of State Robert Rodriguez. “And they showed up to protect and to serve, to do their jobs, like they always do.”
What You Need To Know
- Forty-nine names were added to the State of New York Police Officers Memorial in Albany
- Thirty-five officers died as a result of illnesses brought on their brave response to Ground Zero
- With Tuesday’s ceremony, 1,717 heroes are now forever memorialized in the capital city
A number of the officers recognized Tuesday were killed directly in the line of duty.
“Their names are placed randomly on the wall without rank,” said New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services Deputy Commissioner Mark White. “That signifies every officer who made the ultimate sacrifice deserves the same respect and recognition.”
Many of the officers are, unfortunately, part of a report released by the FBI on Monday, showing there were 73 officers killed as a result of a criminal act in 2021; 27 more than the year before.
“We, as a state, are very fortunate to have men and women like those we honor today, who stand and protect us day in and day out,” said Long Island State Senator John Brooks.
With Tuesday’s ceremony, the names of 1,717 heroes are now forever memorialized in the capital city.