ALBANY, NY (May 10, 2024) — Governor Kathy Hochul honored 56 police officers during the annual Police Officers Memorial Remembrance Ceremony at the Empire State Plaza. The names of these officers, who sacrificed their lives in service to fellow New Yorkers, were added to the New York State Police Officers Memorial.
The memorial now includes the names of 1,964 officers from 157 state agencies and six federal law enforcement agencies. Hochul proclaimed May 5 as Police Memorial Day and ordered state landmarks to be illuminated blue on May 6 to honor the fallen officers.
Line of Duty Deaths
Among the officers honored were Senior Sergeant Christopher M. Filli of the City of Hudson Police Department, Detective Didarul Islam of the New York City Police Department, and Deputy Bernard A. Roberts of the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office.
Ground-Zero-Related Illness Deaths
Fifty-one names were added this year for officers who died from illnesses related to their work following the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, bringing the total to 555.
Historical Deaths
The memorial also acknowledged historical deaths, including Patrolman Francis J. Payne and Corporal Howard T. Silsby, whose deaths occurred before the memorial’s creation.
More than 500 law enforcement professionals, family members, and friends attended the ceremony. Division of Criminal Justice Commissioner Rossana Rosado and Office of General Services Commissioner Jeanette Moy expressed their condolences and commitment to honoring these officers.
This article was prepared with the assistance of AI tools under the direction and editing of Robert Cox.
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