A Street for Officer Cardillo

Starting today, New Yorkers will be able to stroll down Patrolman Phillip Cardillo Way in Queens. About time. Fortythree years after his murder, the city is finally paying its overdue respects for Cardillo by renaming the street in front of the Police Academy — a section of 28th Avenue in Flushing — in his honor.

Two bitter, stillunanswered questions: Why’d it take so long? And why was no one ever punished for this outrageous crime?

In 1972, Nation of Islam radicals lured Cardillo to a mosque led by Minister Louis Farrakhan via a phony officerindistress call. Inside, a fight broke out; Cardillo was shot dead.

Police cornered 16 suspects — but a riot erupted and brass ordered all officers out. No arrests, no evidence gathered.

ThenMayor John Lindsay and his police commissioner skipped Cardillo’s funeral. Deputy Commissioner Ben Ward apologized . . . to Farrakhan.

Times have changed. Last July, Commissioner Bill Bratton called the city’s actions “nothing short of shameful.” Cardillo “gave his all and kept his promise,” said Bratton, “while we did not keep ours.”

Police have been getting a bad rap lately. Some, even in high office, have been all too willing to forget how much cops sacrifice.

The day he died, Phillip Cardillo was doing what cops do every day: putting his life at risk to protect fellow officers and the public. Let’s hope Patrolman Phillip Cardillo Way serves as a permanent reminder of all police do and sacrifice for the city.