Gov. Cuomo recognizes 63 fallen officers at ceremony

ALBANY, N.Y. >> Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo honored 63 police officers who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to communities across New York State.

The officers from eight local and state law enforcement agencies were recognized at the annual Police Officers’ Memorial Remembrance Ceremony in Albany last week.

With the addition of the names of the 54 men and nine women — the most ever honored in one year — the memorial now includes the names of 1,567 police officers.

“We honor 63 brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice while serving and protecting the people of New York State,” Cuomo said in a news release.

“Their names will be forever etched in this memorial to not only honor their legacy, but to remind us all that New York’s law enforcement officers put their own lives on the line every day to keep us safe. We cannot possibly thank them enough for that service,” Cuomo added.

“The names on the Police Officers’ Memorial wall stand testament to the brave and selfless commitment these officers made to keep our communities and residents safe,” Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul, who spoke at the ceremony, said.

“We will never forget the legacy of these men and women who died honorably serving our state, or the peril countless other law enforcement officers face every day they wear their badge. Our hearts go out to the officers’ loved ones - we owe a great debt of gratitude to their families,” Hochul added.

The ceremony recognized three officers who died in the line of duty in 2018, an officer who died in 1904 not previously recognized, and 59 officers who died from illnesses resulting from their work at Ground Zero in the wake of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attack at the World Trade Center in New York City.

The names of officers who died of Ground Zero-related illnesses were first added to the memorial in 2008 and now total 227. Sixty men and women who served with the NYPD and Port Authority Police Department died the day of the attack.