Governor Hochul Recognizes Fallen Police Officers Who Gave Their Lives in Service to Communities
September 29, 2021
Governor Kathy Hochul today honored 101 police officers who gave their lives in service to communities across New York State. The names of the officers, who served with 10 different agencies, were added to the New York State Police Officers Memorial, which was dedicated 30 years ago on the Empire State Plaza in Albany and now includes the names of 1,668 officers who died in the line of duty. More than 300 people attended this afternoon's Remembrance Ceremony, during which Governor Hochul offered keynote remarks.
"We're remembering 101 brave women and men who gave their lives in order to protect and serve the people of New York State, and it's vital that we honor their contributions to our public safety,"
Governor Hochul said.
"These brave officers put their lives in harm's way so the rest of us could stay safe, and we will never forget the selfless contributions they, their families and their loved ones have made."
Governor Hochul also directed that the following landmarks be illuminated blue this evening to honor the sacrifice of the officers whose names are included on the Memorial and recognize the service of all police officers across the state:
One World Trade Center
Grand Central Terminal - Pershing Square Viaduct
MTA LIRR - East End Gateway at Penn Station
The Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge
The Kosciuszko Bridge
and others.
The state Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) staffs the Police Officers Memorial Advisory Committee and coordinates the ceremony, which has occurred annually since the Memorial's dedication in 1991 with the exception of 2020, when it was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
These brave officers put their lives in harm's way so the rest of us could stay safe, and we will never forget the selfless contributions they, their families and their loved ones have made. -Governor Kathy Hochul
Memorial Inclusion Criteria
To be included on the memorial, an individual must have been a police officer as defined in the state's Criminal Procedure Law or employed as a federal law enforcement officer and performed the same or essentially similar duties as defined in that law. Applications for inclusion on the memorial must be made by the agency that employed the fallen officer to DCJS.
The Division of Criminal Justice Services has a variety of responsibilities, including law enforcement training; collection and analysis of statewide crime data; maintenance of criminal history information and fingerprint files; administrative oversight of the state's DNA databank, in partnership with the New York State Police; funding and oversight of probation and community correction programs; administration of federal and state criminal justice funds; and administration of the state's Sex Offender.
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New York Pressroom
September 28, 2021