STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — At just 17 years old, Taurean E. Williams-Wells was known as the “gentle giant”; a towering figure with a quiet demeanor and a deep sense of duty.
As an Auxiliary Police officer, the Stapleton resident wasn’t required to respond to the chaos of Sept. 11, 2001.
However, without telling his family, Taurean made his way to Ground Zero in the days following the attacks and joined recovery efforts alongside seasoned officers and first responders, according to his mother.
It wasn’t until after his 2012 death that his family made a discovery — hidden in a box of papers were certificates of appreciation from the NYPD and former state Sen. Vincent Gentile, recognizing his presence at Ground Zero.
“He never told us,” said Heather Williams, Taurean’s mother. “He just went. He was a kid, but he felt it was his duty.”
Taurean Williams-Wells pictured around the age he was when he responded to Ground Zero.Courtesy of Heather Williams
Taurean’s health rapidly deteriorated following his service. He suffered kidney failure, respiratory issues, and what his mother described as “hyper-depression.”
His death at age 28 was a devastating blow to his family, made worse by the silence that followed.
For years, the mother pleaded with the NYPD and city officials to recognize her son’s sacrifice. Her requests encountered bureaucratic roadblocks and went unanswered.
Despite possessing a certificate recognizing his service at Ground Zero, Taurean’s name remains absent from official records due to a technicality: he had no exposure number on file, and his cause of death was not officially linked to 9/11-related illness.
The family was denied access to the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund, and Taurean’s name was excluded from memorials honoring fallen heroes.
According to police, Taurean Williams Wells was an auxiliary police officer from Aug. 2001 to May 2006. Pictured above (left and right) are the certificates Taurean was awarded for his Ground Zero heroism. In the middle is a certificate and a flag that was flown over the United States Capital in Washington, D.C. by former Rep. Max Rose, after his death in honor of Taurean’s ultimate sacrifice.Courtesy of Heather Williams
“It’s not about money,” Williams emphasized. “It’s about acknowledgment. My son gave everything, and the city he served won’t even say his name.”
Inspired by the founder of Mothers Against Drunk Driving, Williams, who is also the founder of the non-profit Fam First Foundation Inc., has vowed to continue her fight for recognition.
In this photo from 2020, Taurean was honored with a co-street renaming in his honor at the corner of Osgood Avenue and Gordon Street. It is now titled Taurean E. Williams-Wells Way.Courtesy of Heather Williams
She’s already secured a street re-naming in Taurean’s honor by former Councilwoman Debi Rose in 2020, who at the time recognized his work at Ground Zero, as well as recognition from a non-profit based in Long Island. But these tributes came from outside organizations, not city agencies.
Police officials told the Advance/SILive.com that for Taurean to be officially recognized, his family must submit documentation proving his presence at Ground Zero and a medical diagnosis linking his illness to toxic exposure.
Heather Williams, points to her son’s name engraved in a non-NYPD or city affiliated 9/11 memorial wall in Long Island.Courtesy of Heather Williams
With the certificate in hand, Williams is now preparing to contact the pension fund and formally begin the verification process.
If successful, Taurean could be added to the memorial wall and his family may finally receive the recognition they’ve long sought.
“He was a hero,” Williams declared. “And heroes deserve to be remembered.”
Taurean Williams-Wells pictured as a child with his mother Heather Williams.Courtesy of Heather Williams
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