Of the officers honored Tuesday, all but one perished due to World Trade Center-related illnesses, Mamdani said.<\/p>\n
\u201cForty-one of the officers we honor today served in the rescue and recovery efforts after the horrific terror attacks of September 11,\u201d the mayor said. \u201cYears later, they fell ill, and their families, who had already given so much, were asked to once again give more.\u201d<\/p>\n
Among those was former Chief of Department Joe Esposito, who served at the World Trade Center and died at age 73 after a battle with brain cancer<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cHe was a mentor to generations of cops, and he understood what they faced because he was so often right there beside them,\u201d Tisch said of Esposito. \u201cThe bond with his cops defined Chief Espo, and the lessons that he taught them remain part of the New York City Police Department today.\u201d<\/p>\n Also added to the wall was the name of Det. Didarul Islam<\/a>, who was working an off-duty private security shift at a Park Ave. office building in Midtown when he was cut down alongside three other people as a gunman opened fire in the building\u2019s lobby<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cLast year, in the midst of the most horrific mass shooting our city had seen in 25 years, Detective Islam placed himself in harm\u2019s way so that his fellow New Yorkers could escape to safety,\u201d Mamdani said.<\/p>\n \u201cAfter his senseless murder, his family welcomed me into their home. They spoke to me of the husband, the father, the brother they were mourning, a man who was compassionate, humble, selfless and kind.\u201d<\/p>\n Dedicated on Oct. 20, 1997, the NYC Police Memorial was designed by architect Stuart Crawford to honor NYPD service members who died in the line of duty or while serving the nation.<\/p>\n ____________<\/p>\n \u00a92026 New York Daily News.<\/p>\n