{"id":80016,"date":"2025-12-24T11:13:17","date_gmt":"2025-12-24T11:13:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/80016\/"},"modified":"2025-12-24T11:13:17","modified_gmt":"2025-12-24T11:13:17","slug":"selfless-dedication-auxiliary-officer-posthumously-honored-by-nypd-for-9-11-response","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/80016\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Selfless dedication:\u2019 Auxiliary officer posthumously honored by NYPD for 9\/11 response"},"content":{"rendered":"

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. \u2014 Standing next to the family of the late Taurean Williams-Wells inside the 120th Precinct stationhouse in St. George on Dec. 17, the NYPD ambassador for Staten Island explained to the uniformed officers and supporters present that Williams-Wells\u2019 had a huge impact on the city.<\/p>\n

\u201cTaurean volunteered as an auxiliary officer back in 2001 during 9\/11,\u201d said Jermaine Williams, who is of no relation to Williams-Wells. \u201cThe family should have been there to see him receive an award for volunteering as an auxiliary officer during 9\/11.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"TaureanAmbassador for Staten Island Jermaine Williams, left, addresses the crowd at the 122nd Precinct, alongside Josephine Marino, the 120th Precinct Community Council president, and Inspector Eric Waldhelm, of the 120th Precinct.Advance\/SILive.com | Shaina McLawrence<\/p>\n

The family of Williams-Wells listened intently in the audience, donning his favorite color, blue, and remembrance shirts bearing his photo, as Williams-Wells was posthumously awarded a certificate of appreciation from the 120th Precinct he served and a New York State Senate proclamation from Sen. Jessica Scarcella-Spanton, a Democrat representing the Island\u2019s North Shore.<\/p>\n

According to Williams, the family found out about him being a part of the brave men and women who responded to 9\/11 years after he passed away from health complications at the age of 28.<\/p>\n

It wasn\u2019t until after his 2012 death that his family made a discovery \u2014 hidden in a box of papers were certificates of appreciation from the NYPD and former state Sen. Vincent Gentile, a Democrat from Brooklyn, recognizing his presence at Ground Zero, the Advance\/SILive.com previously reported.<\/a><\/p>\n

\"TaureanHeather Williams found certificates confirming that her son, Taurean, pictured, was present at Ground Zero, sparking a years-long battle for official recognition of his sacrifice.Courtesy of Heather Williams<\/p>\n

In the 13 years since the discovery, his mother, Heather Williams-Wells, battled to have her son officially recognized as a 9\/11 responder. <\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a start; I really appreciate that they took the time to honor Taurean,\u201d Williams-Wells said. \u201cIt\u2019s an amazing feeling; heart wrenching, but amazing. I feel in some ways validated, that they validated him.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"TaureanAuxiliary Police Sergeant Vanessa Falco speaks on behalf of the police department at Taurean’s award ceremony.Advance\/SILive.com | Shaina McLawrence<\/p>\n

Auxiliary Police Sgt. Vanessa Falco, of the 120th Precinct, said: \u201cOn behalf of the NYPD and the auxiliary police section, we would like to present this award to the family of Auxiliary Police Officer Taurean Williams-Wells, whose selfless dedication, boundless compassion and tireless service touched countless lives and strengthened our community.<\/p>\n

\u201cThough he is no longer with us, his spirit continues to inspire our mission. It is with profound gratitude that we present this plaque to honor his service,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n

Nina Salerno, a representative for Scarcella-Spanton also said kind words about the Williams-Wells\u2019 long-term impact on the Staten Island community.<\/p>\n

\"TaureanA spokesperson for Sen. Scarcella-Spanton (middle) awards Taurean’s family his posthumously proclamination.Advance\/SILive.com | Shaina McLawrence<\/p>\n

\u201cTaurean dedicated himself to undercover assignments with the NYPD, courageously intervening in gang-related situations to promote peaceful outcomes,\u201d Salerno said. \u201cOn Sept. 11, 2001, while many rushed to escape danger, he courageously went toward Ground Zero to lend his support. Taurean will always be remembered for his generosity, courage and selflessness.\u201d<\/p>\n

The proclamation concluded by stating that Williams-Wells\u2019 legacy continues to inspire his family, for whom he has become their \u201cFam First<\/a> angel.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"TaureanTaurean Williams-Wells’ younger brother, Durell K. Wells, 40, of Stapleton, holds the posthumous certificate given to his family by the NYPD.Advance\/SILive.com | Shaina McLawrence<\/p>\n

Williams-Wells\u2019 younger brother, Durell K. Wells, 40, of Stapleton, said the ceremony touched his heart in a special way. <\/p>\n

\u201cThe ceremony was inspirational,\u201d he said. \u201dHe was truly a good man \u2014 smart in both books and the streets. I loved him very much.”<\/p>\n

\"TaureanTaurean Williams-Wells is recognized at the 120th Precinct for his service at Ground Zero.Advance\/SILive.com | Shaina McLawrence<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. \u2014 Standing next to the family of the late Taurean Williams-Wells inside the 120th Precinct…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":80017,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[39],"tags":[9,24,63,134,136,135],"class_list":{"0":"post-80016","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-staten-island","8":"tag-new-york","9":"tag-new-york-city","10":"tag-nyc","11":"tag-staten-island","12":"tag-staten-island-headlines","13":"tag-staten-island-news"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/80016","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=80016"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/80016\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/80017"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=80016"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=80016"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=80016"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}