On April 28th, the New York City Police Department held its annual memorial ceremony at headquarters, where the names of 103 fallen officers were engraved on the Honor Wall in front of the Hall of Heroes. Mayor Mamdani and Commissioner Tisch delivered speeches.
Mayor Mamdani stated in his speech that the New York police officers “embody the best qualities of this city.”
“They patrol, solve cases, direct traffic, and provide comfort and support to New Yorkers in their darkest hours,” Mamdani said. “For the families present today, the names on the plaques are far from enough to express the full meaning of losing an officer… We cannot fill the void they left, but we will never let them be forgotten.”
The Mayor mentioned the sacrifices made by officers during the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, as well as the sacrifice of Officer Islam, who had a Muslim surname. He was killed in uniform off-duty in a large-scale shooting on Park Avenue on July 28, 2025.
“Last summer, after Officer Islam’s tragic murder, his family warmly welcomed me. They spoke of him as a humble, generous, and kind father and brother,” Mamdani said in front of Islam’s wife and other relatives. “The Hall of Heroes stands as a testament to an indomitable community.”
Commissioner Tisch expressed that these walls symbolize the immense sacrifices officers have made over the past two centuries to protect this city.
“Each name represents someone who should have returned home, someone who should have always been by our side… Some died in sudden acts of violence, while others have endured the trauma of 9/11 for years,” she said. “You will always have a place here, you will never be alone. That is the meaning of being part of the police family. That is what the Hall of Heroes commemorates and why we gather here today. May the memory of these 103 fallen heroes and all the heroes lost over the years be forever our blessing.”
In the upcoming fall, a new memorial museum honoring the heroes of the 9/11 attacks will be completed.