Contact: Colleen Roche (212) 788-2958 or Dwight Williams (212) 788-2972
Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani and Police Commissioner Howard Safir today honored the memory of Police Officer Charles Oddo at a plaque dedication ceremony held at the headquarters of Highway Unit #2, in Brooklyn. Joining the Mayor and Police Commissioner Safir were Chief of Department Louis Anemone, members of Highway Unit # 2 and members of the Oddo family, including Charles' parents, Joseph and Rose, his brother Louis, and his sister Maria Forger.
"A hero is not only defined by how many medals and commendations he has received, but by the day-in, day-out courage, strength and love that he lends his family, neighbors and community," Mayor Giuliani said. "Police Officer Charles Oddo was a true hero of the NYPD in every respect. Charlie had a quiet strength and was much more at home away from the glare of the spotlight. Charlie loved to help people and he did so quietly and he did so without seeking recognition. He lived his life helping people and he died the same way. I know that although he is not here with us physically, he's here with us in spirit. Charlie was taken from us far too soon, but his love endures. And today, the plaque we are dedicating in honor of Police Officer Charles Oddo will remind future generations of the true hero he was and will always be."
"We are here to honor the memory of Officer Oddo a man who gave his life to protect the safety of others," Commissioner Safir said. "Although he had not been assigned to Highway 2 very long, he quickly became well known to all of his coworkers for his willingness to help others, both on and off duty. Whether it was volunteer fire work, or tinkering with mechanical things, he was always ready to lend a hand. Officer Oddo was one of the finest of the finest. He was a model for all officers and we will never forget him."
On February 17, 1996, Police Officer Charles Oddo was struck by a car while placing flares around an overturned gas truck on the Gowanus Expressway in Brooklyn.
Police Officer Oddo joined the NYPD in 1990, where he began his career as a beat cop in Manhattan's 1st Precinct. While working in the 1st, Officer Oddo earned an EMS commendation for using CPR on an elderly man who had collapsed on a SoHo street. In August, 1995, Officer Oddo joined Brooklyn's Highway Unit #2. Prior to joining the force, Officer Oddo volunteered as a firefighter and paramedic in Commack, Long Island.