Press Release Archives #463-98 - Dedicates new Police Housing Bureau Facility in Memory of Slain Police Officer John Williamson

Archives of the Mayor's Press Office

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: Monday, October 5, 1998

Release #463-98

Contact: Colleen Roche/Jack Deacy (212) 788-2958

MAYOR GIULIANI DEDICATES NEW POLICE HOUSING BUREAU FACILITY IN MEMORY OF SLAIN POLICE OFFICER JOHN WILLIAMSON

New PSA #6 Facility Will Serve 40,000 Housing Authority Tenants In 20 Manhattan Developments

Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani helped cut the ribbon this morning to open the Police Department Housing Bureau's new Public Service Area (PSA) #6 facility. The Mayor also dedicated a plaque in honor of Police Officer John Williamson, who was slain in the line of duty on October 8, 1993 while assigned to PSA #6. The new building will become headquarters for PSA #6, which serves 40,000 tenants who live in 20 Housing Authority developments in an area bounded by 116 Street to the Harlem River and from the East River to the Hudson River in Manhattan. Police Commissioner Howard Safir, New York City Housing Authority Chair Ruben Franco, NYPD Housing Bureau Chief Joseph Dunne, and John and Catherine Williamson joined the Mayor at the ceremony, the parents of Police Officer Williamson.

"As we open this new building to serve the community, we are also inspired by looking to the past to remember a hero to all of us, Police Officer John Williamson," Mayor Giuliani said. "Officer Williamson gave his life bringing peace to this community as a member of PSA #6 and a plaque will be displayed here to honor his service and sacrifice.

"Officer Williamson was just 25 years old when he was killed. And in just 25 years among us, he proved to be a man of extraordinary character. He was someone you could depend on, someone you could trust, a man who manifested integrity, honesty and morality in his actions every day. He was a great police officer, and even though his career and his life were cut tragically short, the spirit with which he lived his life will forever resound as a source of great strength for the people of PSA #6 and the people of this department."

Police Commissioner Howard Safir said, "Police Officer John Williamson was a model of service to the Police Department and to his community. Although he had been a police officer for less than three years, he quickly became well known to both his peers and his supervisors for his willingness to help others both off and on duty. John's life was cut tragically short, but it was a life filled with a generosity of spirit that left its mark on many, many people. The plaque we dedicate today symbolizes the promise we made never to forget who Police Office John Williamson was, what he stood for and the great sacrifice he made. With this plaque, we salute his memory and renew his promise."

Officer Williamson died on October 8, 1993 after he had been struck by a 30-pound bucket of spackling that had been deliberately hurled from the roof of a Housing Authority building. Officer Williamson and his partner had responded earlier to a call for assistance from other officers who reported resistance to a towing enforcement that was underway on 175th Street. Despite the fact that he was on the force for less than three years, Officer Williamson had earned four Excellent Police Duty citations.

Over the past five years, overall crime in New York City has declined by almost 50 percent, including an almost 70 percent drop in murder. Crime has also continued to drop in New York City Housing Authority developments, declining over the past year by more than 12 percent in seven major categories, including a 26 percent drop in murder over the past year.

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