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  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 29, 2002
PR-169-02
www.nyc.gov


MAYOR MICHAEL R. BLOOMBERG AND POLICE COMMISSIONER RAYMOND W. KELLY DEDICATE 14 MEMORIAL PLAQUES IN HONOR OF ESU OFFICERS LOST DURING WORLD TRADE CENTER ATTACK


Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly today dedicated plaques honoring each of the 14 New York City Emergency Service Unit (ESU) officers who died at the World Trade Center during the September 11th attack. A total of 23 police officers lost their lives during the attack. The families of the fallen heroes joined Mayor Bloomberg and Commissioner Kelly at the ceremony at Floyd Bennett Field in Brooklyn. Floyd Bennett Field is the headquarters for the NYPD's Special Operations Division, which oversees ESU.

"The members of the NYPD's Emergency Service Unit are an elite group of brave professionals that we rely upon to protect us during crises," Mayor Bloomberg said. "Thanks to their rigorous physical and psychological training and intense strategic preparation, they can effectively confront any emergency, and on September 11th, these 14 officers courageously and selflessly used their skills to save the lives of others. The plaques that we dedicate today will pay tribute to these fallen heroes and memorialize the sacrifice that they made while protecting their fellow New Yorkers."

"The Emergency Service Unit is our first, best line of defense when calamity strikes," Commissioner Kelly said. "On September 11th, these courageous officers rushed in to face an unprecedented attack on our country. Their truly heroic actions saved countless lives. Today, with these memorial plaques, we honor the strength and valor of these 14 officers, who will never be forgotten by this department, this city, or this country."

The NYPD's Emergency Service Unit lost more members than any other Department unit during the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center. ESU is a highly trained organization comprised of first-response rescuers. Each member is a certified Emergency Medical Technician and has received psychological and physical training to prepare them for hostage situations, barricaded criminals, and other complex crises. Memorial plaques were dedicated to the following members of the Emergency Service Unit who died in the line of duty on September 11th: Sergeant Michael Curtin, Sergeant John Coughlin, Sergeant Rodney Gillis, Detective Joseph Vigiano, Police Officer Brian McDonnell, Police Officer John D'Allara, Police Officer Vincent Danz, Police Officer Jerome Dominguez, Police Officer Walter Weaver, Police Officer Stephen Driscoll, Police Officer Ronald Kloepfer, Police Officer Santos Valentin, Police Officer Thomas Langone, and Police Officer Paul Talty.

 

www.nyc.gov

Contact: Edward Skyler / Jerry Russo
(212) 788-2958
Michael O'Looney (NYPD)
(646) 610-6700