Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly today presided over a Police Memorial Day ceremony honoring 11 New York City Police Officers who died in the line of duty. Six men and four women were recognized who died of illnesses developed as a result of rescue, recovery and clean-up work they performed after the September 11, 2001 attacks. Police Officer Deon L. Taylor was killed in action by an improvised explosive device while serving with the Army National Guard in Afghanistan last October. His name and those of Detective Sandra Y. Adrian, Police Officer Madeline Carlo, Captain Edward C. Gilpin, Sergeant Claire T. Hanrahan, Police Officer Robert B. Helmke, Detective William J. Holfester, Police Officer Patrice M. Ott, Detective Roberto L. Rivera, Sergeant Michael W. Ryan, and Sergeant Edward D. Thompson were added to those of other fallen officers whose sacrifices are commemorated on plaques in the Police Memorial Lobby inside Police Headquarters.

"The names we're adding to the memorial wall include Army Sergeant and Police Officer Deon Taylor, who went to the other side of the world to help protect us from terror, and also 10 of his brothers and sisters in the NYPD who answered the call right here at home," said Mayor Bloomberg. "Their names will be inscribed on the 'Wall of Heroes' so that future generations of police officers and New Yorkers will know of their courage and sacrifice. 

"Today, we honor eleven members of the department who gave their lives so the nation and the city might live, unbroken by a terrorist attack, and shielded from threats in distant lands," said Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly. "These seven men and four women gave of themselves to assist the City in the wake of the September 11 attacks. Officer Taylor, as a member of the National Guard, worked alongside New York City police officers in the World Trade Center site before he joined the Department officially in 2005, later serving his country in Operation Enduring Freedom, where he made the ultimate sacrifice. Today we honor each of these members' service and convey the utmost respect to their loved ones for their memories and sacrifice."

All of the members honored in Friday's ceremony worked in the World Trade Center site after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, or Fresh Kills landfill on Staten Island, where debris from the destruction was received and processed.

Captain Edward C. Gilpin served the New York City Police Department for 32 years before his retirement in 2002. He was recognized four times in his career for excellent and meritorious police duty. Captain Gilpin served as Executive Officer of the 9th Precinct and the Manhattan South Task Force, and worked in the Brooklyn Housing Bureau and Police Service Areas 1 and 2 during his career. He is survived by his wife, Mary Jane and son Michael.

Sergeant Claire T. Hanrahan received eight recognitions for excellent and meritorious police duty during her 20-year career with the Department, during which she served in the 19th, 23rd and 25th Precincts as well as in the Street Crime Unit and various divisions of the Narcotics Bureau. Sergeant Hanrahan is survived by her parents, Matthew and Claire; husband Ed, and three children: Justin, Shannon and Kyle.

Sergeant Michael W. Ryan is a 20-year member of the Department with nine recognitions for excellent and meritorious police duty. He was a member of several Detectives Squads, in the 104th, 112th, 114th and 115th Precincts, as well as worked in Warrants and in the 73rd, 75th, 83rd, 101st, 103rd, and 111th Precincts. During his career Sgt. Ryan affected nearly 100 arrests, over half of which were for felony crimes. He is survived by his parents, Jim and Ann; wife Eileen, sons Liam and Aiden, and daughters Erin and Casey.

Sergeant Edward D. Thompson served the Department for nearly 16 years, in the 6th and 120th Precincts and Intelligence Division Operations and Analysis Section. Sgt. Thompson is survived by his parents, George and Deborah; wife Justine and four daughters, Jacqueline, Emily, Madison and Abigail.

Detective Sandra Y. Adrian is a 19-year member of the Department with six recognitions for excellent and meritorious police duty. Before her death in 2006, she served in the Housing and Internal Affairs Bureaus. She is survived by her brother Jaime, and sister Liz.

Detective William J. Holfester was recognized 11 times for excellent and meritorious police duty during his 18-year career. His work against narcotics crimes in upper Manhattan included 380 arrests, of which 213 were for felony crimes. Det. Holfester also served in the 81st Precinct. He is survived by his mother Marion, wife Michelle and daughter Marissa, son Chris, and three grandchildren: Olivia, Christopher and Gabriel; and sister, Cynthia.

Detective Roberto L. Rivera served the Department for nearly 30 years, during which he received eight recognitions for excellent and meritorious police duty. He was a member of the Joint Terrorism Task Force, Detectives Bureau Special Investigations Division, and Arson and Explosions Division. Det. Rivera is survived by his wife, Aida; sons Marcus and Roberto, and daughter Doraida.

Police Officer Madeline Carlo worked for 15 years in the Housing Bureau and Police Service Areas 5 and 7, in Manhattan and the South Bronx. She is survived by her mother Maria, children Cynthia and Orlando, and siblings Olga, Mike, Yvonne and Raymond.

Police Officer Robert B. Helmke spent 12 years serving the Department in its Transit Bureau, 104th Precinct and Medical Division. He was recognized for meritorious police duty and is survived by his mother Kathleen, wife Greta, son Garret, daughter Amelia and siblings, Janet and Keith.

Police Officer Patrice M. Ott is a 20-year veteran of the Department who served in the 52nd Precinct, Mounted Unit and Property Clerk. A recipient of recognition for excellent police duty, Officer Ott is survived by her mother Maureen, husband Bill, son Ryan and brothers, Mike and John.

Police Officer Deon L. Taylor was posthumously promoted by the military to Sergeant after serving as Army Specialist in the New York Army National Guard. Officer Taylor was killed last Oct. 22 in Bela Ba Luk, Afghanistan, after his vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device while conducting combat force operations. On 9/11, as a member of the National Guard, he worked alongside New York City police officers to secure Ground Zero. Officer Taylor joined the NYPD in 2005 and began his career in Transit District 3 in upper Manhattan and the Bronx, eventually becoming an undercover narcotics officer in Patrol Borough Brooklyn North in 2007. He is survived by his parents Leon and Pamela, son DaRue, and brother Demarr.

Police Memorial Day was established by Congress in 1962 and proclaimed by President John F. Kennedy in 1963, designating May 15 of each year Peace Officers Memorial Day in honor of the Federal, State, and municipal officers who have been killed or disabled in the line of duty; he also designated the week in which it occurs, "Police Week," in recognition of the service given by the men and women who, "night and day, stand guard in our midst to protect us through enforcement of our laws."