Transcript: Mayor Mamdani Attends NYPD's Annual Police Memorial Day Ceremony With NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch
Zohran Mamdani on NYC Mayor's Office transcripts.
Passages
Good morning, everyone. It is a privilege to be here together to honor the memory of 103 fallen officers. Each name that we remember today was a universe unto themselves. I want to thank everyone who is here with us in the Hall of Heroes today, with special gratitude for Police Commissioner Tisch and [the] NYPD leadership. I also want to thank Ken Griffin for funding a memorial wall, which will open later this year. Most of all, I want to recognize the family members of the fallen officers whom we are here to commemorate. For the loved ones present today, a name on a plaque cannot begin to capture the fullness of the officer lost, the sound of their laughter, the warmth of their smile, [or] the bravery that each of them embodied in their own quiet way. Time may pass, but the pain of their absence will never go away. But while we cannot fill the hole that they have left behind, we can refuse to let their memory fade. We can honor them with the tribute they deserve, and we can celebrate the lives they lived [and] the selflessness they displayed — because these New Yorkers frankly modeled the best of what this city has to offer. They walked beats, they solved crimes, they directed traffic and they provided comfort and calm to New Yorkers facing the worst moments of their lives. This work asks an immense amount of them in even the best of circumstances. The greatest city in the world faces challenges and threats like no other. That means we require a police force like no other. And it is your loved ones who are up to this task. Every day they served as an NYPD officer, they knew that they were assuming a heavy burden, an incalculable risk. I think of the example of excellence set by so many we honor today, those who ran toward the burning towers on the horrific terror attack of September 11, 2001. In the midst of terrible destruction, they pulled New Yorkers from the rubble; they carried victims to safety, spent day after endless day on the pile. Those who lost their lives due to COVID-related illness were also confronted with an unknown chaos, a challenge that had no precedent. They too did not hesitate before helping others. And when we speak of the sacrifice that NYPD officers make, we speak of these officers. Finally, we honor one officer who died in combat: Detective Didarul Islam. Last summer after his senseless murder, Detective Islam's family welcomed me into their home. They spoke of a father, a sibling, a brother-in-law who was humble, generous, and kind. His brother-in-law, Officer Hasan, told me how Detective Islam took him to get his learner's permit [and] helped him find his first job. Today, when I think about my visits with the Islam family, I think about how they were never alone, how so many fellow officers showed up day after day, not just to mourn him but to support his family. The Hall of Heroes is a testament to that unbreakable community, a physical tribute to that solidarity. May we continue to honor the legacy of each officer we remember today. Let us keep the memory of their courage and their humanity alive and let us prove ourselves worthy of their sacrifices by building a city that is safe and that is just. Thank you all for being here. Thank you for your sacrifice. It is an honor to be here alongside you. ###
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Every passage above is taken from this recording: NYC Mayor's Office transcripts, Transcript: Mayor Mamdani Attends NYPD's Annual Police Memorial Day Ceremony With NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch.