Dear Fellow Sergeant,

The line of duty death of Police Officer Didarul Islam of the 47 Precinct on the evening of July 28 was a tragedy of epic proportions. The 36-year-old officer was one of four people shot and killed by a deranged gunman who had traveled to New York from Las Vegas with the sole purpose of perpetrating mass murder. A fifth victim was shot and critically wounded.

PO Islam, a native of Bangladesh, was the married father of two children. He and his wife were expecting their third child next month.

He was on assignment with the Paid Detail Unit, earning extra money to help care for his growing family. They were living their version of the American Dream.

As law enforcement personnel, we are used to seeing despair and heartbreak up close but what the Islam family is experiencing is unfathomable.

In addition to PO Islam, three civilians were killed by the gunman. Another victim was shot and critically wounded. While the gunman took his own life, the damage he inflicted on so many families, as well as society as a whole, will reverberate forever.

PO Islam’s lifelong ambition was to be a Police Officer. He worked hard to bring that dream to fruition when he was appointed to the NYPD in December 2021. He was also a devoted husband and father and loving son.

By any standard, PO Islam is a true hero. Not just because the final actions of his interrupted life quite possibly saved many more lives, but because of the way he lived his life.

In the end, he made the ultimate sacrifice in the defense of others. We cannot ask for or expect any more than that because there is nothing more noble or gallant than that.

As in all messages to the SBA membership, we urge you to remain steadfastly vigilant in all you do, regardless of where you are working or what type of assignment you are on.

These moments of madness come without warning. This is the world that we now live in. It is our duty to be guardians of public safety. We take that role seriously because we choose it and no one does it with more dedication, commitment, or utmost professionalism than we do.

Thank you for being the finest frontline supervisors in the world, as well as for the privilege of serving as your President.

Fraternally,

Vincent J. Vallelong
President
Sergeants Benevolent Association