Dear Fellow Sergeant,

September is always a month of reflection for the law enforcement profession, but this year it carries an even deeper and more profound meaning. Twenty-five years have passed since September 11, 2001, when our city, our nation, and our lives were forever changed by the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center.

For the NYPD, September 11th is not simply a date in history. It is a day we remember our brothers and sisters who ran toward danger when others were running away.

Among the 23 NYPD members who made the ultimate sacrifice were Sergeants John Coughlin, Michael Curtin, Rodney Gillis, and Timothy Roy, whose courage and devotion to duty remain an enduring part of the history of our union and this Department.

Their sacrifice did not end on that terrible day. In the years that followed, the men and women who participated in the rescue, recovery, and cleanup efforts faced another insidious enemy: the illnesses caused by their exposure to toxins at the World Trade Center site.

To date, 70 NYPD active or retired NYPD Sergeants have subsequently lost their lives to illnesses related to their rescue and recovery efforts. We will always remember each of them and the families they left behind.

We must never allow their stories to fade. We owe it to those who were lost, to those who continue to suffer, and to future generations of Police Officers to ensure that the sacrifices made on September 11th and in the years afterward are never forgotten.

This year, our Heroism Awards Event on September 30th will provide an opportunity to honor Sgts. Coughlin, Curtin, Gillis, and Roy, as well as individuals and organizations whose actions and commitment reflect the same spirit of courage, loyalty and service embodied by our members.

Their quick and decisive actions represent the vigilance, bravery and dedication that continue to define the NYPD and its Sergeants. We are reminded that the threat to our city can emerge without warning, and that our members are always prepared to confront it.

The Heroism Awards are more than an annual ceremony. They are an opportunity for us to pause and remember what it means to wear the NYPD shield and to lead as a Sergeant. They remind us that courage is not measured only by the extraordinary moments that make headlines. It is demonstrated every day by the men and women who report for duty, protect strangers, make tough decisions, and accept the risks that come with policing the greatest and most diverse and complex city in the world.

As we mark the 25th anniversary of September 11th, let us remember those we lost, honor those who continue to carry the physical and emotional scars of that day, and recognize the generations of NYPD Sergeants who continued their legacy of service and prove why we are universally regarded as the finest frontline law enforcement supervisors in the world.

Fraternally,

Vincent J. Vallelong
President
Sergeants Benevolent Association