The Police Memorial Statue, which is now located in the lobby of 1 Police Plaza, was commissioned in 1939 to represent NYPD Police Officers killed in the line of duty and the Honor Legion’s mission to care for the children of those members. It was sculpted by Attilio Piccirilli, a noted sculptor who also sculpted the Lincoln Memorial in DC.

The vision for the memorial was a larger-than-life bronze statue of an NYC Police Patrolman holding a young child in one hand and the American flag in the other hand. Mayor Fiorello La Guardia gave permission for his 9-year-old adopted son Eric to represent the child of a slain Police Officer. Detective Martin J. Gillen, Sr. modeled for the Patrolman consoling the child.

Originally the statue was intended to be placed near the Firemen’s Monument at West 100 St & Riverside Drive, but the outbreak of World War II brought all progress to a stop. As a result, it was put into storage for approximately 15 years and was rumored to have been stored in the 42nd precinct’s garage. It was virtually forgotten until it was shipped to upstate New York.

It was placed at the entrance of the New York City Police Recreation Center, also known as the Police Camp. Police Camp in the Catskill Mountains was a place for Police and their families to vacation and relax in a natural setting.

When the camp was sold in the 1980s, the statue was finally brought to the New York City Police Headquarters, where it proudly stands today ever vigilant in the Hall of Heroes.

Fidelis Ad Mortem
(Faithful Unto Death)