Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and Police  Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly today presided over a Police Memorial Day ceremony commemorating 11 New York City Police Officers who were killed in the line of duty last year or died of illnesses developed as a result of rescue, recovery and clean-up work they performed at the World Trade Center Site after the September 11, 2001 attacks. The names of Detective Kevin Hawkins, Detective Russel Timoshenko, Detective Robert Williamson, Detective John Young, Detective James Zadroga, Police Officer Thomas Brophy, Police Officer James Godbee, Police Officer Ronald Weintraub, Police Officer Angelo Peluso, Auxiliary Police Officer Eugene Marshalik, and Auxiliary Police Officer Nicholas Pekearo were added to those of other fallen officers whose sacrifices are commemorated on plaques in the Police Memorial Lobby inside Police Headquarters.

“These men all demonstrated their bravery in different ways, but what binds them together – and to us – is their unfailing service to New York City,” said Mayor Bloomberg. “All eleven of these men put themselves in harm’s way to protect us. Their names are forever inscribed in the hearts of those who knew them.  And today, they will also be inscribed on the Wall of Heroes here at One Police Plaza, so that future generations will know of their courage and sacrifice.”

“While today’s commemorations make permanent the memory of these brave men, there can be no more enduring tribute than the respect and support of the public whom all officers are sworn to protect and serve,” said Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly. “New York City Police officers accept that in the performance of their duties, lives are at stake including their own. Today we convey nothing less than the highest regard for their service and sacrifice.”

Detective Russel Timoshenko died July 14, 2007 after being shot at close range five days earlier during an attempted car stop in Brooklyn. He and his partner Detective Martin Yan were approaching a sport-utility vehicle bearing stolen license plates when they were fired upon. Their assailants were apprehended after a multi-day manhunt that ended in Pennsylvania. Detective Timoshenko joined the Department in January 2006 and was a police officer in the 71st Precinct. He was promoted posthumously and is survived by his parents Tatyana and Leonid Timoshenko.

Detective Kevin G. Hawkins died May 7, 2007 of 9/11 related illness after serving over 20 years with the Department. He worked in the 17th Precinct, the Executive Protection Unit of the Intelligence Division, and the Patrol Borough Manhattan South Task Force, as well as in the rescue, recovery and clean-up effort at the World Trade Center site. Detective Hawkins was recognized three times for excellent police duty and meritorious service. He is survived by his wife Marie and daughters Natalie and Stephanie, mother Dorothy and brother Dave.

Detective Robert W. Williamson died May 13, 2007 of 9/11 related illness after serving 20 years with the Patrol Borough Manhattan South Anti-Crime unit. He made 203 felony arrests and was recognized 38 times in his career for excellent police duty, meritorious service and other commendations. Detective Williamson was a part of the rescue, recovery and clean-up effort at the World Trade Center site. He is survived by his wife Maureen, son Joseph and daughters Katelyn and Laura, mother Blanche and sister Jayne.

Detective John T. Young died in February 2007 of 9/11 related illness after serving 20 years. He worked in the Midtown South Precinct and was a member of the Detective squad there, as well as in the 34th and 50th Precincts. He made 203 felony arrests and received eight recognitions for excellent police duty and two for meritorious service in his career. In addition to the rescue, recovery and clean-up effort at the World Trade Center site, Detective Young worked at the Fresh Kills Landfill in Staten Island after the Sept. 11 attacks, Detective Young is survived by his wife Maura, son John and daughters Kristin and Shannon, and his parents Bob and Ann.

Detective James Zadroga died in January 2006 of 9/11 related illness after serving nearly 11 years with the Department. He worked in the 6th Precinct, and 25th Precinct Detective squad, as well the Detective Borough Manhattan South Homicide Task Force, the Street Crime Unit and Patrol Borough Bronx Anti-Crime unit. Detective Zadroga made 136 felony arrests and received 31 recognitions for excellent police duty and seven for meritorious service. He worked in the rescue, recovery and clean-up effort at the World Trade Center site and is survived by his daughter Tyler-Ann and parents Joseph and Linda.

Police Officer Angelo Peluso died in May 2006 of 9/11 related illness. He served for over 18 years, in the Department’s 10th Precinct, the Detective Bureau Criminal Identification Unit, Photo Unit and License Division. Officer Peluso received two excellent police duty recognitions, and two meritorious service recognitions. He also was a part of the rescue, recovery and clean-up effort at the World Trade Center site. Officer Peluso is survived by his wife Kim, son Daniel and daughter Noelle, and father Angelo.

Police Officer James J. Godbee died in December 2004 of 9/11 related illness after 18 years of service in the 28th Precinct and Manhattan Housing Borough. Officer Godbee was recognized three times in his career for meritorious service, and worked in the rescue, recovery and clean-up effort at the World Trade Center site, as well as at various posts in Lower Manhattan after the September 11, 2001 attacks. Officer Godbee is survived by his wife Michelle, daughter Imani and son Kai, parents James and Rena, brother Kevin and grandmother Dora Brown.

Police Officer Ronald E. Weintraub died in November 2005 of 9/11 related illness after 15 years with the Department. He worked in the Midtown South Precinct and was recognized five times in his career for excellent police duty and meritorious service. Officer Weintraub also provided rescue, recovery and clean up efforts at the World Trade Center site. He is survived by his wife Eileen, daughter Danielle and son Ryan, parents Sheila and Arnold and sister Sharon.

Police Officer Thomas G. Brophy died in April 2005 of 9/11 related illness after 11 years of service in the 114th and 109th Precincts and Fleet Services Division. He too received recognition for excellent police duty. Officer Brophy worked in the rescue, recovery and clean-up effort at the World Trade Center as well as at various posts in Lower Manhattan after the attacks. He is survived by his wife Rita and son Matthew, mother Janice and brother Brian, a New York State Trooper.

Auxiliary Police Officers Eugene Marshalik and Nicholas T. Pekearo were killed in March 2007 by a deranged gunman who shot and killed a pizzeria employee in Manhattan’s Greenwich Village before assaulting and firing upon the two auxiliary police partners who had followed him to observe and report his changing locations as he fled the murder scene. Officers Marshalik and Pekearo were members of the volunteer police team in the 6th Precinct. Last month, the Justice Department reversed an earlier denial and approved federal death benefits for their families under the federal Public Safety Officers Benefits program which compensates the survivors of police, firefighters and other public safety officers who die in the line of duty.

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.”