Remembering officers with their families

1999

Remembering Maureen Kirwan

A November 4, 1999 Town & Village feature documented an Epiphany Parish and 13th Precinct memorial for Sgt. Maureen Kirwan. The report credited her with creating the precinct’s Community Policing Unit and remembered her service to older neighbors, the church and the community.

Arlene Harrison attended and photographed the memorial, which the parish and precinct organized with Kirwan’s family, officers and clergy.

2002

Plaques for officers lost on September 11

The archive preserves a November 14, 2002 Town & Village report on two separate commemorations: the 13th Precinct honored Robert Fazio and Moira Smith on November 6, and the Police Academy dedicated a plaque to Glen Petit on November 11.

The police ceremonies were separate from the Emergency Service memorial for Patrick O’Connor, Frank LaSala and Brian McDonnell unveiled in 2003.

2004

A luncheon at Epiphany

The 2004 annual activities list records a funeral and wake luncheon for Keith Ferguson at the Church of the Epiphany. The luncheon brought the neighborhood’s hospitality into a moment of remembrance.

2015

Remembering Brian Moore

The Block Association’s June 2015 newsletter reported on a gathering at the National Arts Club remembering Detective Brian Moore. A photograph by Maria Rocha-Buschel shows Arlene Harrison with Manhattan South detectives.

2016

Families and colleagues together

At the June 9, 2016 members’ event, the Block Association remembered Detective Randolph Holder, Detective Joseph Lemm and Police Officer David Hofer. Police colleagues from several commands attended, and Sergeant Joseph Imperatrice and Arlene Harrison spoke. Shannon Nallan’s photograph records Holder’s family with Sergeant Sharon Brooks and Harrison.

2017

Continuing the remembrance

The July 2017 newsletter published Harrison’s remarks from the Block Association’s June 8 gathering, which remembered Sergeant Paul Tuozzolo and Detective Steven McDonald.

2018

The gathering continued

At the June 14, 2018 gathering at the National Arts Club, the Block Association remembered Detective Miosotis Familia and welcomed families of officers honored in previous years. The June 19 letter preserved Arlene Harrison’s remarks and an Ira Fox photograph; a June 26 follow-up shared Shannon Nallan’s photographs of the same occasion.

Harrison thanked the National Arts Club team, NYPD Employee Relations Services, Blue Lives Matter NYC and the Block Association’s volunteers Norman Kurlan, Kathleen Scupp and Alex Nguyen. The account makes clear how many people helped bring neighbors and police families together.

2019

Remembering Brian P. Simonsen

The June 6, 2019 gathering at the National Arts Club remembered Detective Brian P. Simonsen, who had died that February while responding to a robbery. His mother, Linda, his wife, Leanne, his partner and colleagues from the 102nd Precinct Detective Squad joined the evening.

Arlene Harrison and Sgt. Joey Imperatrice welcomed families of officers remembered in previous years as well. The gathering connected a recent loss with an enduring commitment: returning to these families, listening to their memories and keeping their loved ones part of the neighborhood’s story.

2022

Gathering after two funerals

In February 2022, the Block Association reported arranging two memorial luncheons at the 13th Precinct following the funerals of Detectives Jason Rivera and Wilbert Mora. The meals offered officers a place to gather after the services and a tangible expression of the neighborhood’s support.

The newsletter shared a letter of thanks from Deputy Inspector Angel Figueroa Jr. and recorded Harrison’s remarks. It connected the Block Association’s earlier remembrance evenings with care offered at the precinct itself.

The accompanying letter from Deputy Inspector Angel L. Figueroa Jr., dated February 2, identifies the two memorial luncheons as January 28 and February 2. It thanks the Block Association for sponsoring the meals and for the Block Association’s continuing support of the precinct.