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Street re-namings for fallen officers get green light

January 22, 2015 Meaghan McGoldrick

Photos courtesy of the NYPD

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They will never be forgotten.

The City Council voted on Thursday, January 22 in favor of Introduction 620 – a bill that will see 56 thoroughfares and public places in the city co-named in honor of local residents, including ones for Detectives Wenjian Liu and Rafael Ramos.

Liu, a 32-year-old newlywed from Bensonhurst, and Ramos, a 40-year-old Sunset Park native, husband and father of two, were shot at point-blank range in their marked NYPD car on Saturday, December 20.

The street namings in their memory, sponsored by the fallen officers’ respective councilmembers, Mark Treyger and Rafael Espinal, were fast-tracked. Normally, it takes approximately a year for street co-namings to wend their way through the approval process. Liu was a resident of Bensonhurst while Ramos resided in Ridgewood.

“The assassination of Detectives Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu are an unspeakable tragedy that shocked New York City and the entire world,” said Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito. “Detectives Ramos and Liu personified what it means to serve New York City with honor and courage. While we can never bring back our fallen detectives, we can make sure that their sacrifices to our city are never forgotten. Detective Rafael Ramos Way and Detective Wenjian Liu Way will forever live on as a testament to the selfless sacrifices New York City’s finest make every day to protect New Yorkers.”

Ridgewood Avenue between Shepherd Avenue and Highland Place in Brooklyn will be co-named Detective Rafael Ramos Way, and West Sixth Street between Avenue S and Avenue T, also in Brooklyn will be co-named Detective Wenjian Liu Way.

“This is a tribute to the tremendous sacrifice that our police officers make to keep New York City safe for all residents,” said Treyger when the legislation was initially announced. “This street co-naming will ensure that the memory of Detectives Liu and Ramos lives on in our city.”