A Memorial Is Never Small

A police station was situated a few years back in my neighborhood, which was a welcome addition as the otherwise quiet neighborhood had been experiencing low level crime and quality of life issues. For the first time in my life, I will be served multiple glimpses into a working police station as I would use the subway stop multiple times, albeit not during the covid lock down as I was staying indoors for an extended period. At one point I decided to 'break quarantine' and head into Manhattan where I came across this memorial to some officers who passed away due to covid-19. I was living in NYC during 9-11 and seen the various impromptu memorials to all those first responders; there had also been a previous memorial to an officer killed in a non-work related incident (I believe but I am not sure and only included to provide context to the memorial). This was a disquieting discovery because these officers were stricken by a virus that they would not have known where, when or how they were infected. While I was indoors all that time; even though I knew there were many essential workers who were being felled but I did not see their faces and names in such an up close yet quiet fashion. It was what their brother & sister officers could do and that is all that matters.

NYPD Transit District 20, Briarwood Queens NYC

April 26, 2020

A photograph of a memorial in my local subway station outside of a police station

English Community & Community Organizations

English Government Local

English Public Space

police

memorial

New York City

mortality

quarantine

subway

Law Enforcement

06/10/2020

06/18/2020

06/23/2020