Co-Naming Honor

Police Officer James P. Leahy Street 

Police Officer James P. Leahy Street is located on West 10th Street between Bleecker Street and Hudson Street in the West Village. It was awarded in remembrance of the 9/11 attacks and in honor of Police Officer James P. Leahy (b. 1962), who died on Sept. 11, 2001, during fire and rescue operations following the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center. Officer Leahy had served with the New York City Police Department for nine years and was assigned to the 6th Precinct in the West Village. He was survived by his wife and three sons. “He was trying to help the people,” said his sister Michele Safatle. “Leahy was told he didn’t have to be in the building but took oxygen bottles and other supplies to firefighters anyway.”

Nearby is the Point Thank You Marker at the intersection of West Street and Christopher Street, southwest side, erected by the State of NY and the Hudson River Park Trust. It inscribes: “In the weeks and months following the tragic events of Sept. 11, 2001, grateful crowds gathered at this location to show their thanks and support for workers engaged in the rescue and recovery operations at Ground Zero.” Seventy-two law enforcement officers, 343 members of the New York City Fire Department, and over 2,800 civilians were killed at the World Trade Center site on 9/11. On Sept. 9, 2005, all of the public safety officers killed on Sept. 11, 2001, were posthumously awarded the 9/11 Heroes Medal of Valor by President George W. Bush.

Historic texts from The Historical Marker Database at https://www.hmdb.org/ and http://www.nycstreets.info/honorstreet. Photo credits: Brian J. Pape, AIA