Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

I HAD THE HONOR OF MEETING A FAMILY MEMBER OF DET. PICCINO
TODAY AT A MEDICAL CENTER IN
ISLIP NY. I BELIEVE IT WAS HIS COUSIN
HE MENTIONED TO ME THAT HIS COUSIN WAS A POLICE DETECTIVE
IN NEW YORK CITY AND WAS KILLED
IN 1971. BEING A YOUNG ROOKIE
POLICE OFFICER AT THE TIME
WITH 3 YEARS OF SERVICE ASSIGNED
TO THE TACTICAL PATROL FORCE
I REMEMBERED MURDER OF PTL.
PICCANO AND HOW HE WAS KILLED
MY CONDOLENCES FROM MY WIFE
AND I GO OUT TO THE FAMILY
HE WAS A TRUE HERO.

DET. DANIEL C. AUSTIN. RET.
NEW YORK CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT

October 23, 2024

Detective Joseph Picciano,
Your legacy continues 50 year later. We never knew each other but your last name is still carried on in the Department. I believe you would have been proud. Rest in Peace

Lt. Philip Picciano
NYPD

February 15, 2022

Det. Picciano,
On today, the 50th anniversary of your death I would just like to say thank you for your service and sacrifice for the citizens of New York City. And to your Family and loved ones, I wish to extend my deepest sympathy.

R.I.P.
USBP

Anonymous
United States Border Patrol

February 15, 2021

Rest in peace Detective Picciano.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

May 5, 2020

God bless you

Mark Mottola

February 15, 2020

Having just seen Det Ralph Friedmans account of the incident on a documentary entitled ‘Street Justice the bronx’ i thought i would pay my respects to Det Joe Picciano and to all the other officers that have lost their lives on duty
God Bless all

Gary Cash Private Citizen

April 26, 2018

Rest in peace brother.

Lieutenant Ray Flores
NYPD (retired)

February 15, 2018

A true "Hero" taken.
You helped make this world a safer place.
May you rest in eternal peace.
With Honor & Respect.

Det. Billy Russo. ( Ret)
Nassau County NY PD

September 26, 2017

God bless you Brother, thank you for your service. Rest peacefully.

RET P.O David.Biondi
NYPD

September 17, 2017

You are not forgotten, cousin Joe. We love you.

Family Member
Cousin

December 7, 2016

February 15, 1971 I was coming in for a day tour when the Desk Officer assigned me to protect the crime scene in the
41 Squad. When I learned Det. Picciano had been shot and
killed by a prisoner he was printing I was in shock.
On that day I recorded numerous visitors from the Department and the DA's Office who all expressed their sincere grief, but none more than his Brothers in the 41 who would remain in shock and morning for a long time. RIP

Det. Mark Hembury
41Pct 1/69-11/73 Ret. 7/89 47Sqd

November 21, 2016

Joe, the man I never knew. I aspired to be like you. My career was cut short by the 1975 layoff. I broke my neck 4 days later not able to return. I miss it and although I didn't know you I wish that I had. God Bless you.

P.O. Robert (Bob ) Collins
NYPD

March 4, 2016

It was my honor to research newspapers, books and magazines and finally find your Older ID Card Photo and make sure your photo was put on this site. I had a Detective ID photo of you from 1971 but decided that this photo does justice to your sacrifice. You were not a rookie but a Veteran!

I wanted to put a face to your heroism in the Line of Duty. I did the research because you are a brother officer and no matter how many years past, you will always be remembered. Rest Easy Hero.

APO Christian Durante
NYPD: 68th Precinct Auxiliary Police Unit

February 5, 2016

I was assigned to the Four-One and recall it well. Joe had forgotten to lock his revolver in a desk draw before rolling the prints and you know the rest of the story.

Shots were fired, but no one was hit other than Joe, until the perp ran out and there was a TPF cop as I recall, who put several rounds into the perp's heart. No trial was necessary. The bullet holes in the squad room remained for years.

It was a very sad day.

Phil Zimmermann, Ret.

Ptl. Philip F. Zimmermann
41 Pct.

November 26, 2015

I always felt slighted that that low life piece of scum took away my Godfather. I wasn't even two years old when he took my uncle away. Left to wonder what kind of relationship we could have had. R.I.P. Uncle Joe

Ron Scauri
Nephew,Godson

February 15, 2014

Your sacrifice will never be forgotten Officer Picciano. I am honored to call the Picciano family my friends.

Your legacy lives on in their thoughtfulness, talents and goodwill to others.

God bless

Lt. William Egan
New York City Police Department

February 15, 2014

I remember the night Detective Joseph Picciano was killed. I was still in uniform and on that night I was assigned to station house security. I heard the shots and ran upstairs to the squad room with my gun drawn and I was the first uniform on the scene. But Detective Picciano was already shot by a real lowlife perp (child molester) who was killed by the Detectives in the office seconds before my arrival. Detective Picciano helped me with collars a few times and he had a great reputation in the precinct. His death was a great loss to the precinct and the Department. A true HERO......R.I.P.

RALPH FRIEDMAN
RET. DETECTIVE 2nd GRADE
N.Y.P.D. (41st PCT. & BRONX DETECTIVES/52 SQD)
1970 x 1984........

September 28, 2012

Detective Picciano, I have the honor of being friends with 2 of your children. You would be proud of the wonderful, successful people they are today. God bless - - your sacrifice is surely not forgotten

Lt. Kevin Young
NYPD

February 14, 2012

I was in high school when Det. Picciano was killed. His name has always stayed in my memory as I was near my father Det. Rogers Cortes as he received the phone call that his fellow officer Det. Picciano was killed.
My father hung up the phone and cried. Until that day I had never seen my father cry. I had always wondered what kind of man Det. Picciano had been to solicit such a response from my father. Over the years I have always kept him in my thoughts and prayers and am happy to have found this web page where I can let his family know what an impact his life had made on my father and me. God Bless his family.

Anonymous

November 17, 2010

Rest in peace brother. You are not forgotten...

Sergeant Chris DiToro
NYPD

February 15, 2010

I said a little prayer today for Detective Picciano and his family. He may be gone but never forgotten. He will always be a New York HERO.

Robyn Wilkes

February 12, 2009

Joe Picciano was my first cousin.
Both Joe and I grew up together in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, New York.
As young boys, we played stick ball together and had a lot fun.
During our early days as growing adults we shared the same neighborhood together in Flushing, New York.
When traveling to work, we would occasionally meet at the Graham and Metropolitan Avenue BMT subway station.
During one of our discussions, Joe had invited me and my wife, Rose, to pay him a visit at his new home in Queens, New York.
This invitation was given to us just a week before the tragic event took place. Joe was killed while on duty seving this city as a top-notch NYPD detective.
Joe was a great guy.
Everyone that knew him loved him.
We all miss him so very much!
God bless you Joe.
I know in my heart that you are still watching over us now as you always did,
and that you are now one of God's angels in heaven.

Your cousin,
Louis P. Picciano

Louis P. Picciano
Cousin

October 19, 2008

YOU ARE REMEMBERED TODAY AND THANK YOU SIR FOR YOUR SERVICE, YOU ARE A HERO JUST BY THE PROFESSION YOU CHOSE

VANDENBERGHE
MANCHESTER, NH

February 10, 2008

"The Badge"
He starts his shift each day
To respond to calls unknown.
He drives a marked patrol car.
A police officer he is known.
He's paid by the citizens' taxes
To make it safe on the streets.
But he usually has a second job
'Cause a waitress has his salary beat.
Now he doesn't know a holiday
'Cause he works all year round.
And when Thanksgiving and Christmas finally arrive
At his home he cannot be found.
He's cursed and assaulted often,
The one whos blood runs blue.
He seldom ever gets a thanks,
To some he's just a fool.
His friends are always other cops
'Cause people just don't understand
That underneath his badge and gun,
He's just another man.
He knows there might not be a tomorrow
In this world of drugs and crime.
And he gets so mad at the court system
'Cause the crooks don't get any time.
And each day when he leaves for work,
He prays to God above.
Please bring me home after my shift
So I can see the ones I love.
But tonight he stops a speeding car,
He's alone down this ole' highway.
It's just a little traffic infraction.
He does it everyday.
Well, he walks up to the driver's window,
And his badge is shining bright.
He asked the guy for a driver's license,
When a shot rang through the night.
Yes, the bullet hit its mark,
Striking the officer in the chest.
But the Department's budget didn't buy
Each officer a bullet-proof vest.
So he lay on the ground bleeding.
His blood wasn't blue - His blood was red.
And briefly he thought of his loved ones
'Cause in a moment the officer was dead.
In the news they told the story
Of how this officer had died.
And some who listened cared less,
But those who loved him cried.
Well, they buried him in uniform
With his badge pinned on his chest.
He even had his revolver,
He died doing his best.
Written By:
David L. Bell
Sergeant
Richland County Sheriff's Department
Columbia, South Carolina
Used with Special Permission of the Author
Copyright © 1999 - All Rights Reserved
and may not be duplicated without permission

Investigator David L Bell
Richland County Sheriff's Dept., Columbia, SC

December 20, 2007

On the night of Joe Piciano death I was a young PTL assigned to the 41Pct Anti crime Unit.My partner Frank Morelli and I were processing prisoners in the detectives squad room with the help of Det Joe Picciano,as always Joe went out of his way to help younger officers with the booking proceedure.My tour ended prior to the shooting and I was notified the next day while I was attending the CIC course at the Police Academy.To this day I still feel the sadness of Joe's Passing.

Det Ronnie Perks
NYPD retired

February 23, 2007