Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

I was a 13 year old growing up in Stuyvesant Town. I was playing handball with my friend Guy against a building wall on E. 11th St and Ave B when the shots rang out. I was literally the first one on the scene. It was the most surreal thing I ever witnessed. Being a 13 year old there was little I could do. I picked up Patrolman Foster's memo book and held it until more police arrived. A Hispanic man from the fish-n-chips store came out and cradled Officer Laurie's head and was crying at the same time. Police arrived and put both into police cars and drove away. I'm 65 now and it still sits terrible with me. Every January 27th since without fail I return to E. 11th St and Ave B and I say two "Our Father" prayers, one for Officer Laurie and one for Officer Foster. May God continue to comfort these two great heros in Heaven.

John Landers
NYC Transit

September 22, 2024

God rest your soul in eternal peace Rocco.. murdered by cowards who can only shoot a man in his back.. true cowards.. you and Greg died as true heroes doing a job most don’t have the guts to do.. thank you for your service in the marine corps in Vietnam and your service to the people of the city of New York..

Sgt. K Ford NYPD retired

October 7, 2023

Patrolman Laurie, today marks the 51st anniversary of your murder at the hands of domestic terrorists. You and your partner, Officer Foster, were assassinated and for what? What was gained by this insanity? NOTHING. You have not been forgotten and the crime was immortalized in a 1975 TV movie that from all accounts is pretty accurate. You are true heroes of the Thin Blue Line and will NEVER be forgotten.

God Bless you Both and may your eternal rest be ever peaceful, Brother.

Ptl. Jim Leahy, Jr.
Harvard University Police Department

January 27, 2023

On January 27, 2022, I put on my uniform and stood at attention in front of the 9th Precinct to attend the 50th Memorial Service for Officers Foster and Laurie. The man that stood next to me proudly wears the 9th Precinct collar brass, a fourth generation N.Y.P.D Officer, my son. As we stood together and listened to all the speeches, the speech that moved me to tears was listening to Mrs. Laurie. The way she described the night of her husband's death, the banging on her door, the barking of her dog Buster, the trip to the hospital, and her time in the hospital, was as if she was describing something that happened only yesterday, but we all know it was 50 years ago. As she spoke, I could understand and feel her pain for the loss of her husband 50 years ago. I know that pain will never go away, no matter how many years go by. God Bless Mrs. Laurie and God bless the Foster family and GOD BLESS THE MEN AND WOMEN IN LAW ENFORCEMENT.
Sincerely,
Jim Rail, N.Y.P.D 1984 to 1994, Ret N.C.P.D 1994 to 2017

P.O. James Rail
NCPD

February 3, 2022

As I attended the 50th Memorial Service for Rocco and his partner, Gregory Foster, I was overwhelmed by the love and respect that the NYPD continues to show to him.. I know that they will never forget the sacrifice that my husband and Greg made that awful day when hatred reared it's ugly head in the form of the Black Liberation Army. I was embraced by the Police Officers both retired and on the job. I got to meet Police Officer Gregory Foster III, who is Greg's grandson and who wears his grandfathers badge number. I was so moved by the love that was shown to me by Greg's family his children Gregory Jr. and Greg's s daughter....I will never forget my love, Rocco, and I will carry in my heart the devastating pain of losing him that will remain with me forever.

Mrs. Adelaide Laurie
Widow

January 31, 2022

Patrolman Laurie,
On today, the 50th anniversary of your death I would just like to say thank you to you and your Partner for your service and sacrifice-not just for your Community but for our Country as well when you both served with the USMC in Vietnam. And to your Family and loved ones, I wish to extend my deepest sympathy.

Semper Fi Devil Dog!
A fellow LEO; former Marine

Anonymous
United States Border Patrol

January 27, 2022

On this 50th anniversary of your incredibly heroic departure I re-echo my reflection from this very day last year and say that you and Officer Foster will never, ever be forgotten. God Speed sir.

Detective Cpl/3 Steven Rizzo
Delaware State Police (Retired)

January 27, 2022

Greg and Rocco
On the 50th Anniversary of your death by the cowardly offenders, I again thank you for your dedicated and faithful service to NYPD and to the USMC.--not to mention your dedication to your wife and family. Your death and that of Greg's always hit me more than some, perhaps because my twin brother was a Marine before he and I got into law enforcement (I was Army). I still talk about you two in my DT classes, which I still teach. I hope your family is good, and thanks again for being an outstanding example for how all of us should live.

James Lopey, Assistant Sheriff (Ret)
Washoe County Sheriff's Office (Reno, Nevada)
Nevada DPS

January 27, 2022

In Honor And Respect, Officer Rocco Laurie... Today Is "50" Years Since That Very Tragic Day... Sir, My Sincere Thank You For Your Dedicated Service To Law Enforcement, A Proud U.S. Marine And A Vietnam Veteran... To Survive 'Nam And Come Home, To Dedicate Your Life To Law Enforcement And Have Your Life Taken Away In Such A Tragic Way, So Heartbreaking... Officer Rocco Laurie, You Are Honored And Remembered Here Today On The 50th Year Of Your Passing... I SALUTE YOU, SIR... May Peace And Blessings Be With Your Family... May You Rest In Eternal Peace, Officer Rocco Laurie... A TRUE HERO...

Gail Mercado

January 27, 2022

I was in boot camp with Rocco at Parris Island in 1968, Platoon 264. Rocco was in the bunk across from me in the "barn", an old wooden barracks where we slept and spent countless hours under the watchful eye of our crazed drill instructors. Rocco was always in great shape and very sharp mentally. Always someone I admired. We served in different units in Nam, but I ran into him one day in Dong Ha where we reflected on our time together at Parris Island and of course what we were doing in Nam. I'll never forget that day because he brought a smile to my face and wiped off the frown that I reluctantly wore every day I was in country. RIP my brother, Semper Fi.

Cpl. William Papianou
USMC Vietnam 1968

November 21, 2021

Always remembered. Prayers to your family.

PO Heintz
NYPD

March 12, 2021

“Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God."
Matthew 5:9

Chris Di Gerolamo
Federal Air Marshal Service

February 11, 2021

You are still remembered. Your life mattered. Thanks.

NC Officer

January 27, 2021

On this day that you and Officer Foster were so cowardly gunned down by nothing more than a group of thugs from a terrorist organization, please know that your memory is as strong today as it ever was and will always continue to be strong because of the officers and men you both were. Rest in peace always knowing that your service, both military and police, and sacrifice will never, ever be forgotten by your law enforcement brethren. God Speed.

Detective Cpl/3 Steven RizzoDelaware State Police (Retired)

January 27, 2021

Rest in peace, my brother. Your memory will always live in our hearts.

Lieutenant Raymond Flores
NYPD (retired)

January 27, 2021

God Bless all of our men and women in blue . Don't you realize they have to wear bullet proof vests to work . BLM is a Marxist , Leninist organization whose written intended goal is the total destruction of our country and to turn us ALL into slaves . Mayor Wilhelm , Deblasio's real name , helped the Sandinistas turn Nicaragua into a Marxist nightmare complete with re education concentration camps . He also quoted Che Guevara in Miami when running for president and then said Oh it was a mistake . That is like Hitler saying Juden ist verboten and then him saying Sorry , just a mistake . They already made re education mandatory in Seattle if you want to keep your city job . If Biden wins you will ALL be re educated .

Nicholas LaBella
Father was a police officer

July 20, 2020

To be a Police Officer is a Calling and it isn't just a Job but a way of Life. A Police Officer makes many Sacrifices, his time, his Health, sometimes his Family and Marriage but worst of all his Life. If this Officer is fortunate enough to Retire he will live with the memories of his experiences for an Eternity.

Duke Schneider
NYC DOC Retired

July 3, 2020

48 years ago today you and your partner became Garden angles at the gates of heaven . Thank for your service in the military . Continue to rest in peace

Mark Mottola

January 27, 2020

Always rest in peace my brother. Always thinking of your sacrifice and service to this city.

Lieutenant Raymond Flores
NYPD

January 27, 2019

rest in peace. you served in viet nam and then nypd, you did more than most and definitely went above and beyond the call of duty. you and po foster also by your mere presence in the lower east side of nyc on that fateful night and subsequent death of you both unknowling at the time helped foster the resurgence of this part of nyc to what it is today, definitely opposite of it in the 1970s. as i stated in po fosters reflection i left, as far as i know, still no honorary sign affixed to a lampost with both your names so that many may wonder and hopefully read why your names are there. honorary signs abound here on si nyc many not denoting anywhere near yours and po fosters sacrifice in 1972, lets hope this changes and we see such an honor. semper fi.

robert dowling - administrative associ
nypd = retired

July 24, 2018

I was with my brothers in AIT and Viet Nam, Semper Fi Brothers, Rest In Peace.

Richard Rees, Cpl. USMC 0311
A Brother in Arms, Semper Fi, Rocco was a friend and work out partner,

April 8, 2018

Happy 46th year in Heaven my brother. Thank you again for your service and sacrifice to all of us here on earth. Continue to rest in perpetual peace and watch over your loving family always. Until we meet hero!

Lieutenant Ray Flores
NYPD (retired)

January 28, 2018

Rest in peace.

Lt. Jim Russo

January 27, 2018

Semper Fi Brother

SDS Mark McCormack
NYPD Retired

January 27, 2018

Sgt. Rocco Laurie was one of the finest human beings and Marines I ever had the privilege of knowing.
I have no doubt when he went to meet St.Peter they had an honor guard waiting to escort him in the Gates.
He looked out for his people and never let them down.
There is no higher accolade for a man.

Semper Fidelis

Pfc. Anthony Knapp
USMC

January 13, 2018