NYPD Honors Officer Killed In Line Of Duty 20 Years Ago
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- The NYPD is honoring one of its own who was killed in the line of duty 20 years ago.
On Monday, a plaque was unveiled on Randalls Island in honor of Officer Kevin Gillespie, who was fatally shot by a carjacker in the Bronx on March 14, 1996.
Gillespie was just 33 years old and had been on the street crimes unit for just three months when he was gunned down.
Police Commissioner Bill Bratton called Gillespie a "fearless warrior."
The young cop left a mark on the NYPD that has lasted years after his death.
Louis Anemone, who was chief of department at the time of Gillespie's death, had never met the young officer. Anemone was shocked to receive a letter from Gillespie days after he was killed.
"I was speechless, stunned," Anemone said.
Before he died, Gillespie had outlined a training program to increase the safety of plainclothes officers.
Anemone and Bratton signed off on it.
"Since that time, thousands of officers have attended and benefited from this training," Anemone said.
"I'm just glad that we got that letter to you and we have saved some officers' lives -- that's what was important," Gillespie's widow, Patricia, said.
