Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani: Good morning, everyone. To the Islam family, to the men and women of the 47th precinct, to the dedicated service members of the NYPD, to the people of Parkchester, it is a privilege to be together with you today as we honor the life and memory of first grade Detective Didarul Islam. I want to acknowledge that I stand here alongside leaders both inside and outside of our administration, our Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch, our First Deputy Commissioner Tania Kinsella, our 46th precinct Commanding Officer Deputy Inspector Muhammad Ashraf, our PBA President Patrick Hendry, our Detectives Endowment Association President Scott Monro, Officer Kamrul Hasan, Detective Islam's brother-in-law, and the entire Islam family, as well as our Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson and our State Senator Jamaal Bailey.
Exactly one year ago today, Detective Islam walked into 345 Park Avenue to fill in shift as a security guard. It was technically his day off after a long and demanding week as an officer for the NYPD. At home, he was busy raising two young children. His wife, Jamila, was pregnant with their third. But for Detective Islam, taking on extra work to protect his fellow New Yorkers was not a burden - it was a way of life. He regularly volunteered to work special details, overtime, an off-duty gig so that he could provide not only for his family here in Parkchester, but his relatives in Bangladesh. That was the kind of man Detective Islam was: generous, steady, humble, kind, compassionate and hardworking. He raised thousands of dollars to support his cousin's masjid, Masjid Bilal here in Parkchester, where on some days he would attend all five prayers. He took his brother-in-law, Officer Hasan, to get his learner's permit and helped him to get to his first job. He mentored young men in his community and encouraged them to join the force. He rented out the apartment beneath his home and earned the reputation as a good and responsible landlord and a warm and reliable neighbor. In the words of one of his tenants, "He did everything he could for us."
Detective Islam died as he lived, in the service and protection of others. In the midst of a horrific mass shooting, the worst our city had seen in 25 years, he placed himself in front of an assault rifle so that his fellow New Yorkers could escape to safety. It is an act of courage, unfathomable to most. Though a year has passed, I know that his loss remains painfully raw. To Jamila, Ahyan, Azhaan, Arham, I know you still mourn the husband and the father taken from you too early, his daily love and support. To Officer Hasan, I know that you still mourn a brother and a friend even as you have had to shoulder the responsibilities he carried as provider and protector of your family. To every member of the Islam family who has lost that brother, to his fellow officers here at Precinct 47, I know you still mourn a mentor, a trusted partner, and an exemplary officer for whom duty and service were simply a way of life. I mourn alongside you.
And yet I hope there is some comfort in knowing the good that Detective Islam did for others lives on in his absence. It lives on in the strength of his children who are growing up supported by the foundation he laid in the community he helped to build. It lives on in a police force that is stronger for his influence and for the many officers who answered the call to serve because of him. It lives in the streets of Parkchester that are safer because of the countless times he walked them on his beat. It lives on in each and every New Yorker who was better just for having shared a meal with him, just for being helped by his kindness, just for having prayed alongside him. If there is any relief to be found in the loss of such a great man, let it be found in the lesson of Sadaqah Jariyah.
Detective Islam's good work will continue to flow outward and better the lives of others long past his time on Earth. Let us recommit ourselves to uplifting those good works. Let us re-commit ourselves to building a New York City worthy of his legacy. And let us re-commit ourselves to the same values of duty, compassion, solidarity and service that defined him both in life and in death. I remember a year ago Officer Hasan told me that while I had never met Detective Islam, that he and his brother-in-law had been at the same place that I had gathered as well for Eid prayers. And though I was only that close to him in life, it feels as if I and so many other New Yorkers have been able to get closer to him in death, understanding a man whose legacy lives on in every good act that we have seen by so many that he had known. Allah yerhamo. May Allah's mercy be upon him.
Captain Jack Conway, Ceremonial Unit, Police Department: Thank you, Mayor Mamdani. It's now my pleasure to introduce the Police Commissioner of the City of New York, the Honorable Jessica S. Tisch.
Police Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch: Good morning to Jamila; Didarul's sons, Ahyan, Ahzaan and Arham; his parents, Muhammad and Manara; his sisters, Naima and Nadima; and all those who knew and loved Didarul Islam. Thank you for joining the men and women of the 47th Precinct, as we remember Detective First Grade Didarul Islam. One year has passed since New York City lost Didarul. For his family and for the officers who knew him here at the 47th, the weight of his absence has endured. We gather this morning in the command where he served to remember the man he was and the devotion that he brought to his family and to this department.
Since his passing, much of the world has come to know Didarul through the circumstances of his loss. Those gathered here knew a far larger life. A husband who shared his future with Jamila, a father whose children were at the heart of everything that he did, and a police officer who earned the trust of the men and women who stood beside him. That is the life that we honor today. Didarul was someone his fellow officers knew that they could rely on. He took his responsibilities seriously and gave the assignment in front of him his full attention. In a profession where trust is built over long tours and tested without warning, that kind of dependability means everything.
At home, the purpose behind all of that work was clear. Jamila and their sons were the reasons for the long hours and the future that he was working toward. Ahyan and Azhaan continue to grow with the memories of their father, while Arham's first year has unfolded in the care of a family that is determined to make Didarul's love part of the life that he inherits.
Jamila, no words delivered here can fully express what this year has asked of you. You have guided your boys through a loss that changed the future that you and Didarul had planned together. The strength with which you have protected your family reflects the love that still holds it together. That love began in the family that raised him. Didarul was a son to Mohammed and Manara, and a brother to Naima and Nadima, and the values that shaped his life were formed among the people who knew him first and loved him longest. Their loss is profound, and this city remains grateful for the man that they shared with us.
What Didarul learned from his family became part of the officer that he was. Here at the 47th Precinct, it could be seen in the care that he brought to the job and the respect he showed to the people beside him. The officers who served with Didarul will always remember more than his final tour. They will remember the way that he approached the job and the presence that he brought into that building. Those memories are now part of the history of this command where future officers will learn the name of Detective First Grade Didarul Islam and understand the service behind that name.
I also want to recognize the extraordinary work of this entire command in the year since Didarul's death, you have faced the loss of one of your own while continuing to serve this community and making sure that Didarul family and that your fellow officers had the support that they needed. That effort has been led by your commanding officer, Muhammad Ashraf, and I am proud to announce today that he is being promoted to inspector on Friday in recognition of that work.
For the NYPD, honoring Didarul means remaining close to the people that he loved. Jamila, the boys and the entire Islam family will always have a place in this department; and the men and women of the NYPD will continue to stand with them in the years ahead. One year later, Didarul remains deeply missed by the family who treasured him and by the officers who are proud to serve beside him. He will always be one of the 47th Precinct's own, and his name will forever belong to the department he served with honor. May God bless you all, and may the memory of Didarul Islam continue to be a blessing. Thank you.
Captain Conway: Thank you, Commissioner Tisch. It's now my pleasure to introduce the commanding officer of the 47th Precinct, Deputy Inspector Muhammad Ashraf.
Deputy Inspector Muhammad Ashraf: Good morning and as-salamu alaykum to the Islam family. Thank you to the family of Detective Islam. And thank you to everyone who has gathered here today. One year ago, we sit together in a moment of deep sorrow, trying to find the words for a loss that never should have happened. Today, we come back not because time has erased that pain but because our promise remains the same: We do not forget.
I want to take you back to that day in July when we lost Detective Didarul Islam. It was a heartbreaking day for his family, for his brothers and sisters in the NYPD and for this entire community. And yet, even in the midst of tragedy, what stood out most was not the way he died but the way he lived - with humility, compassion, purpose and service to others. When I think about Didarul, I think about a man who greeted people with [a] smile, the officer who stayed calm when others were under pressure, and a partner you could rely on, not having to ask twice. He was a man who would quietly check on people and say "appreciate you" constantly to people and make everyone around him feel respected.
Over the past year, I have spoken with many of the officers who worked alongside him. Their memories all point to the same kind of a man. One officer who shared not only the same tour but also the same language and culture told me that although they were not assigned as permanent partners, they spent countless midnights together. He described Didarul as professional, respectful, responsible and someone who genuinely cared about people around him. He told me that they often shared meals during long overnight tours. During a difficult period of his own life, Didarul would call him every week simply to ask, "Do you need anything?" He wasn't calling because he had to; he called because that's who he was. He cared. Those are the things that tell you who a person really is; those are the things that make a legacy.
Last year, we spoke about his son who had not yet entered this world. There was sadness in knowing that Didarul would never have a chance to hold his youngest son in his arms. And then on August 18, Allah blessed his family with [the] birth of that beautiful baby boy, Arham. Arham will grow up hearing stories about his father. He will know that his father wore this uniform with honor and was deeply loved by his family, respected by his fellow officers, and admired by this community he served. Most importantly, he will know that his father's name did not end on that tragic day in July; it continues to live on through him, through his brothers Ahyan and Azhaan, and through every life that Detective Islam touched.
As someone who also came to this country as an immigrant with little more than hope and determination, Didarul's story has always been deeply personal to me. Like so many immigrants, he believed in [the] promise of America and that through hard work, sacrifice and faith, he could build a better future for his family. And he did. He became a New York City police officer, a protector and a role model. Although his life was far too short, the impact he made will last far longer than the years he was given.
To the Islam family, I want you to know that the 47th Precinct has not forgotten, the NYPD has not forgotten, and this community has not forgotten. Every time we put on this uniform, we should remember officers like Didarul. His life reminds us that this profession is not measured by rank, years of service, or recognition, but [by] character, kindness, and how we treat people when no one is watching. That is an example he left for all of us. Today, we remember a devoted husband, a loving father, a caring son, a loyal friend, a proud Bangladeshi immigrant, and a dedicated New York City police officer and forever a member of the 47th Precinct family.
Detective Islam, your smile still lives on in our memory, your absence is still felt in our hearts, and your name is spoken with pride. May Allah continue to shower his mercy upon you, elevate your station in Jannat al-Firdous, grant patience and strength to your family, and allow your children to grow up knowing the remarkable man [their] father was. You served with honor. You lived with dignity. You gave everything in service to others. As commanding officer of the 47th Precinct, I can promise your family this: As long as this command stands, Detective Didarul Islam will always be one of our own. New officers will learn your name, veteran officers will tell your story, and your sacrifice will forever be woven into the history of this precinct. Detective Didarul Islam, your name will never be forgotten. Thank you.
Captain Conway: And thank you, Inspector Ashraf. It's now my pleasure to introduce the president of the Police Benevolent Association, Patrick Hendry.
Patrick Hendry, President, Police Benevolent Association: Good morning, everyone. Once again, our police officers, this community [and] our elected leaders come together with this family to remember and honor a special person, Didarul Islam. I think we could all agree how we live our lives, how we treat others and how we give it all every day to accomplish goals in life are truly important. And we know that's especially true for our police officers, who are on the streets every day protecting this city. I know many of us ask that question of ourselves, "How will we be remembered when we're not here anymore? Did we live our lives the right way? Did we try to help anyone that we possibly could at any time? And did we make an impact on people's lives for the better?" And we know the answer to that question for our brother, Didarul Islam. And the answer is, absolutely yes.
He made a huge impact on the lives of so many people, and we know his name will live on forever as long as there are police officers wearing that uniform proudly. Because he set the example for others on a daily basis. He set that example for his officers when he put on that uniform and shield with pride every day and went out to help anyone he could and protected this city at all costs. He set that example for his sons and his whole family by working incredibly hard to provide for them so that they would have a better way of life. He set an example off duty for those in the community, showing them the opportunities that he had in life - first, starting in School Safety as a school safety agent and then eventually coming on to his dream job in the NYPD. He inspired others to follow in his path. But after talking to this family, we know there was one thing that bothered Didarul: that he wasn't able to transfer his time from School Safety onto the NYPD. And when our brother lost his life - and we heard the story - we knew there was only one thing we could do. We knew he would want others he worked with, others who could come on after him, to have that opportunity. So, with the help of this entire amazing family and many elected leaders, our police commissioner and many, many others, together, we came up with legislation, the Didarul Islam Recruitment Act.
And last November of 2025, we stood outside that precinct in a press conference - many of us here - and we went up to Albany. And we are truly honored and proud; on May 27th, the governor signed into law the Didarul Islam Recruitment Act, which we are truly, truly proud of. And we know it will impact the lives of so many police officers on this job and those who come on in the future. But most importantly, it will carry on Didarul's legacy of setting that example, caring for family, caring for his fellow police officers and caring for the community here where he worked and where he lived. And that, I know, means the world to this family. So, I thank you all who made this happen, who made his bill happen. It's truly important for Didarul, for this family and his legacy. I thank all for being here. God bless you all.
Captain Conway: Thank you, Officer Hendry. And now, it's my honor to introduce the brother-in-law of Detective Didarul Islam, Police Officer Kamrul Hassan.
Police Officer Kamrul Hasan: Good morning, everyone. On behalf of our family, I would like to thank every single of you here in this morning. First of all, I'd like to say congratulations [to] Mr. Ashraf for being promoted as an inspector; now we can say Inspector Ashraf. It's been one year since we lost our Islam. During this difficult year, our family has been surrounded with so many people who stood beside us with love and support for what we are forever grateful for. I remember last July 28 [2025], me and Islam [were] having a conversation about taking [our kids] to a water park. It's been one year. I can't ever forget those conversations. That gave me so much pain last year. Today is a very difficult day for us and our family. I often wish I could go back to the time for just once to say goodbye to my brother. But we all know it's not going to happen. Over the past year, our every family gathering has felt incomplete. There is always an empty place that no one can replace. We miss him every single day.
About three weeks after the tragedy, Arham was born. We see the value of him. Watching Arham growing, our hearts knowing he will never have that chance to know his father. Nothing can replace the loss. Didarul Islam went to work just like thousands of other NYPD officers do every single morning. Unfortunately, the tragedy, he never made it home. As family members after that incident, I have spent so many hours with Didarul Islam's elderly parents and Jamila. Every time I ask Ahyan, "Do you even miss your father?" His answer is always, "Yes. I miss my father so much." Ahyan remembers his father used to take him shopping or out to dinner and the park. I understand as a father how important it is for a child to have their father's handhold throughout every stage of life. Azhaan is still waiting for his father to come back. Jamila has taken the responsibility for her father as well as her mother. It's not easy for her, but she is continuing to show incredible strength every single day.
After the tragedy, our experience and kindness - compassion from people from across New York City and throughout the state - many people had helped us not to - not because they had to, [but] because they cared about our NYPD and the family. We will never forget the kindness. Honorable mayor, we are so pleased with you because you showed up not only once, not twice, [but] three times to our house to show your love and support to our family. Honorable police commissioner, you stood beside our family and honored every commitment you made. From the bottom of our heart, thank you. Your support in our darkest days has meant more than what we can express. And our families always remember your kindness and help. Our community and elected officials, thank you for standing with us. I remember when myself and Inspector Ashraf showed up at one of the community events, 40 percent community board night for a proposal of street renaming for the Didarul Islam. That community board was so helpful. That actually happened - street renaming within couple of months. That was the faster event that happened within our so many short time. We are so grateful to the elected and committee members.
I also thank PBA for your hard work in supporting the Didarul Islam Recruitment Act. That legislation will benefit more than 3,000 city employees. And also, that Recruitment Act legacy will continue to make a positive impact on others. Finally, I'll recognize all NYPD executives; all NYPD members; every single member of 47 Precinct; NYPD Muslim Officer Society; DEA; BAPA; NYPD Hispanic Society; [NYPD] Desi Society; Pulse; NYPD Hindu Society; Indian Officer Society. All other organizations, I am not even mentioning the name today. Your love, support and compassion have carried [our] family through a very difficult time. On behalf of our entire family, I would like to thank every single one of you standing with us, honoring Didarul Islam's legacy and service, sacrifice, love will never be forgotten. Thank you, everyone. Thank you so much for being here, and may God bless every single one of you.
