“He made that his personal responsibility,” Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said as family, friends, dignitaries and throngs of fellow officers paid tribute to Islam, who was among the four people killed in Monday's attack at the midtown Manhattan office tower that houses the National Football League's headquarters.
With officers stationed around the Bronx mosque for security on rooftops, fire trucks used their ladders to hold a huge American flag over a nearby street ahead of the service A flatbed truck carried a digital billboard showing photos of Islam and a commemorative message from his union. Officers lined up four deep outside.
Islam, 36, was working a department-approved private security detail, in uniform, when he was fatally shot in the attack. A security guard, real estate company employee and investment firm executive were also killed. The gunman also wounded a fifth victim, an NFL employee, before killing himself.
“He could have gone into any other occupation he wanted, but he wanted to put on that uniform, and he wanted to protect fellow New Yorkers. And he wanted to let us know that he believed in what this city and what this country stood for,” Mayor Eric Adams told the gathering. “That’s the greatest symbol of what we know we are as a country.”
“As the mayor of the city of New York, yes, I’m angry” about Islam's death, Adams said. But he added: “I’m filled with hope and optimism today became of the life of Officer Islam.”
Police identified the gunman as Shane Tamura, a 27-year old former high school football player who most recently worked in a Las Vegas casino. Authorities say he drove to Manhattan because he believed he had a brain disease linked to contact sports and accused the NFL of hiding the dangers of playing football.
