Contact: Colleen Roche/Curt Ritter (212) 788-2958
Officer Jones, a four-year veteran Housing Bureau Officer assigned to PSA #4, was off duty when he was shot and killed while attempting to interview a robbery suspect on the evening of October 13, 1996. He was 27. His mother and stepfather Lucille, and Larry Smith, attended today's ceremony with family and friends.
"Today we remember the life of one of New York's finest: Police Officer Brian Jones, a young man who lived his life to the fullest, but left us too soon," said Mayor Giuliani. "Each day the men and women of the New York City Police Department, the best police force in the world, put their lives on the line for the safety and security of the people of New York City. The plaque we are dedicating today is a symbol of our continuing dedication to the memory of Brian. It will remind future officers and community members of what should be obvious: that life itself is fragile, and that the work of police officers should never be taken for granted.
"Brian's love for his family was so deep that since his death, his fellow officers have remembered how Brian would always speak to them of the importance of family, and the responsibility that goes with having a family," the Mayor continued. "To the members of Officer Jones' family, his mother, Lucille, and his step-father, Larry, we know that the weight of your loss has not gotten any lighter over the years. But I want to you to know, on behalf of the grateful City and people of New York, that we stand with you and offer you our most sincere condolences."
Police Commissioner Safir said, "Although Brian Jones' life was brief, it was a life that had a positive impact on many people. He wanted to make a difference, and in that, he succeeded, for there are many who knew and loved him. I believe that the plaque we dedicate today should not stand as an object of sadness, but as a symbol of the happy memories we share of Brian Jones. This plaque will be a part of PSA #4 for many years to come, just as Officer Brian Jones holds a part of our hearts forever."
Over the past five years, overall crime in New York City has declined by almost 50 percent, including an almost 70 percent drop in murders. Crime has also continued to drop in New York City Housing Authority developments, declining over the past year by more than 12 percent in seven major categories, including a 26 percent drop in murders during that period.