State Assemblywoman Nily Rozic and Senator Toby Ann Stavisky were joined by members of the Tsakos family, the New York Police Department (NYPD), local elected officials and community leaders on Monday, Aug. 15, to unveil the renamed Long Island Expressway (LIE) overpass at Francis Lewis Boulevard and Horace Harding Expressway as “Detective Anastasios Tsakos Memorial Bridge.”
On June 30, Governor Kathy Hochul signed Rozic and Stavisky’s bill to rename the LIE overpass and the New York State Department of Transportation (DOT) installed the signage honoring Tsakos, who was killed in the line of duty.
According to Rozic, the sign commemorates Tsakos’ heroism and all that he represented as one of New York’s finest.
“While his loss was a tragedy, his memory will live on and will forever remain in our hearts. We are going to utilize the signage on the LIE to commemorate him for decades to come, so generations moving forward will know about his bravery,” Rozic said.
Stavisky remembered Tsakos as a husband, father and son who sacrificed his life protecting other people.
“Today we honor the memory and heroism of Detective Anastasios Tsakos. Future generations will be reminded of his sacrifice and this will demonstrate to the public the dangers our police officers face each day,” Stavisky said. “I hope his family takes solace in the love so many have shown.”
On April 21, 2021, while responding to a collision that occurred on the LIE to assist with directing traffic, Tsakos was struck and killed by an intoxicated driver. The driver fled the scene but was later apprehended and charged by a Queens grand jury with a 13-count indictment, including aggravated manslaughter and vehicular manslaughter.
Tsakos had served 13 years with the NYPD as a highway officer assigned to Highway Unit 3. He was posthumously promoted to the rank of detective. Tsakos is from East Northport, Long Island. He is survived by his wife, Irene, and their two children.
While reflecting on her family’s past life in the Fresh Meadows community, Irene said naming the LIE overpass after her husband is a “beautiful way to honor and celebrate his legacy and is a great significance for her family.”
“There were years of joy and years of hard work. We both did our part and drew strength from each other, raising our family and looking towards the future,” Irene said. “I wish I could turn back time. A big part of my heart will always remain here. My husband was such a great man. He is such a giving spirit. He went above and beyond in everything he did. In his life, nothing was just ever given to him. He earned everything, and he earned this too, which is very well deserved.”
According to Patrick Lynch, president of the Police Benevolent Association of New York, Tsakos was a hero at work and at home, who received courage from his family.
“When we go out and do our job every day, we want to go out and do the job. We look for our tour to start so that we can go out on patrol. The real courage is by our family, who stayed behind and worried every minute until they heard that key in the apartment door until the end of the tour,” Lynch said. “The courage is Mrs. Tsakos who, every day, has to live with the loss. Recently, we saw that courage again when she had to sit in a courtroom and stare down the murderer of her husband. That takes courage. The hard work and the courage is now picked up by his family.”
NYPD Chief of Transportation Kim Royster said they’re truly grateful to the elected officials and members of the community for bringing the signage to fruition.
“This sign is a promise to the Tsakos family that we will never forget that tragic day, and he will always be in our hearts,” Royster said.
Paul DiGiacomo, president of the Detective Endowment Association Inc., said they’re honored and proud to have Tsakos’s family as part of the DEA family.
“Detective First Grade Anastasios Tsakos is a hero of New York City who leaves behind a loving family and tremendous legacy of service. The Detective Anastasios Tsakos Memorial Bridge honors our fallen hero and memorializes his selfless sacrifice,” DiGiacomo said. “The Detectives’ Endowment Association is grateful to Senator Toby Ann Stavisky and Assemblywoman Nily Rozic — and to everyone who joins us in our solemn vow to never forget him.”
Queens elected officials such as Councilwoman Linda Lee and Congresswoman Grace Meng said they’re eternally grateful for the ultimate sacrifice that Tsakos paid to take care of Queens and New York family members.
“To have a representation and symbol with his name on it, doesn’t just remind us of the sacrifice that he and his family made to keep us safe, but an everyday reminder that our men and women in blue, and their families and loved ones pay, to keep all of us safe,” Meng said.
According to Lee, Tsakos’s legacy and impact on the lives of everyone he touched will live on and be remembered by each New Yorker who crosses the bridge.
“It brings me joy to celebrate Detective Tsakos’ committed life of service to our city, and I hope that this honor brings some comfort to his loved ones that I know miss him dearly,” Lee said.
