Photo Courtesy of NYPD
Part of 62nd Street in Maspeth is now “Det. Joseph A. Picciano Way.”
By Forum Staff
The Maspeth community and the NYPD family joined the Picciano family on Saturday in honoring the memory of Det. Joseph Picciano at a street renaming ceremony.
Picciano, a 10-year veteran of the force, made the ultimate sacrifice 45 years ago in the 41st Precinct stationhouse in the Bronx when he was gunned down by a prisoner. He was 33.
On Feb. 15, 1971, Det. Picciano and other officers from the 41 apprehended a man wanted in connection with the abduction of a 13-year-old boy. As the suspect was being fingerprinted, he began to struggle with Picciano. During the confrontation, Picciano’s service handgun fell to the ground. The suspect was able to gain control of the weapon and fire two shots, killing the detective. The remaining officers returned fire, killing the suspect.
Picciano was survived by his wife and three children. All attended Saturday’s ceremony renaming a portion of 62nd Drive. The renaming was sponsored in the City Council by Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley (D-Glendale).
