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Christopher A. Cizmarik
Incident
Detective Lieutenant Christopher Cizmarik died as the result of cancer that he developed following his assignment to the search and recovery efforts at the World Trade Center site following the 9/11 Terrorist Attacks.
Detective Lieutenant Cizmarik had served with the Nassau County Police Department for 20 years. He was survived by his wife and two sons. One of his sons also served in law enforcement.
September 11, 2001 - The Years After
Detective Lieutenant Christopher A. Cizmarik was assigned to the search and recovery at the World Trade Center site after September 11, 2001. He was 35 years old that fall.
He died on December 27, 2023 - 22 years and 3 months later - of an illness contracted there. He was 57.
He is one of 600 officers honored here, and one of 14 at Nassau County Police Department.
The most recent of these deaths was October 24, 2025.
Officers who worked the search, rescue, and recovery at the World Trade Center site breathed contaminated air for weeks and months afterward. Many developed cancers and respiratory disease, and they have gone on dying of it ever since.
Seventy-two officers were killed on the morning itself. Hundreds more have died in the years that followed. They are honored here together, because the same attack killed them all. With some it simply took longer.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and two sons.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
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- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Christopher. Claim this record.
Also honored at requiem.nw. One record, 2 gates. Christopher is one person.
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Tributes
You walked into it and it took years to finish the job.
Detective Lieutenant Cizmarik gave the Nassau County Police Department 20 years.
Thank you for your service to the Mineola community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Lieutenant Cizmarik.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Illness
Nassau County Police Department has lost 51 officers; 16 of them lost to illness.
Christopher is one of 630 officers lost to illness in NY, 29.5% of the 2,132 remembered there.
Christopher is one of 2,028 officers lost to illness in the United States, 7.4% of the 27,552 remembered there.
Christopher is one of 2,979 officers lost to illness worldwide, 8.7% of the 34,103 remembered here.
34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 2023, 1 officer at Nassau County Police Department was lost to illness, the 6th heaviest of 9 years on record. The heaviest was 2021, with 4.
In 2023, 41 officers in NY were lost to illness, the 7th heaviest of 41 years on record. The heaviest was 2021, with 65.
In 2023, 60 officers in the United States were lost to illness, the 5th heaviest of 108 years on record. The heaviest was 2021, with 564.
In 2023, 63 officers worldwide were lost to illness, the 5th heaviest of 197 years on record. The heaviest was 2021, with 566.
Who
Christopher was 57. Of the 16 lost to illness at Nassau County Police Department whose age is recorded, half were between 49.8 and 63.3; the middle age was 53. Christopher had served 20 years; the middle length of service was 28 years.
Christopher was 57. Of the 615 lost to illness in NY whose age is recorded, half were between 48.5 and 61; the middle age was 55. Christopher had served 20 years; the middle length of service was 20 years.
Christopher was 57. Of the 1,996 lost to illness in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 42 and 58; the middle age was 51. Christopher had served 20 years; the middle length of service was 20 years.
Christopher was 57. Of the 2,916 lost to illness worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 39 and 56; the middle age was 49. Christopher had served 20 years; the middle length of service was 20 years.
When
December holds 12.5% of these deaths at Nassau County Police Department; September holds the most, 25%. Wednesdays: 43.8%.
December holds 7.6% of these deaths in NY; October holds the most, 14%. Wednesdays: 13.3%.
December holds 9.6% of these deaths in the United States; October holds the most, 14.9%. Wednesdays: 14%.
December holds 9.6% of these deaths worldwide; October holds the most, 12.6%. Wednesdays: 13.6%.
How
Illness deaths account for 31.4% of all 51 deaths at Nassau County Police Department, the 2nd most common cause. The weapon recorded was aircraft; passenger jet, in 87.5% of these deaths.
Illness deaths account for 29.5% of all 2,132 deaths in NY, the 3rd most common cause. The weapon recorded was aircraft; passenger jet, in 83.5% of these deaths.
Illness deaths account for 7.4% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the 3rd most common cause. The weapon recorded was aircraft; passenger jet, in 29.5% of these deaths.
Illness deaths account for 8.7% of all 34,103 deaths worldwide, the 3rd most common cause. The weapon recorded was aircraft; passenger jet, in 20.1% of these deaths.
His people
Nassau County Police Department has 51 officers remembered here, Christopher among them.
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John A. Hahn
Sep 24, 1925
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John P. Dowd
Apr 30, 1929
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Fred S. Hirsch
May 6, 1931
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Alvin J. Borgwardt
Feb 25, 1932
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Milton E. Verity
Feb 25, 1932
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John Davis Kennedy
Jul 12, 1932
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Lawrence E. Duncan
Oct 12, 1935
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Arthur J. Klepper
Dec 3, 1937
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Alexander N. Benedict
Feb 3, 1939
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Charles H. Shaw
Sep 6, 1940
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David J. Murphy
Sep 9, 1942
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John E. West
Feb 4, 1946
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Adam Yulch
Jul 2, 1950
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William R. Sellers
May 19, 1954
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Joseph Sternberg
Aug 16, 1954
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Alfred J. Del Giorno
Dec 7, 1956
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John F. Daly
Oct 28, 1957
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Louis A. De Francesco
Nov 28, 1957
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Robert H. Pickwick
Aug 6, 1960
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Joseph L. Coote
Mar 22, 1961
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William Trofemuk
May 14, 1961
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Kathleen M. Reilly
Dec 25, 1967
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Richard B. Rose
Dec 29, 1971
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Matthew Francis Giglio
Dec 16, 1975
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George R. Kempen
Nov 14, 1976
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Michael J. Kavanagh
May 29, 1977
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Robert J. Harris
May 17, 1978
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Daniel J. Greer
Dec 16, 1979
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Gary R. Farley
Mar 7, 1993
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Peter Francis Curran
Apr 12, 2006
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Michael J. Califano
Feb 5, 2011
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Geoffrey J. Breitkopf
Mar 12, 2011
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Charles Dennis Cole, Jr.
Aug 14, 2011
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Robert D. Negri, Jr.
Sep 28, 2011
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Joseph Paul Olivieri, Jr.
Oct 18, 2012
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Arthur Lopez
Oct 23, 2012
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Peter Martino
Feb 5, 2014
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Michael J. Kearns
Jun 8, 2014
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Paul J. McCabe
Sep 25, 2015
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Brian R. Abbondandelo
Jul 28, 2016
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Michael P. Shea
Apr 1, 2017
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Steven Clifford
May 23, 2017
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James V. Quinn
Sep 18, 2017
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Billy Erdmann
Oct 7, 2019
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Erick W. Contreras
Jan 15, 2021
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Matthew Anthony Perlungher
Aug 4, 2021
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Charles C. Vroom
Sep 12, 2021
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Hector M. Nunez
Dec 8, 2021
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Christopher A. Cizmarik
Dec 27, 2023
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Kevin Canavan
Jun 30, 2024
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Philip J. Schifini
Nov 27, 2024
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 46-WT
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Also Remembered
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial — requiem.nw →
Others Who Wore This Badge
50 officers from Nassau County Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
