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John P. McKee
Incident
Deputy Chief John McKee died as the result of cancer he developed following his assignment to assist with search and rescue efforts at the World Trade Center site immediately following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.
Following the attacks, Chief McKee spent over one month at the ground zero site coordinating the allocation of his agency's resources and personnel for the search and rescue operations. He later fell ill as a result of his exposure to the toxic materials in the area at the site.
Chief McKee had served with the City University of New York Department of Public Safety for 18 years and he was second in command of the agency.
September 11, 2001 - The Years After
Deputy Chief John P. McKee 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 September 12, 2015 - 14 years later - of an illness contracted there. He was 49.
He is one of 600 officers honored here.
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 is survived by his wife, four children, two stepsons, granddaughter, father, brother, and sister.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
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- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- September 26, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Also honored at requiem.nw. One record, 2 gates. John is one person.
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Tributes
You walked into it and it took years to finish the job.
Deputy Chief McKee gave 22 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of New York. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Chief McKee.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Illness
John is the only officer of City University of New York Department of Public Safety remembered here.
John is one of 630 officers lost to illness in NY, 29.5% of the 2,132 remembered there.
John is one of 2,028 officers lost to illness in the United States, 7.4% of the 27,552 remembered there.
John 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 2015, 28 officers in NY were lost to illness, the 10th heaviest of 41 years on record. The heaviest was 2021, with 65.
In 2015, 34 officers in the United States were lost to illness, the 10th heaviest of 108 years on record. The heaviest was 2021, with 564.
In 2015, 36 officers worldwide were lost to illness, the 11th heaviest of 197 years on record. The heaviest was 2021, with 566.
Who
John was 49. Of the 615 lost to illness in NY whose age is recorded, half were between 48.5 and 61; the middle age was 55. John had served 22 years; the middle length of service was 20 years.
John was 49. 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. John had served 22 years; the middle length of service was 20 years.
John was 49. Of the 2,916 lost to illness worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 39 and 56; the middle age was 49. John had served 22 years; the middle length of service was 20 years.
When
September holds 7.3% of these deaths in NY; October holds the most, 14%. Saturdays: 14.6%.
September holds 11.2% of these deaths in the United States; October holds the most, 14.9%. Saturdays: 13.9%.
September holds 9.8% of these deaths worldwide; October holds the most, 12.6%. Saturdays: 14.8%.
How
Illness deaths account for 100% of all 1 deaths at City University of New York Department of Public Safety. The weapon recorded was aircraft; passenger jet, in 100% 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.
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 55-E
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
0 officers from City University of New York Department of Public Safety are honored on badge.nw.