Richard Daniel Winter
Agency patch
Inspector

Richard Daniel Winter

End of Watch October 25, 2008
Age 63
Tour of Duty 37 yrs
Gender Male

Incident

Inspector Richard Winter died from illnesses caused by inhaling toxic materials while partaking in the rescue and recovery efforts at the World Trade Center site, following the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

Inspector Winter had served with the New York City Police Department for 37 years and was the Commanding Officer of the Fleet Services Division. A U.S.

Inspector Winter had served with the New York City Police Department for 37 years and was the Commanding Officer of the Fleet Services Division. A U.S.

September 11, 2001 - The Years After

Inspector Richard Daniel Winter was assigned to the search and recovery at the World Trade Center site after September 11, 2001. He was 56 years old that fall.

He died on October 25, 2008 - 7 years and 1 month later - of an illness contracted there. He was 63.

He is one of 600 officers honored here, and one of 451 at New York City 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

Navy veteran, he is survived by his wife and child.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
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Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
September 22, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Richard. Claim this record.

Also honored at requiem.nw, salute.nw — U.S. Navy. One record, 3 gates. Richard is one person.

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Tributes

You walked into it and it took years to finish the job.
Inspector Winter gave the New York City Police Department 37 years.
Thank you for your service to the New York community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Inspector Winter.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Type Police Department
Location New York, NY
Platform Identity nypd.newyork.ny.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch October 25, 2008
Tour of Duty 37 yrs
Age 63
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Illness
Weapon Aircraft; Passenger jet

Military Service

Richard Daniel Winter served in the U.S. Navy (1968–1971) before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

The Sacrifice · Illness

Richard is one of 2,028 officers lost to illness in the United States, 7.4% of the 27,552 remembered there.

34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
  2. See the roll
Compare against
I

Time

In 2008, 18 officers in the United States were lost to illness, the 19th heaviest of 108 years on record. The heaviest was 2021, with 564.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Richard was 63. 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. Richard had served 37 years; the middle length of service was 20 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

October holds 14.9% of these deaths in the United States, more than any other month. Saturdays: 13.9%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

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.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

New York City Police Department has at least 120 officers remembered here, Richard among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Inspector Richard Daniel Winter

New York City Police Department · End of Watch October 25, 2008

Military Service

Richard Daniel Winter served in the U.S. Navy (1968–1971) before joining law enforcement.

Visit Richard Daniel Winter’s page on salute.nw →

His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 12-E

Also Remembered

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial — requiem.nw →

salute.nw →

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