Roll of Honor
Incident
Detective Robert Williamson died of pancreatic and lung cancer he developed as a result of his work at Ground Zero, the site of the World Trade Center terrorist attack of 9/11.
Detective Williamson responded to the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, shortly after the two towers had collapsed. While he was working at the site, World Trade Center building 7 collapsed, but Detective Williamson was able to escape unharmed.
During the following months, Detective Williamson worked hundreds of hours at the Ground Zero site, where he inhaled toxic chemicals and materials. The inhalation of those chemicals led to the development of cancer. During the subsequent years, his pancreas, spleen, gallbladder, most of his stomach, and parts of his intestines and lungs became cancerous. On May 13, 2007, Detective Williamson died as a result of his work at Ground Zero.
Detective Williamson served with the New York City Police Department for 20 years and was assigned to the Street Crime Unit.
Detective Williamson served with the New York City Police Department for 20 years and was assigned to the Street Crime Unit.
September 11, 2001 - The Years After
Detective Robert W. Williamson was assigned to the search and recovery at the World Trade Center site after September 11, 2001. He was 41 years old that fall.
He died on May 13, 2007 - 5 years and 8 months later - of an illness contracted there. He was 46.
He is one of 599 officers honored here, and one of 450 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
He is survived by his wife and three children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NY-140CFF99- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
You walked into it and it took years to finish the job.
Detective Williamson gave the New York City Police Department 20 years.
Thank you for your service to the New York community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Williamson.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Detective Robert W. Williamson is one of 2,974 officers lost to illness connected to their service across the full record of this memorial — 9.1% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In NY, 629 of 2,147 officers were lost to illness connected to their service — 29.3% of this state's fallen. That is 20.2 percentage points above the national rate of 9.1%.
At New York City Police Department, 521 of 1237 officers on record were lost to illness connected to their service — 42.1% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Illness compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Robert W. Williamson's cause is highlighted.
How Robert W. Williamson Compares
Offender Outcome
19 suicide attackers
When Illness Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Illness deaths across the full memorial record. Robert W. Williamson is highlighted in May.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
1,236 officers from New York City Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
