Roll of Honor
Incident
Detective James Zadroga died of a respiratory disease he contracted during rescue and recovery operations at the site of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attack on the World Trade Center.
Detective Zadroga had responded to the World Trade Center immediately following the attack and began providing assistance. He was inside 7 World Trade Center as it began to collapse, but was able to escape.
In the weeks following the attack, Detective Zadroga spent over 470 hours digging through debris and inhaling the noxious gases and fumes present around the Ground Zero area.
Shortly after finishing his rescue and recovery work at the World Trade Center, Detective Zadroga developed a chronic cough, shortness of breath, acid reflux, and was plagued by headaches. Within months he required oxygen tanks to breathe as well as other medicines to slow the deterioration of his health. His condition continued to worsen and Detective Zadroga was granted a 75% pay disability pension on November 1, 2004.
Detective Zadroga died on January 6, 2006, as a result of respiratory disease, black lung disease, and mercury on the brain. His death was directly linked to his work at Ground Zero.
Detective Zadroga had served with the New York City Police Department for 13 years, and was assigned to the Manhattan South Homicide Task Force.
Detective Zadroga had served with the New York City Police Department for 13 years, and was assigned to the Manhattan South Homicide Task Force.
September 11, 2001 - The Years After
Detective James Zadroga was assigned to the search and recovery at the World Trade Center site after September 11, 2001. He was 30 years old that fall.
He died on January 6, 2006 - 4 years and 3 months later - of an illness contracted there. He was 34.
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 4-year-old daughter and his parents.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NY-3A94027D- 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 Zadroga gave the New York City Police Department 13 years.
Thank you for your service to the New York community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Zadroga.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Detective James Zadroga 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. James Zadroga's cause is highlighted.
How James Zadroga Compares
Offender Outcome
19 suicide attackers
When Illness Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Illness deaths across the full memorial record. James Zadroga is highlighted in Jan.
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.
