Corey J. Diaz

Detective Corey Diaz died from illnesses he contracted while inhaling toxic materials as he participated in the rescue and recovery efforts at the World Trade Center site following the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001.

Detective Diaz had served with the New York City Police Department for 19 years and was assigned to the Organized Crime Control Bureau's Investigative Support Division.

Detective Corey Diaz died from illnesses he contracted while inhaling toxic materials as he participated in the rescue and recovery efforts at the World Trade Center site following the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001.

Corey J. Diaz joined the New York City Police Department on 15 October 1990. He was promoted to detective on 26 September 1995, to second grade on 21 December 1999 and to first grade on 23 December 2004. He served in the 28 Precinct, the Narcotics Division and Brooklyn North Narcotics before joining the Investigative Support Division of the Organized Crime Control Bureau. There he was the bureau's longtime fiscal officer, reporting directly to the Chief of the Bureau, and he also served as his unit's delegate.

Detective Diaz was still on active duty when he died on 7 October 2009 of pancreatic cancer related to his work in the rescue, recovery and clean-up after the World Trade Center attacks. He died only seven days after he was diagnosed.

On 10 December 2009, the date that would have been his 41st birthday, family, friends and colleagues gathered for a memorial service at St. Patrick's Cathedral on Fifth Avenue. He was buried at St. Raymond's Cemetery in the Bronx. Remembered as outgoing and friendly, he was survived by his domestic partner, his parents and his young son. His name was inscribed on the NYPD Memorial Wall and unveiled in Albany during the week of 9 May 2011. A blood test panel meant to help detect several common cancers at an early stage was developed in his memory and named the Det. Corey Diaz Blood Panel.