Joseph Vincent Vigiano

Detective Joseph Vigiano was killed in the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks while attempting to rescue the victims trapped in the World Trade Center. He was assigned to ESU Truck 2.

Detective Vigiano was one of the department's most decorated officers. He had been shot and wounded on three separate occasions during his career. Detective Vigiano had served with the New York City Police Department for 14 years. He is survived by his wife, also an NYPD officer, and three young sons. His brother, a New York City firefighter, was also killed in the attack.

Joseph V. Vigiano was appointed to the New York City Police Department on 28 April 1987, at the age of 20. As a police officer in the 75th Precinct, he and his partner answered a report of shots fired in the early hours of 3 July 1989; a gunman opened fire on them with a 9 mm pistol, striking both officers, and Officer Vigiano returned fire, wounding the man, who later died. For this he received the American Legion Police Post No. 460 Medal for Valor in 1990.

He was promoted to detective on 31 January 1992 and was wounded in a second gun battle in the 75 Precinct, after which the gunman was arrested; he received the Combat Cross for that case. As a member of the Emergency Service Unit, he was recognized for search and recovery work after the crash of TWA Flight 800 and received an award from the Mayor for a rescue after a scaffolding collapse on West 108th Street in Manhattan in August 1999. He was promoted to detective second grade on 12 April 2001.

On 11 September 2001, Detective Vigiano, assigned to Emergency Service Unit Truck 2 in Manhattan, was among the first to enter the World Trade Center complex after the attacks. He was killed there. His brother, Firefighter John Vigiano, also died that day.

Detective Vigiano was 34 years old, a husband and father, and a 14-year veteran of the department. His wife, Kathy, was also a police officer. His father was Fire Captain John Vigiano, one of the most decorated firefighters in the city's history.