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By Jeff Shields
Philadelphia Inquirer
PHILADELPHIA — Seven police officers killed or fatally injured in the line of duty will have their names memorialized on city streets, as City Council approved resolutions yesterday changing the names of blocks where the fallen officers lived and died.
The officers honored were Gary Skerski, Patrick McDonald, Isabel Nazario, Chuck Cassidy, Stephen Liczbinski, Lauretha Vaird and Walter Barclay. Their names and badge numbers will be on signs placed above the existing street signs; the names on the city map will not actually change, nor will addresses on those blocks.
Mayor Nutter proposed the changes to Council. “These seven officers gave the ultimate sacrifice for the city of Philadelphia,” Nutter said. “I am pleased that Council took this action to make sure that the memory of these seven officers will live on.”
Council’s vote came exactly one month after the fatal shooting of McDonald.
Outside City Council, Officer Maritza Mohamad said it was an honor for not just her sister, Nazario, but for all fallen officers.
Judy Cassidy, widow of Cassidy, said that anything done to preserve the officers’ memories was positive, but that seeing her husband’s name on the street sign each day would bring his death home.
“It does make it hard - it will make it real,” she said.
The following is a list of the signs and their locations:
- Police Officer Gary Skerski. Home: 3300 block of Almond Street. Killed: Castor Avenue and Arrott Street. Date of shooting: May 8, 2006.
- Police Officer Walter Barclay. Home: 4000 block of Mitchell Street. Fatally injured: Fifth Street and 66th Avenue. Date of shooting: Nov. 27, 1966.
- Police Officer Chuck Cassidy. Home: 2700 block of Willits Road. Killed: Broad Street and 66th Avenue. Date of shooting: Oct. 31, 2007.
- Sgt. Stephen Liczbinski. Home: 7400 block of Claridge Street. Killed: Almond and Schiller Streets. Date of shooting: May 3, 2008.
- Police Officer Isabel Nazario. Home: 3300 block of Welsh Road. Killed: 39th and Wallace Streets. Date of auto accident: Sept. 5, 2008.
- Sgt. Patrick McDonald. Home: 3600 block of Whitehall Lane. Killed: 17th and Dauphin Streets. Date of shooting: Sept. 23, 2008.
- Police Officer Lauretha Vaird. Home: 1600 block of Widener Place. Killed: Rising Sun and Wyoming Avenues. Date of shooting: Jan. 2, 1996.
Copyright 2008 Philadelphia Inquirer