caring about history

Police officer Anthony Nuccio is a history buff with an artistic eye.

When he saw a memorial wall for members of the 19th Precinct who died in the line of duty that he felt was unsuitable, he acted to improve it. Nuccio, 34, explains, “When I got to the precinct [in late 2014], I saw there were a few plaques on a wall, but through extensive research, I learned there were more officers who died on duty; seven in total.”

Nuccio, a fine arts major early in his college days, helped redesign a new memorial made with wood, molding, and high-gloss lacquer. The hard work cumulated with a rededication ceremony in October, 2016, and included family members from Ireland, Florida, New Hampshire and New York. Also in attendance was then-newly installed Police Commissioner, James P. O’Neill.

“There wasn’t a dry eye in the house,” Nuccio recalls. “The biggest thing was bringing families thought to be forgotten back to the precinct to be remembered and honored.”

Nuccio was born in New York City, but grew up in Florida. His life was forever affected by the events of September 11, 2001. “I started to take more criminal justice courses and knew I wanted to move back to New York and join the NYPD. I could’ve become a police officer anywhere, but the only place I wanted to be was New York.”

Nuccio deferred entering the police academy until he graduated from John Jay College in 2008 with a degree in criminal justice.

From 2008 until 2014, Nuccio worked in Flatbush and then Sunset Park, Brooklyn before joining the Upper East Side’s 19th precinct in 2014 as a crime prevention officer.

The crime prevention unit’s responsibilities include keeping the community informed of current crime patterns, scams, and how best to keep safe. Nuccio does lectures and presentations at senior centers, co-op and condo meetings, along with block associations, as well as meeting with crime victims. “The main focus is outreach and education. It’s the heart of what we do and I feel comfortable knowing that the work we do has helped a lot of people,” Nuccio says.

Kathy Jolowicz, vice president and founding member of the 19th precinct Community Council, often works on events with Nuccio. “We enjoy working with him as he’s reliable and caring and we consider ourselves lucky having him aboard,” she says.

Nuccio, who co-runs the precinct’s Twitter account, lives in Brooklyn. He enjoys the Upper East Side, especially the Mount Vernon Hotel & Museum, which he calls “my favorite hidden and almost forgotten place … It really transports you back to early New York City.”

“Knowing the history of the NYPD and the patrolmen who came before me makes wearing my shield one of the greatest honors I have ever received,” says Nuccio. “I wouldn’t have it any other way nor would I want to work anywhere else.”