A veteran NYPD sergeant died Sunday of a 9/11-related illness nearly 20 years after he joined the force and “answered the call” when a terror attack rocked the city and nation, Commission Dermot Shea announced.
Sgt. William Brautigam was 47.
“William was a member of the ‘9/11 class’ in our Academy,” Shea said in a statement Sunday night, noting Brautigam was appointed on July 2, 2001.
“When the attacks occurred just two months later, William, like thousands of his classmates and colleagues throughout the department, answered the call,” Shea said. “Now, nearly 20 years after that horrific time in our nation’s history, his strength continues to lead us — and we vow to never forget him or his immense sacrifice.”
Shea said Brautigam first served as a an officer in the 33rd Precinct, then moved onto Patrol Borough Manhattan North and the Vice Enforcement Division, where he earned a detective shield. He later worked at Narcotics Borough Manhattan North before returning to the 33rd Precinct as a sergeant, where he served as the field intelligence officer.
“For the past four years, he was assigned to the Criminal Enterprise Investigative Section. And for more than 2 years of that, he bravely fought the illness that ultimately claimed the life of another NYPD hero,” Shea said.
The commissioner lauded Brautigam for logging nearly 700 arrests, and earning 25 department recognition awards.
In a tweet, Shea vowed “we will #NeverForget William — another #hero.”
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