Councilman Chaim Deutsch recently gathered with NYPD brass, community leaders, and members of the Shomrim Society, the organization of Jewish police officers in the NYPD, to co-name West 12th Street and Surf Avenue in Coney Island Leon Fox Way, in memory and to honor the legacy of NYPD Police Officer Leon Fox. Officer Fox was the first Jewish officer to be killed in the line of duty serving New York City.
Officer Fox, while assigned to the NYPD’s 60th Precinct, was shot and killed while pursuing three robbery suspects—78 years ago. When Officer Albert Mammon told Councilman Deutsch Leon’s tragic story, Deutsch’s response was “We must recognize, honor and remember Officer Fox, he was a hero, it is our duty to do so.”
Before the ceremony could take place, Councilman Deutsch wanted to track down Leon’s living relatives. Using NYPD pension records, he successfully tracked down Leon’s only son, Gerald Fox, a movie producer living in Hollywood.
The Councilman told Gerald and his wife Linda that he would love to honor his father’s memory with a street renaming. Gerald was extremely grateful and immediately planned for the momentous event, traveling 2,700 miles across the country to attend the ceremony in his father’s memory.
The event was packed with community members, elected officials, and NYPD brass, including NYPD First Deputy Commissioner Tucker, Commissioner Bob Ganley, Lieutenant Ira Jablonsky from community affairs and police officers from across Brooklyn. David Heskiel, NYPD Clergy Liaison and special community liaison to Councilman Deutsch was also in attendance, as was Officer Albert Mammon who recited Kaddish in memory of Officer Fox.
A special guest got up to speak, 92 year old Leo Katz. He spoke fondly about Leon, reminiscing about the times Leon would watch over him and his friends in school, when he was a kid. Leon would make sure they left home safely and arrived where they were going safely. Katz told everyone that Leon was the friendliest cop that he has ever met in his lifetime, and that he left an everlasting impression on him.
Thank you to Councilman Deutsch and the NYPD for once again keeping their promise to never forget their fallen officers and their family members.
