Slain Officer Didarul Islam, in essay, praised NYPD officers’ ‘huge positive impact’

In 122 words, slain Police Officer Didarul Islam made it clear in an essay why he wanted to join the ranks of the NYPD: They were there to protect New Yorkers, and, he said, “I got inspired by their work.”

Islam was one of four people shot dead by Shane Tamura at a Park Ave. office building on July 28. In the following days, including at his funeral, he was lauded as a cop who loved the job and found satisfaction in public service.

His essay, written while he was at the Police Academy, took on more poignancy Wednesday as 965 NYPD recruits, including 44 from his native Bangladesh, graduated from the academy during a ceremony at Madison Square Garden.

Here is Islam’s essay:

“The reason why I want to be a police officer, I have been living in this country for the last 12 years, and since my very first day, I have seen NYPD officers create a huge positive impact for the community, and in our community, the crime rate is going down because of the NYPD officers’ hard work. Also, I have seen in my community when anything happens related to crime, no one is safe until the police come. … NYPD officers work as a blanket of my community, and I got inspired by their hard work. I decided to be part of the NYPD family and contribute myself to the good work to keep our community as well as our country safe.”

Speaking at Islam’s funeral in the Bronx last Thursday, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said that, as he had aspired to do in his brief essay, he indeed had had a positive impact in his four short years on the beat as a New York City cop.

“His journey was cut too short,” Tisch said. “But the way he lived this job — with steadiness, with heart and conviction — he reflected everything this title represents.”