Newly promoted detective will wear same shield number as 9/11 hero dad

New York Post

9 hours ago

A newly promoted Big Apple detective — who has the same job as his 9/11 hero dad — will now wear his father's identical shield number, decades after it was retired.
Joe Vigiano, 32, of the NYPD's elite Emergency Service Unit, sported shield number 4511 at a promotions ceremony Friday — years after his father, Joseph Vigiano, died wearing it while rescuing those trapped in the World Trade Center.
'Now I have the privilege of wearing my dad's shield number,' a beaming Joe Vigiano told The Post.
4 Joe Vigiano, 32, surrounded by his proud family at a promotions ceremony.
Matthew McDermott
Vigiano was 8 years old when his father, a detective with ESU's Truck 2 on Sept. 11, 2011, never returned home.
His dad's FDNY brother John also perished in the terrorist attack.
Joseph Vigiano and his widow, Kathy, met while the pair worked in Brooklyn's 75th Precinct.
'He went to work and never came home,' Kathy, a retired cop, said about her beloved husband.
4 Joe Vigiano wearing his hero dad's shield number.
Matthew McDermott
'Now, my son Joe wears his father's detective shield and does the same job his father did.'
Joe said he was inspired to follow his father's footsteps after ESU members helped the shattered family grieve after the devastating attacks.
4 Joe Vigiano poses for a photo with NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch during a promotions ceremony.
Matthew McDermott
'It was definitely the camaraderie I saw with the passing of my father,' he said.
'After my dad passed away, it was definitely the men and women of the 75th Precinct and the Emergency Service Unit that took my family in.'
Joe joined the department eight years ago and has worked out of Brooklyn's Emergency Truck 7 — where his dad started out.
His brother John is in the Marines. While his other one, James, also works in the NYPD.
4 Brothers Joseph and John Vigiano died in the World Trade Center attacks on 9/11.
Copyphoto
Last year, the cop brothers saved a man in Brooklyn after he was shot in the chest.
At the ceremony, Joe was surrounded by his proud family including his mom, wife Jenny and 3-year-old son Joseph, who is named after his brave grandfather.
Asked how his dad would feel about his ascent in the department, Joe said, 'I'm sure he would be proud.'
'More importantly, I think he would be proud of my family, my wife and son. They're great'