The New York State Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) held a special ceremony earlier this month to pay tribute to eight law enforcement officers statewide who made the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty in 2002 by engraving their names into its Memorial Wall.

Included among the eight officers was State Trooper Robert W. Ambrose, who grew up in Floral Park. He lost his life six days before Christmas last year when his police cruiser burst into flames after being struck from behind on the New York State Thruway. In addition, the names of 15 other law enforcement officers who perished in the line of duty as far back as 1818, and whose names only recently surfaced through continued investigation by the FOP, were also honored during the ceremony.

A crowd of several hundred attended the ceremony, including families of many of the officers being honored. New York City Police Chief Anthony Izzo, Nassau Police Commissioner James Lawrence and Susan McCormick of Survivors of the Shield are among a long list of dignitaries who will attend the event.

The NYS Fraternal Order of Police Memorial Wall in front of the organization's headquarters at 911 Police Plaza in Hicksville is already inscribed with the names of more than 1,000 of New York's finest, dating back to 1792. Every year, the names of fallen officers are added to the wall. The New York State Fraternal Order of Police is comprised of 20,000 law enforcement officers representing almost every department in the state.