Queens North Deputy Police Inspector Steven Silks (Right) with the Commanding Officer of 112th Precinct Jonathan Cermeli (middle) (Photo: QueensPost)
June 6, 2019 By Laura Hanrahan
A high-ranking police chief died yesterday from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head at the age of 62.
Steven Silks, the deputy chief of Queens North, was found shot in an unmarked patrol car at around 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, just blocks from his office at the 112th Precinct Station house on Burns Street.
He was taken to Elmhurst Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Silks was scheduled to retire from the police force next month, according to the New York Post. The NYPD’s mandatory retirement age is 63.
Friends and colleagues took to social media to express their condolences and share their memories of Silks.
“He was a one-of-a-kind, well-accomplished individual & an amazing storyteller,” Commanding Officer of the Queens North Patrol Bureau Assistant Chief Martin Morales posted on Twitter.
City Council Member Robert Holden shared his devastation upon learning that Silks had died.
“I’ve known him for many years and he was a great man and public servant,” Holden tweeted. “May he rest in eternal peace, and may we honor him for his service to our great borough and to the NYPD.”
It is with a heavy heart that I announce that Dep. Chief Steve Silks (XO-PBQN) passed away yesterday after nearly 40 yrs of dedicated service. He was a one-of-a-kind, well-accomplished individual & an amazing storyteller. Steve will be missed by so many throughout the NYPD & NYC. pic.twitter.com/3dSDVZ7T22
— NYPD Queens North (@NYPDQueensNorth) June 6, 2019
8 Comments
Being forced to retire killed him. That rule should be changed
maybe his family probably will get more money since he died on the job.
It doesn’t matter that we make it so easy for people to kill themselves
So sorry to hear such a tragic end to a life devoted to helping others! May he rest in eternal peace! Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and NYPD colleagues!
God bless you always 🙏🙏🙏🙏 🙏. Sincere condolences to your family
RIP chief your were a great cop and a good CO. When a great warrior is discarded forced into mandatory retirement is a deaths sentence for great heroes like yourself. The love you had for the job and the guys and galls will truly be missed. Till we meet again .
Sorry to hear about that special for the people who gives their life for us to be safe I Hope Him a. place in paradise
We just never know what people are contending with in their minds. Be super cool to people you meet, even if it’s out of character to do so.