On a cold February evening in the Bronx, the life of a dedicated public servant was tragically cut short. George J. Werdann, a 23-year-old male New York City Police Officer, was off-duty on February 21, 1982, when he witnessed a robbery unfolding at a local supermarket. Without hesitation, he pursued the two suspects in his personal vehicle. As he attempted to apprehend one of the individuals, the other suspect fatally shot him.
The incident occurred at approximately 8:30 p.m., and Officer Werdann succumbed to his injuries at the scene. He had served with the New York City Police Department for three years and was assigned to the 47th Precinct.
The suspects, two brothers aged 17 and 19, fled after the shooting and sought refuge at their mother's home in San Juan, Puerto Rico. An intensive investigation led authorities to their location, and six weeks after the murder, both brothers were apprehended and charged with murder and robbery. The subsequent legal proceedings brought a measure of justice for the senseless killing of a young officer.
On November 25, 1982, the older brother, who was 19 at the time of the crime, was convicted of second-degree murder and received a sentence of 20 years to life in prison. The younger brother was convicted on robbery charges and also served a significant prison sentence. In the years that followed, the parole of one of the convicted brothers, Jose Curet, sparked controversy and outrage among law enforcement and the community, who felt that his release did not adequately honor the sacrifice of Officer Werdann. In a lasting tribute to his heroism, the school adjacent to the 52nd Precinct, where he was killed, was named in his honor as P.O. George J. Werdann III.
