Senator Rivera Honors the Late Tony DiGiovanna, 

Community Affairs Officer from the 48th Precinct 

State Senator Gustavo Rivera (D,Bronx) today introduced and passed Resolution J3305, honoring Officer Anthony "Tony" DiGiovanna, a Community Affairs police officer from the 48th Precinct in the Bronx who recently and suddenly passed away. Officer DiGiovanna's family was present in Albany when the resolution passed the State Senate unanimously. In the audience, Officer DiGiovanna's family was represented by his wife, Joanna, his four daughters: Jessica, Melissa, Rebecca and Sabrina.

"Officer DiGiovanna was very committed to his work in the Bronx and to the community he served in West Farms and East Tremont," said Senator Rivera. "As a Community Affairs officer for the 48th precinct, Tony always made everyone feel very comfortable and was always extremely responsive. He referred to the community members he worked with in the Bronx as his "second family" and I know he is very much missed by that second family.

Tony was a local hero - as one of the first individuals to volunteer as a first responder on September 2011, he spent the first 20 hours after the attack at Ground Zero. Like many others who worked at Ground Zero, Officer DiGiovanna was diagnosed with respiratory difficulties and a rare form of cancer in 2002. He fought off cancer and returned to the 48th precinct to continue to serve the people of the Bronx."

Senator Ruth Hassell-Thompson (D-Bronx, Westchester) also spoke on the resolution and has part of the 48th precinct in her State Senate District.