Hundreds gathered earlier on Tuckahoe Road at the Sprain Brook Parkway overpass as the community celebrated the renaming of the overpass in memory of Yonkers Police Detective Sergeant Frank Gualdino.
On December 1st, 2022, Detective Sergeant Frank Gualdino was killed in the line of duty in a head-on crash when an unlicensed 16-year-old speeding driver lost control of his vehicle and collided with Sergeant Gualdino’s police vehicle while he was traveling on Tuckahoe Road. After a lengthy investigation, this driver was charged and arrested exactly one year ago today. This case was adjudicated in Family Court due to the driver’s age.
After this tragic loss, plans were set in motion to memorialize the sacrifice of Detective Sergeant Gualdino. A bill to create this roadway dedication was ultimately signed by Governor Kathy Hochul earlier this year. The bill was primarily sponsored in the NYS Assembly by New York State Assemblyman Nader Sayegh, and primarily sponsored in the State Senate by Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, co-sponsored by New York State Senator Shelley Mayer. These members worked closely with local officials in Westchester County, including County Executive George Latimer and County Legislator James Nolan, who provided local support to enact this dedication. Resolutions to support this dedication were also made by Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano and the Yonkers City Council.
“With this sign, it’s an eternal thank you from the people of Yonkers,” said Mayor Mike Spano. “We will never stop supporting our local police officers, who, like Det. Sgt. Gualdino put their uniforms on every day and protect and serve our City. This is a moment in our hearts to pause and celebrate his life every time we drive across this bridge.”
“Even almost two years since his death, we still feel the void caused by the tragic loss of Detective Sergeant Gualdino,” said Yonkers Police Commissioner Christopher Sapienza. “When we lose an Officer in the line of duty, we vow to ‘never forget.’ This is the reason why we do memorials and dedications- we want our community to remember Frank every time they are on this bridge; his legacy, service, and sacrifice to our community will never be forgotten.”
The NYS Department of Transportation placed memorial signs on both the northbound and southbound lanes of the Sprain Brook Parkway at the Tuckahoe Road overpass. The City of Yonkers installed memorial signs both eastbound and westbound on Tuckahoe Road at the overpass, which were created and installed by the Department of Public Works.
