A new elementary school due to open in Borough Park this fall will be named after New York City Police Department Detective Wenjian Liu, who was slain in the line of duty in 2014, Council Member Susan Zhuang announced Wednesday.
The Detective Wenjian Liu School of Civics and Entrepreneurship will be the first school in Brooklyn named after an Asian-American individual, and the second in the entire city.
Liu and Detective Rafel Ramos were killed on the afternoon of Dec. 20, 2014, when they were shot four times while sitting in their patrol car at the intersection of Myrtle and Tompkins avenues in Bedford-Stuyvesant by Ismaaiyl Brinsley.
Zhuang said she was proud to have requested the renaming of P.S. 331 at 6312 13th Ave. in honor of an individual “who has touched so many lives.”
“Schools are not just where we learn, they are where we become who we are and who we are meant to be,” said Zhuang. “Dedicating PS. 331 after Detective Liu is not just a simple name change – it is a reminder that generations to come will be given an education rooted in civic leadership and the values that Detective Liu held so close to his heart.”
The Council Member said she notified the Liu family of her hopes to dedicate P.S. 331 after Detective Liu earlier this month and was “grateful to get their unwavering support.”
Sanny Liu, wife of Detective Liu, said in a statement that the naming was an incredible honor and moment in the city’s history.
“I am grateful to have our daughter grow up in a community that not only loves her father as much as I did, but has worked to honor his legacy for many generations to come,” she said.
Likewise, incoming Principal Lisa Lin noted that Detective Liu’s legacy will forever inspire generations of students to embody the values of courage, integrity, and service.
“It is an honor and privilege to have the opportunity to serve as the principal of a school named after a community hero,” said Lin. “Detective Wenjian Liu’s unwavering dedication to safeguarding our lives and community exemplifies the very essence of heroism.”
PS. 331 is one of nine new schools opening in New York City this fall, seven of which are in Brooklyn.
Department of Education Chancellor David Banks said he was proud to honor Detective Liu’s memory with the naming of The Detective WenJian Liu School for Civics and Entrepreneurship.
“His sacrifice will not soon be forgotten as his light and legacy remain a pillar of the community he called home,” said Banks.
