Inwood Street Named After Slain NYPD Officer Jason Rivera

INWOOD, NY — A street in Inwood now officially bears the name of a beloved former resident and slain NYPD officer who tragically lost his life at the age of 22 in January.

The intersection of 204th Street and Sherman Avenue was designated "Jason 'Tata' Rivera Way" on Thursday in a bill passed by the City Council.

Rivera, who grew up in Inwood, was shot and killed while responding to a call in Harlem, along with his partner Wilbert Mora.

Rivera was not shy about the effect growing up in Inwood had on his life, specifically in his decision to join the NYPD.

In a letter titled, "Why I Became a Police Officer," he wrote — "Growing up in Inwood Manhattan, the community's relationship between the police and the community was not great."

"As time went on, I saw the NYPD pushing hard on changing the relationship between the police and the community. This was when I realized that I wanted to be a part of the men in blue, better the relationship between the community and police," he added.

Rivera had endless ties within the uptown community he was raised in. He attended WHEELS High School in Washington Heights and was also part of the Dyckman Run Club.

It was a club he initially joined to help get in better shape for the police academy.

"The response to his death just shows what he did was the right path, and today he's inspiring us. Especially, for this community, you don't see this a lot of up here," Elvin Adames, one of the founders of Dyckman Run Club, told Patch at a memorial for Rivera.

A formal co-naming ceremony is expected to take place in the coming months.

The street sign will be one of the countless ways Rivera is remembered in Inwood.