The DEA Honor Roll
Official Line of Duty Deaths
Tommy L. Merriweather
Rank: Detective First Grade
Shield Number: 2058
Command: Firearms Investigation Unit
Date of Death: 01/21/2013
Cause of Death: Illnesses contracted as a result of work on the rescue and recovery from the World Trade Center attacks of September 11, 2001.
On January 21, 2013, Det. First Grade Tommy L. Merriweather died of cancer contracted as a result of his work on the rescue and recovery from the World Trade Center attacks.
Born in a small town in Alabama, he moved to Brooklyn when he was a baby, but journeyed back and forth to Alabama throughout his youth. He graduated Boys & Girls High in New York in June of 1981. In May 1982, Merriweather enlisted in the United States Army, serving in the Infantry, and had a stellar eight-year military career.
On July 5, 1989, Merriweather joined the NYPD. His first commands included the 28 and the 77 Precincts, but soon he was tapped for Undercover work in OCCB Narcotics. “The streets were my stage,” he said. During his 20 years on the force, Merriweather worked in some of the most dangerous units of the Police Department, including buying narcotics and illegal firearms. Regardless of the dangers, Merriweather never had to fire his own weapon at anyone. By March 23, 1993, he had earned his gold shield. His wife Jackie also joined the NYC Housing Bureau Police, which merged into the NYPD in 1995, but the couple never worked in the same command.
Known as an excellent Detective, a great team player, and a serious worker, Merriweather earned second grade on March 23, 2001. After the terror attacks of 9/11, and logging many hours at the Staten Island Landfill, the Department asked Merriweather to transfer to the Firearms Investigations Unit, where he was promoted to Detective first grade on May 26, 2005.
After he retired from FIU on July 31, 2009, Merriweather was able to spend more time on some of his many passions, including acting as Scoutmaster for the Boy Scouts of America and the National Coordinator of the Robinson Pauley Aldridge Family Reunion, which meets every year.
Det. Merriweather’s health conditions started to manifest in 2010, and on June 10, 2011, he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He spent 19 months and 11 days battling the disease. On June 18, 2012, he was honored for his fortitude and spirit in the face of adversity by U. S. Congressman Ed Townes, who represented Brooklyn. The Congressman submitted Tommy’s biography to the Library of Congress for permanent record.
Det. Merriweather was laid to rest at Pinelawn Memorial Park and Garden Mausoleums in Farmingdale, New York. He was 49 years old.
Click on the pdf file link below to read a bio of Det. First Grade Tommy L. Merriweather from The Gold Shield, Winter 2014 issue.