Street Renamed in Honor of Slain NYPD Officer
A street in New York City was renamed Monday in memory of a veteran NYPD officer, precisely five years after he was tragically struck by a intoxicated driver while on duty on the Long Island Expressway.
The intersection of 42nd Street and 23rd Street in Astoria, Queens, is now officially called Detective Anastasios Tsakos Way. His widow, Irene Tsakos, spoke at a heartfelt ceremony, reflecting on how this honors her late husband’s ties to the area.
“This is where Tassos grew up as a teen, where we first met, and where we spent our early married life,” Irene shared, using her husband’s nickname.
“From today onward, Anastasios Tsakos will always be a part of this community,” she added.
She emphasized that anyone passing by would see his name and know that a dedicated officer and loving father once called this place home. “It shows that a good man made the world better before he left it,” she said.
Tsakos was a father of two and had served with the New York City Police Department for 14 years as part of the elite Highway 3 Patrol Unit. He was responding to a car accident on the Fresh Meadows Expressway early in the morning of April 27, 2021, when he was hit head-on by a speeding vehicle.
The driver of the vehicle, Jessica Beauvais, fled the scene but was apprehended by police shortly after. She was under the influence, with a blood-alcohol level nearly double the legal limit, and had also been high on drugs during the incident, which followed her outspoken anti-police rants on social media.
Beauvais, now 37, was convicted in October 2023 of aggravated manslaughter and other charges, and is currently serving a 20-year sentence at Bedford Hills Correctional Facility.
During the street naming event, Police Chief Jessica Tisch remarked, “No street names or tributes can truly heal this pain. But that’s not the purpose of our actions. We commemorate a life filled with passion, commitment, and immeasurable love.”
She concluded, “You and Anastasios’ family are forever part of this department.”
