A former sergeant of the New York Police Department, Jack Shapiro, tragically died on Sunday, January 19, after an apparent drowning while surfing at Gilgo Beach on Long Island. He was 54 years old.
At approximately 2:00 p.m. local time, Shapiro was found unresponsive on the beach by health officials. Fellow surfers and bystanders had managed to pull him ashore after the incident, but despite efforts to resuscitate him through CPR, Shapiro was pronounced dead after being rushed to the hospital.
The water temperature on Sunday was a chilling 39 degrees, adding to the challenges faced by those attempting to assist Shapiro in the frigid conditions.
Shapiro’s passing has left friends and colleagues in shock. A friend paid tribute to him on the Long Island Surfers Facebook page, remembering him not only as a devoted father and retired NYPD sergeant but also as a craftsman, an aspiring Brazilian Jiu Jitsu practitioner, and, above all, an avid surfer. The post read: “He was tragically taken from us at the prime of his life doing what he loved—surfing Long Island’s South Shore.”
Plans for a memorial paddle-out at Gilgo Beach are already underway, with Shapiro’s friends encouraging others in the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and surfing communities to join in celebrating his life.
Shapiro retired from the NYPD in 2013 after a distinguished career, which included service at the 83rd Precinct in Brooklyn’s Bushwick neighborhood. His death has deeply affected his former colleagues. One of Shapiro’s fellow officers, who worked alongside him in the 1990s, shared with the New York Post: “Everyone in the 83 family is devastated. Jack was a great cop and an even greater person. He was a good swimmer and had been surfing for years.”
As tributes continue to pour in, friends and family of Shapiro reflect on his life, remembering a man who was committed to his family, his community, and his passions.
Rest in peace, Jack Shapiro.
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