The Police Officer Rocco Laurie IS72 is a Title I Intermediate School located at 33 Ferndale Avenue in Heartland Village, Staten Island. The school was named after police officer Rocco Laurie, who died at the age of 26. Police Officer Rocco Laurie was born on Staten Island on October 31, 1948. He was both an exceptional student and athlete, completing an accelerated junior high school program in t
wo years instead of three, He also played baseball and became an outstanding shot putter on his high shool team. He went to college on a track scholarship and after two years became a Police Officer trainee. Although he could have received deferment from the draft due to his status with the New York City Police Department, Rocco chose to join the United States Marine Corps during the Vietnam War. Upon his return from military service, he resumed his career as a Police Officer. On January 27, 1972, Rocco and his partner, Gregory Foster (also a Marine Corps veteran) were assassinated in the line of duty. Our school was named in his honor and renamed the Police Officer Rocco Laurie school in 2008 so that people would always know that this school was named for a Police Officer who gave his life in sacrifice for city he served.
