Detective Badge

Born in Havana, Cuba in October 1965, Luis Gustavo Alvarez moved to New York City with his family, who settled in the East Elmhurst neighborhood of Queens. After graduating from high school, Luis served in the U.S. Marines and pursed studies at City College of the City University of New York. In 1990, he joined the New York Police Department. Initially assigned to the 108th Precinct in Long Island City, Queens, he was transferred to the NYPD’s Narcotics Division and eventually promoted to detective. In response to the 2001 terror attacks, he spent three months at the World Trade Center site searching the toxic rubble for survivors and the remains of the dead.

Sixteen years after the World Trade Center’s destruction, Alvarez was diagnosed with intestinal cancer that had metastasized to his liver. His disease was certified by the World Trade Health Program as stemming from exposure to contaminants at Ground Zero. He subsequently endured multiple medical interventions and treatments in the effort to prolong his own life, all the while advocating for justice on behalf of similarly ailing responders whose health had been compromised as a result of their service on and after 9/11. In late spring 2019, during his final weeks of life, Alvarez summoned the strength to travel to Washington, DC. He traveled with fellow members of the Ground Zero community, coordinated through the FealGood Foundation, to provide his message in person before the House Judiciary subcommittee considering the VCF reauthorization. Alvarez delivered his testimony on June 11, 2019. Shortly after, he succumbed to cancer on June 29, 2019.

The following month, President Donald J. Trump and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi officially co-signed H.R. 1327 into law. It bore a more expansive title: the "Never Forget the Heroes: James Zadroga, Ray Pfeifer, and Luis Alvarez Permanent Authorization of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund" Act.