Funeral set for State Police sergeant, Auburn native, who died from 9/11-related illness

Funeral arrangements have been set for a State Police sergeant who recently passed away due to a 9/11-related illness.

Sgt. Jeffrey Cicora, 54, of Baldwinsville, died Saturday after a long illness related to his assignment at the World Trade Center following the September 11th terrorist attacks in 2001.

According to his obituary, Sgt. Cicora, who was also a Station Commander with New York State Police, worked at Ground Zero in the aftermath of the attacks as well as at JFK airport in New York City with his K9 partner, Devitt. Sgt. Jeffrey Cicora is remembered as a leader and role model who devoted his life to public service. “He was actually a larger than life personality. When Jeff was anywhere around, when he was in the room, you knew he was there,” said Jeffrey Raub, Troop D Commander.

The Auburn native served as a K9 officer. He was sent to Ground Zero within 48 hours of the attack on lower Manhattan in 2001. “Anytime you have 2-3,000 deaths and you’re in close proximity to that much carnage and you see the devastation that occurred, you’re traumatized,” Raub said. It was ultimately Sgt. Cicora’s exposure to the toxins at Ground Zero that left him with cancer that eventually took his life.