UPMC Memorial Hospital names intensive care unit in honor of heroic Officer Andrew Duarte

Officials, law enforcement and the parents of fallen West York Police Officer Andrew Duarte gathered at UPMC Memorial Hospital on Friday, June 13, as the ICU unit is now named in his memory to recognize his bravery and his ultimate sacrifice.

In addition, the UPMC Pinnacle Foundation will be investing in a $5,000 annual scholarship for the West York Borough Police Department to send a student through police academy training as well as providing seed money for a police cadet training academy. Those initiatives will carry Duarte’s name, said Jessica Ritchie, president of the foundation.

Law enforcement, including Duarte, rushed to the hospital on Feb. 22, 2025, for an active shooter holding ICU healthcare workers hostage. Duarte was mortally wounded as he gave his life protecting others.

Michelle Del Pizzo, president of UPMC Memorial, said the bravery of the first responders who rushed in towards danger that day will always be remembered, and they wanted to create a lasting memorial to Duarte. The hospital has named the ICU unit in his memory and placed a plaque outside that recognizes his bravery and his ultimate sacrifice.

“Through this dedication, we will forever remember Officer Duarte’s life and sacrifice,” she said.

Duarte’s mother, Nancy Duarte Matarese, and his father, Gary Duarte, said after the presentation that it was emotional to see their son’s name above the door and the plaque. They have been appreciative of the way the hospital and the community have honored their son for his service.

Duarte, who was an only child, never married or had children. He had pondered the Duarte name not carrying on, his mother said. She thought to herself on Friday how he will have no idea how his name will live on.

While his name is up there, she said, it’s representative of everyone who was willing to run in and protect the staff, patients and visitors in the hospital.

It marked their second visit to the ICU since their son’s death. They had visited the hospital shortly after the incident.

“It had much more meaning today because we know so much more than we did that Sunday,” Nancy Duarte Matarese said. Through information that has come out from the recently completed investigation, they can better visualize what law enforcement was dealing with on that morning and how things unfolded, Gary Duarte said.

“I’m so humbled and grateful for everyone who has wanted to honor Andrew in all the different ways,” his mother said. “Small ways like a gift left at the borough for me on Mother’s Day, you know, a plant left at the cemetery for me. Just different things, small ways in which the community has wanted to touch us and then big ways like today, a concert, lasting things that will continue on.”

York County officials, legislators and law enforcement officers attended the presentation. Denver Police Lieutenant Alan Ma, who worked with Duarte years ago, came to the dedication.

“it’s … very comforting, very heart warming to know that they all found time in their day to be here … to honor Andrew in this way,” Gary Duarte said.

David Gibbons, UPMC’s senior vice president and regional president, told the family that they will do what they can to help them, and they are welcome to visit the ICU unit and reflect.

Shawn Mauck, chief administrator at West York, called the gift being given to West York Borough Police Department “amazing.”

“For us, it allows us to carry on the tradition of service and public service that Andrew gave to West York and York County,” he said.

It will help the police department be able to select candidates who do not have experience and have not completed the police academy and provide them with the formal education, Chief Matthew Millsaps said. The department will be able to bring them through its own internal program to make sure they meet expectations before becoming tenured.

The department never would have been able to do that without UPMC, he said.

“For as long as there is a West York Borough and a police department, Andrew’s legacy will carry on. His light will shine down on us as we serve day by day,” Mauck said.

Reporting by Teresa Boeckel, York Daily Record / York Daily Record