June 18, 2024 NYC Office of the Mayor
Police Commissioner Edward Caban: Good morning, everyone. Mayor Adams, thank you for being here and thank you for your continued support of the men and women of the NYPD. To all today's honorees, as well as the families, friends, and colleagues here to take part in the ceremony, welcome to the Police Academy and the NYPD's Medal Day.
This is one of the most significant days of the year for our department. A day to honor our heroes, to immortalize those who gave their lives in service to the city, and to recognize the amazing skill, courage, and commitment of some of the greatest law enforcement officers in the world. Today's medal recipients have faced incredibly intense life-or-death situations and they answered a question that every cop asks themselves at least once: if that day comes, when that call comes over the radio, how will I respond?
Because when you run toward the danger there is no telling what you'll find when you get there. You wonder, what would I do during an armed confrontation? What if a violent criminal pulled a gun and started shooting inside a cramped apartment or on a crowded street or in the maze of residential backyards? You ask yourself, how would I react in such a chaotic situation where decisions must be made in an instant, when everything is on the line and people are counting on me? Would I risk my own life to save another?
The men and women being honored today definitely answered those questions and more and they proved to the world what we already knew. The NYPD officers are without a doubt the very best at what they do. Every day, the members of the department bravely face the unknown. They are tested and they rise to the occasion, and they do their job with courage and conviction. They don't do this for praise or for a pat on the back and they certainly don't do it for a medal. They do it because they are the NYPD and they will always be there for the people we serve and for each other.
To all of our medal recipients and your families, congratulations and thank you for everything you do for our city and our department. To the loved ones of those who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to others, thank you for being with us today. You will always be among the most respected and revered members of our police family, and we're so blessed you could join us as we honor these remarkable heroes. They live on through each one of us forever and we are tremendously proud to continue their vital work. It is a true privilege to be here today among some of the most determined, dedicated, and devoted public servants anywhere. On behalf of an eternally grateful city, we commend you, we applaud you, and we are so fortunate to call you New York's Finest. Thank you, stay safe, and God bless.
Mayor Eric Adams: Good morning to our honorees and to your families. I want to particularly thank Assemblymember Berger and Councilmember Paladino for being here today and showing their support for the men and women of the New York City Police Department.
Every time I hear our national anthem recited, I cannot help but to reflect on the words that really touched me the most. The rockets' red glare, the bombs burst in the air, gave proof through the night that our flag is still there. Our flag is still here because of the men and women of our law enforcement community across the globe in general, but particularly to those who are members of the New York City Police Department, a department that I served in, my kid brother and several of my cousins. We know what it is to respond to calls of service. We know what it is to put your life on the line every day, and we know how responsible it must be. My friend, the police commissioner, Eddie Caban, touched on it. You're not doing it for the fame and glory, but I had an obligation when I became the mayor, January 1st 2022, to finally give you the salaries that you deserve to negotiate with your unions to make sure you are able to provide for your family as you protect the families of the City of New York.
At the beginning of my time as mayor, I still see the image over and over again in my head, watching Officers Mora and Rivera walk down that hallway and have a person assassinating them in that manner and going to the hospital that evening with then Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell and listen to the cries of the families saying over and over again, oh, my God, tell us it's not true. One of your honorees today, Detective Sulan, going to visit his family and watching him as he responded in such a heroic fashion to make sure that the suspect was not going to take the life of those officers who were responding.
Not only the officers of today who are showing their heroic actions, I reflect on my good friend who was paralyzed for many years and almost in a state of coma for many years, watching his son grow up without him. Detective Patterson shot in the head while on the street, cleaning his car suspects, eventually the bullet and injuries took his life. Then our civilian population who we're honoring today as well. Krystyna Naprawa, while assisting people crossing the street, her life was taken from her and taken from us. Every day we do this job, no one wakes up in the morning believing the actions that they will take is going to call on them to receive a medal or shield or some form of honor. We do it because it's the right thing to do.
Our flag is still here because of the work that we do. We need to remind ourselves constantly this is the greatest country on the globe, and this is the greatest city on the globe, New York City. We sit under the tree of freedom because of the actions that we take all the time. Many have watered that tree with their blood. We should always remind ourselves as I would tell people over and over again. No one, no one is lining our borders to leave America. They're lining our borders to come in America. We have the best product going, and that product is protected by the men and women of the New York City Police Department. I was proud to serve, and I'm proud to be the mayor of this great city.
To those who we are honoring today, thank you for your work. Thank you for responding when others would have went any other direction. And to your family members, let's do all that's possible to come home to them every day. My mother waited, when in my arms when I retired, she did every one of those 22 years with me. Your family members are on patrol with you emotionally every day. Each time they hear something happens to a person in our agency, they hold their breath, waiting for the name, never to exhale because they know even when they hear the name, they lost a member of this agency. We have so much to do in this city, and we have accomplished so much. We will continue to do what is right to make this city continue to be the safest big city in America. That is why we call the NYPD. Thank you very much.
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