July 15, 2024 Office of the Mayor News
Police Commissioner Edward Caban: Morning everyone. On behalf of the leadership team assembled on this stage, Mayor Adams, and the entire New York City Police Department welcome to our recruit graduation ceremony and to all of our newest police officers, welcome to the NYPD.
Before I get into my remarks today, I want to take a moment to acknowledge the tragic loss we suffered last week. The death of Police Officer Edgar Ordonez shocked and saddened us all. On this day to celebrate and look forward to all that is to come, we are grieving what never was. Edgar was taken far too soon. Before we even knew the difference he was about to make in our city, he joined this department to change people's lives for the better. For all who knew him, he did exactly that.
As you go out each day to finish the work that he started, remember him and know that Edgar will always be watching over his brothers and sisters in blue. Today, we are extremely honored to be joined by Officer Ordonez’s family who will forever be a special part of our family. To the Ordonez family, thank you so much for being with us here today. We will keep you and everyone who loved Edgar in our prayers always. Let's give them an incredible round of applause.
Over 30 years ago, I sat in your seat and I stood up. I took the same oath you did to protect the people of this city. Every day since then, I've been keeping that promise. Starting today, so will you. The safety and security of millions of people is now your responsibility. It's your job to continue that legacy. I can tell you, it's the most important job there is. Because the first obligation of any government to its people is public safety. Without that, none of the freedoms we enjoy are possible.
There are a select few who dedicate their lives to providing that safety and defending those freedoms. It's people like the men and women of the NYPD, people like you. You're about to take your post alongside the very best cops in the world, everything they're doing for our city, driving down major crime in our precincts, housing developments, and our transit system. Continued reductions in shooting incidents and victims. More than 17,000 illegal guns taken off our streets since 2022. All this work is why New York City is the safest big city in America.
Now, it's up to you to get out there and keep it that way. We know you're ready. We know you're excited to get started. We know that New Yorkers are extremely grateful to have you protecting them. They need you. They support you. Now, more than ever before, they see themselves in you. This is the most diverse city in the world. Today, its Police Department reflects that. This graduating class speaks more than a dozen languages. 150 of you were born across 33 different countries. You represent the rich diversity that makes our city great.
On top of that, nearly 70 percent of you are New York City residents. Only five years ago, our graduating classes were closer to 50 percent city residents. Now, our cops represent the people and the neighborhoods we serve more than ever. This makes you better at your job. It makes us a more effective department. It makes our community safer. In the end, that's why we're all here.
For you, today is day one. It took a lot of hard work to get to this point. No one understands that better than the people sitting behind you. To all the family members and friends here, thank you for everything you do. Being a police family is not always easy. There are missed birthdays, anniversaries, and holidays. There are last-minute schedule changes, canceled plans, and some sleepless nights. Through it all, your support makes it all possible. The love and pride you feel for our graduates today is the reason they're here. It's my honor to welcome all of your families to our families. Thank you, and let's give them a big round of applause.
I also want to thank the dedicated staff of our training and personnel bureaus. Year after year, we rely on you to turn recruits into cops. It's not easy work. You always do an amazing job. Thank you for everything you do to improve and strengthen our department. Let's give them a nice round of applause also.
Finally, to our newest police officers, welcome to the greatest job in the greatest Police Department in the globe. Today, you can count yourselves amongst New York's finest. Together, we will make New York City better tomorrow than it is today. Congratulations again, everyone. Stay safe, and God bless. Thank you.
Lieutenant Jack Conway, Ceremonial Unit, Police Department: Thank you, Commissioner Caban. It's now my pleasure to introduce the mayor of the City of New York, the Honorable Eric Adams.
Mayor Eric Adams: If you will allow me a moment, I would like to go over and greet Edgar's family. Coming from a law enforcement family, I know the pain that one feels. I just wanted to share with them in a very real way of how much his loss impacted us all.
When I was a sergeant, studying for the sergeant exam, the lieutenant exam, I was driving on Atlantic Avenue, and I turned onto Clawson Avenue. Someone pulled up next to my car, and they called out my name, and they let off a round. It hit the back of my window. I was able to accelerate fast enough that instead of hitting my window, it shattered the rear window.
I remember calling my mother that day, and I wanted to speak with her before it hit the news. I remember her crying, just shattered. I called my kid brother, who was a police officer at the time, and all my siblings. I thought about that this weekend, when I saw the president of the United States, former president, inches away from losing his life. Some would get caught up in the political philosophy of who we want to win and who we don't. I thought about his children, thought about his wife, and I thought about his supporters, and realized that we're in a dark place. We're in a dark place.
Then this Sunday, I joined Councilman Borelli, who is a minority leader, and happens to be a Republican. I'm a Democrat. He says something that really impacted me, that I would like to share with you. He said, there's a difference between anger and hate.
Anger motivates us. Anger motivated me to become a police officer 40 years ago. Anger motivated me to see how cities should not betray children and families. Anger motivated me to go to school at night, and move forward, and provide a safe environment for our city. Hate destroys. Hate believes that the only answer is violence and destruction. When you could have a 20-year-old young man get an automatic weapon, and hate someone to the level that not only did they want to take the life of the former president, but also the lives of those innocent people who were around them.
That's the hate that we must destroy. I say to you, the men and women of the New York City Police Department, that's the hate you will be policing in. Your job is more than just stopping bad guys. Your job is more than responding to calls of services. Your job is to identify those who are on the pathway of that hate. The radicalization of our young people. The belief that we no longer love the country that made it possible for so many people to move forward.
Anger is a symbol of that. You think about his mom being an immigrant from another country, but coming here pursuing the American dream. I think that this should be a cavalry moment in a religious sense. Sometimes the death of bring the life of. Those who are part of his company and those who are part of his graduating class. I hope it would inspire you as you move on patrol, and as you answer calls of services, that you will see people in their unique way. 33 different countries are represented today. You represent the best of the best.
No one lines the border of America to leave, they line the border of America to come. This is the greatest country on the globe. No other country has dream attached to its name like the American Dream. It stands for something. You are members of the protector of that dream. As you carry out your function and your job, think about Edgar, think about his mom, think about his two children. Think about the mother of his children and his family members, his sisters. As you think of yours.
You're in the greatest Police Department on the globe. In the greatest city on the globe. We are the American Dream. No matter where I go, I'll tell people over and over again, there's only two types of Americans. Those who live in New York and those who wish they could. You're the lucky ones. Congratulations.
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