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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PR- 056-12
February 14, 2012

MAYOR BLOOMBERG UPDATES NEW YORKERS ON THE SHOOTING OF DETECTIVE KEVIN HERLIHY

The following are Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg's remarks as delivered at New York-Presbyterian Hospital Columbia University Medical Center on Tuesday Evening:

“Good evening. We’re here at New York-Presbyterian Hospital Columbia University Medical Center, and I’m here with Police Commissioner Ray Kelly; Chief of Department Joe Esposito; Chief of Internal Affairs Charles Campisi; Chief of Manhattan North William Morris; Chief Walter Salowsky, our new Chief of Manhattan Detectives; Dr. Charles Martinez from the NYPD’s medical unit; and Detective Michael Palladino who is the head of the Detective Endowments Association.

“We just spent some time visiting with one of our Finest who was shot earlier today, New York City Police Detective Kevin Herlihy. That’s H-E-R-L-I-H-Y. I’m happy to say that he is now in stable condition, thank God, and expected to make a full recovery.

“He was shot this afternoon at about 4:14 PM. Detective Herlihy was tracking a suspect – named Michael McBride – who was wanted on a felony arrest warrant from a shooting yesterday that Police Commissioner Kelly will describe in a moment. That warrant was for a man who shot a woman in the 100th Precinct in Queens last night, and the woman that was shot is believed to be the daughter of the suspect’s girlfriend.

“When Detective Herlihy and the rest of the team searching for Michael McBride confronted him around 145th Street and St. Nicholas Avenue, the suspect fled. The Detective gave chase, and when the suspect reached the subway station the suspect turned and fired, hitting Detective Herlihy in the left arm. Detective Herlihy exchanged fire, and the shooter was killed.

“All of us here are incredibly grateful that Detective Herlihy is alive. And I’m happy to say that all indications are that he will be able to walk out of here probably tomorrow and go home to his family and his wife, Adrienne. Ray and I had a chance to talk to Adrienne and to the Detective, and they were in good spirits. They have three children, and he is the kind of Detective that you’d want out there protecting us.

“As I’m sure all of you remember, it was just two weeks ago that Police Officer Kevin Brennan was shot in the head. And it was only two months ago that Police Officer Figoski was killed by a shooter, leaving behind a family and four beautiful daughters.

“Now, the three shooters have at least one thing in common, and that is that they possessed their guns illegally. And that is true for nearly every shooting that occurs in our City.

“We’re here in the 32nd Precinct and murders here are, I’m happy to say, 55 percent lower than they were just 10 years ago. But we all know that that is not good enough. And as long as Federal laws allow guns to flow onto our streets, criminals will be able to get them and Police Officers will be in danger.

“My one birthday wish – beyond a full recovery for Detective Herlihy – would be for every member of Congress to join me here today and look into the eyes of Detective Herlihy and his wife Adrienne and explain why Washington isn’t doing more to prevent shootings like this from happening.

“Public safety must be government’s number one priority. We owe that to our citizens, and we owe that to our police officers. And you can be sure that we will continue doing everything possible to convince Washington to live up to that responsibility.”







MEDIA CONTACT:


Stu Loeser/Marc La Vorgna   (212) 788-2958



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