Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani: Good morning, everyone. It is a privilege to join you this morning as we celebrate the courage and the commitment of the NYPD [and] the work that you do every day to keep New York City safe. This is not only a proud day for each officer being honored, it is a proud day for our city as a whole. Though she cannot be here with us today, I want to thank Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch for her leadership, and I want to thank First Deputy Commissioner Tania Kinsella for leading in her stead. I also want to recognize the NYPD faith leaders, co-chaplains, labor leaders and staff for standing with our service members, giving them the foundation they need to do their jobs. And I want to acknowledge the family members, partners and friends that are here today. I know that each of you make sacrifices, too, and that few of those we are honoring would be able to excel without your love and the support that you provide every day. Most of all, thank you to every NYPD service member who we are here together today to honor for their contributions to this city.
There are 96 officers being honored today; service members who have made incredible sacrifices — including their own lives — to protect New Yorkers across the five boroughs. New York City stands apart from every other city in the world, and the NYPD is no different. Eight and a half million New Yorkers call this city their home. Tens of millions more visit every year. The threats and challenges our city faces are unlike any other. We require a police force that holds itself to the highest possible standard, that is capable of confronting even the most dangerous situations with professionalism and courage. Whether you work from a desk, whether you walk the beat, you have met those great expectations. Expectations that do not just come from your sergeants or commissioner, or frankly, even City Hall. Expectations that come from the New Yorkers you serve; that you will go after corruption and cruelty, that you will stand up to violence. Expectations that come from the communities you have come to know well as you walk that beat — that when called upon, you will be there.
Expectations from families you do not know but yet you keep safe. And from your own families that wait for you to return home at the end of the day. Every officer being honored today has met that standard of excellence. That includes Brett Boller, today's recipient of the Medal of Honor, who, like so many other officers, went to work knowing he was assuming incredible risk. While responding to what he thought was a routine call in Jamaica, he put his life on the line. We are so grateful to him for his service, and that he is here with us today. That includes those who, when two men launched incendiary devices towards a crowd of people outside of Gracie Mansion, ran towards the danger — and the men who threw them — so that others could run away. Thanks to their bravery, no one was injured that day. It includes Detective Didarul Islam, a man of humility, integrity, generosity and kindness, who was senselessly murdered last summer in the largest mass shooting our city has seen in the last 25 years. And it includes the 42 members of this department who lost their lives in the years after 9/11 due to illness and injury.
Each of those officers arrived at a scene of unimaginable chaos and suffering and did not turn away from the horror. They helped New Yorkers to safety, and then they rushed back in. They spent day after day on the pile. We mourn them today, and we mourn them every day. The officers being recognized today did not do what they did because they hoped they might one day get a medal out of it. They did it because it was the right thing to do, because it is what they were trained to do. They did it because they love the city that they serve. You will hear many more stories like these throughout today's ceremonies. Stories that illustrate what it truly means to serve New York City as a member of the NYPD. Stories that demonstrate what sets this department apart. Today's awards are more than a gesture of recognition. They are a powerful reminder of all that bonds this department to the 8.5 million New Yorkers that you protect. I hope that today, just as you do every day, you feel the power and the pride that comes from protecting your fellow New Yorkers. Our police force is better with you in it. Our city is better with you working for it. Thank you and congratulations.
Lieutenant Jack Conway, Ceremonial Unit, Police Department: And thank you, Mayor Mamdani. It's now my pleasure to introduce the Police Department's first deputy commissioner, Tania Kinsella.
Tania Kinsella, First Deputy Commissioner, Police Department: Good morning, everyone. To all of the families here today, our honorees, welcome to One Police Plaza and to the NYPD's Medal Day. Mayor Mamdani, thank you for being here with us today. Before I begin, I want to acknowledge that Police Commissioner Tisch is unable to be with us following the passing of her grandmother over the weekend. We extend our deepest condolences to the police commissioner and her family who are at the services being held today, this morning. She has asked me to deliver these remarks on her behalf, and it is my complete honor to do so. Each year, the ceremony recognizes some of the finest law enforcement officers anywhere — whose courage, skill, commitment to services set them apart. We honor those who gave their lives for the people of the city. We honor those that survived the fight. We honor those who stood between the threat and the threatened because this profession asked them to. And we renew our vow to never forget. When we talk about the best of policing, the men and women sitting here, as well as the families of the fallen, are exactly who we're talking about. You are the NYPD. You are why this is the greatest police department in the world. And today, this department gets to do what it should do every chance it gets: say thank you, recognize your courage [and] hold up your example for the city to see. We begin this morning with the highest honor this department can bestow: the Medal of Honor. And today, we present it to the family of Detective First Grade Didarul Islam.
Last July, Detective Islam was working at 345 Park Avenue when a killer entered the building and opened fire. In one shattering moment, four innocent New Yorkers were murdered and another one seriously injured. In this department, we lost one of our own. As much as this job meant to Didarul, his true measure was found in the life he built beyond it. He was a husband to Jamila, a father to his three beautiful children, a son, a brother, a partner, a neighbor, a man whose whole life was shaped around responsibility. He showed up again, again and again for his family, for his community and for the city. Today, we are joined by Detective Islam's family. I want them and all those who love him to know no medal can bring back Didarul. No ceremony can make sense of what was taken from him, but his name is forever part of history of the NYPD. And this department will carry his name forward forever. Today, we present to Detective First Grade Didarul Islam's family, New York City Police Department’s Medal of Honor.
This year also marks the 25th anniversary of September 11 attacks on our city. In the time since, this department has lost hundreds of members to 9/11 illnesses. The pain of that day is still felt by so many, and its true cost won't be known for years to come. This morning, we bestowed the NYPD's Distinguished Service Member to 42 members of the department whose names were recently added to our Police Memorial wall. Many of their families are with us as well this morning, and we are honored to have them with us.
Now this morning, we also honor officers whose courage was tested in the moments of sudden violent danger. On June 3, 2020, police officers Jean Pierre and [Randy] Ramnarine were assigned to an anti-looting post in Brooklyn. When a man armed with a knife attacked without warning, Officer Jean Pierre was stabbed in the neck, and then officers Ramnarine and Detective Tam were struck by gunfire. Sergeant Mieles heroically fought the violent encounter to an end. For their courage and strength, retired police officer Jean-Pierre receives the Medal of Honor.
Sergeant Miles and Detective Ramnarine receive the Police Combat Cross, and Detective Tam receives the Medal of Valor. Thank you. Then, on December 2020, Detectives Harper and Gutierrez were assigned to the Cathedral of Saint John the Divine when a man armed with two firearms began shooting outside the cathedral steps. Detective Harper and then [Detective] Gutierrez moved towards safety and moved everyone away from the gunfire. Because these officers acted so quickly, not a single bystander was struck. Today, Detective Gutierrez [and] retired Detective Harper are awarded the Police Combat Cross.
On September 14, 2021, members of the Emergency Service Unit responded to a barricaded gunman holding an off-duty member of this department hostage inside of a home in Queens. Sergeant Daly made contact with the hostage by phone, while ESU held their positions while under gunfire and evacuated four civilians from inside the residence. ESU members then coordinated a rescue plan that brought a fellow officer home and compelled the gunman to surrender. Today, Sergeant Daly and retired Detective Ortiz receive the Police Combat Cross, and Detective Salazar receives the Medal of Valor.
And then there are the officers who responded near Gracie Mansion. On March 7 of this year, personnel were monitoring opposing demonstrations on the Upper East Side when a lit improvised explosive device was thrown into a group of civilians and police officers. Sergeant Navarro directed civilians away from the second [explosive device]. Assistant Chief Edwards pursued this fleeing suspect. And officer Pulgarin cut him off and took him to the ground, while Sergeant Laduca and officer Cardenas stopped the second subject. On a crowded street, these members acted courageously and stopped the attack before anyone was hurt. Today, these members are awarded the Medal of Valor, and several others will receive honorable mention.
The stories highlighted this morning are only a few examples from a much longer list of extraordinary valor and exceptional police work being recognized today. And each of you are extremely deserving of this recognition. And this morning, we also recognize the commands and units whose collective work made this a safe city in 2025. The 6th Precinct, the 25, the 44 Precinct all drove down major crime over several years while recovering illegal firearms at record pace.
The 44 Detective Squad held 100 percent homicide clearance rate. And the Gun [Violence] Suppression Division had its most successful year with 15 major takedowns, more than 200 gang members arrested, nearly 190 acts of violence closed [and] dozens of search warrants executed. Our neighborhood safety teams and community response teams carried the same mission into the streets. Combined, CRT made more than 3,100 felony arrests, 221 gun arrests and recovered 157 firearms. Bronx NST recovered dozens of guns in the area with long history of gang violence in the Bronx.
And in our subways, the Transit Bureau drove down crime at its lowest level in 15 years, excluding the pandemic years. Murders fell 60 percent, robberies reached the lowest level ever recorded in transit crime data, shootings incidents in transit down more than 60 percent. These commands, along with several others, are receiving unit citations. Congratulations.
In this line of work, we see the very worst of what people can do. But today, we have the privilege and honor to see the best. When everything was on the line, you rose to meet that moment. When violence threatened innocent people, you stood in its way. When danger came for this city, you ran towards it.
And no matter what, you never deviated from the mission, keeping everyone safe in New York. So, to all of our medal recipients, your families, on behalf of this grateful city, thank you. And to the loved ones of those who made the ultimate sacrifice, we are blessed to be with you today. The heroes we honor this morning live on through you, and you will always be forever a part of the NYPD family. May God bless you, may God bless the families of our fallen heroes and may God bless the NYPD.
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