Transcript: Mayor de Blasio Delivers Remarks at New York Police & Fire Widows' & Children's Benefit Fund 30th Anniversary Gala

October 22, 2015

Mayor Bill de Blasio: Thank you, Larry. Thank you, everybody.

Larry, thank you very, very much for being an part of this important evening. You know, it’s a very tough moment in this city. People in this city are in mourning – everyone is feeling the death of Officer Holder. And I can tell you, having spent time with the members of PSA 5 where he served, and having spent time with his family – a lot of people suffering particularly right now from a pain and a tragedy that so many people in this room know a lot about. But as we've seen time and time again, members of the NYPD stand shoulder to shoulder to support their fellow officers and the families who have experienced this loss. Just like with FDNY, just like with Port Authority Police, there is a powerful tradition of remembering and standing by the families no matter what – and that's what tonight is about. It is something amazing, and I have to tell you that it’s painful part of this job – to be with families in that moment when the grief hits them, that moment when they find out the painful truth.

I was talking a moment ago with Ray Kelly, and Sal Cassano, who know this very well. Those families always know that people will stand by them and won’t forget them. And they always know that people will find them, seek them out, help them, not just the next month or the next year, but the years and years thereafter. And that's a very noble tradition, and one that you continue everyday with the work of this fund.

I want to thank you. I want to thank you for remembering. I want to thank you for supporting the families. For three decades, you've been doing this extraordinary work, and it makes such a difference. You know what it means to people in their hour of need, and you know what it means to them to know that that help will be there year-in and year-out, and you continue to sustain it. I want to thank you for that.

I want to thank some of the folks who are a part of this evening. I know our great fire commissioner, Dan Nigro, is here, and I know, Joe Fox, the Chief of the NYPD Transit Bureau is here. I want to thank them for their leadership. Former Deputy Mayor Ed Skyer, thank you. I believe we're being joined by the City Council Speaker, Melissa Mark-Viverito, and we thank her for all she does. I want to thank the man who is your honoree this evening, Peter Zaffino, for doing so much to support this organization. And on a moment that makes our hearts a little bit lighter, having Rusty Staub in the room is always a good thing. I said to him on a stair the other night when he threw out the first pitch, and I think brought the Mets good luck. So, I hope they'll throw out the first pitch again.

Unknown: Lets go Mets!

Mayor: Lets go Mets is right. So, look, I just want to remind you that so many people year-in and year-out take an oath to protect us. I spent time with the new members of our NYPD class, and to see the next generation beginning on their journey is a very inspiring thing. Every year, extraordinary young people come forward to serve us – NYPD, FDNY, Port Authority Police – so many other public safety agencies. They come forward and they know it is a tough life. They know it's a tough choice. They know it's a noble choice. But they know danger lurks. Even yesterday with PSA 5, recruits were there in the room as we console the members of that precinct for their loss of one of their own. So, the newcomers see from the very beginning what it means.

But they take that oath. They take that oath because they believe in the mission. We owe it to them to do all we can for them while they're in our service, to protect them in every way we can. We also owe it to them that they know whatever happens, if, God forbid, we lose any of them, that we'll be there for them. And what you do – what you do takes that a step even further.

So, I want to thank you. And I want to remind you that your work is something that embraces people and supports them, but it's also a reminder that these good men and women over these decades have been winning this war. The city is so much safer. Over the last 25 years, the progress that has been made is extraordinary. We're winning this war and we'll keep getting better at it. But we'll win this war by being on the side of those who do this incredible work, and always embracing them and their families.

Thank you all, and God bless you.