Transcript: Mayor de Blasio Delivers Remarks at Correction Officer Graduation Ceremony

January 10, 2014

Mayor Bill de Blasio: Now, my friends, I’ve been to many graduations in my day but I’ve never been to a graduation that began with its own action video. So something special is going on here at corrections. I want to tell you I can feel the spirit in this room today. The pride that your family and friends have in your achievement and the energy that you’re bringing to this job and that video, to me, exemplified the sense of excitement and the knowledge you have that you’re going to make a big difference for this city. So we’re all so proud of you today. I want to thank Bishop Eric Brown for his powerful words. I want to thank Commissioner Dora Schriro for her leadership, and I want to congratulate her on her service to the people of New York City and congratulate her on her new appointment in the state of Connecticut. Let’s give her a round of applause to thank her.

[Applause]

Thanks to so many of the great leaders up here on this stage – including First Deputy Commissioner Alan Cranston, and Deputy Commissioner Alan Vengersky, and Chief Department Evelyn Mirabel – all of them provide tremendous leadership for this agency. And our friends who represent the women and men who do such important work in this agency – I want to acknowledge and thank my friend Norman Seabrook, the President of Corrections Officers Benevolent Association.

[Applause]

Sidney Schwartzbaum, the President of the Assistant Deputy Wardens and Deputy Wardens’ Association, and Patrick Ferraiuolo, the President of the Corrections Captains Association. Let’s give them all a round of applause to thank them for representing you.

[Applause]

Now, a lot of good things happening today. There are so many of you who now are about to begin work with this great department and you’ve come a long way to get here and you’ve gone through that rigorous training and you made the grade and you’re starting work, I think in some cases, as early as Sunday. And we’re so proud of you and so proud that you’ve made that commitment. And we’re also proud of those who are getting promoted today, who have worked long and hard, and continue to rise through the ranks and prove every single day that New York City is a place of opportunity, where if someone has the talent and the drive and the commitment they can keep going higher and higher. So for all of you being promoted today – we’re proud of you and we thank you for your leadership for this agency. Now, let me tell you, there are over 300 of you who have completed the 16-week course successfully and that says so much in and of itself. I must say, personally, I have a particular pride in this class because as I understand it there are more graduates from this class from Brooklyn than from any other borough.

[Applause]

Now, as some of you may know, I am a Brooklynite, so I knew when I said that that the Brooklynites would react.

[Applause]

We are not known for a reserved manner, so –

[Laughter]

I want to thank my fellow Brooklynites for living up to our reputation, showing that passion and spirit. I want to recognize two among you who are being honored for their special achievements, the valedictorian, Correction Officer Carol Heard, and the salutatorian, Correction Officer Ariel Avin – congratulations to them.

[Applause]

You know, when I was in high school, I don’t remember the valedictorian and the salutatorian getting kind of applause, so they must be very popular people – I commend them. So you are joining New York’s Boldest, and that is a tremendous point of pride. This is an extraordinary organization, does some of the toughest work in this city. And every one of you proved through your hard work that you were up to this task. And I have to tell you, New York’s Boldest – that’s not just some words or a slogan someone came up with. That epitomizes what it takes to do the work of the Department of Corrections. It takes a strong personality and will and great capacity – and that is what you have demonstrated, and that’s why we know you’re ready for the task ahead. You’re being entrusted with one of the most sacred responsibilities that there are in any government, anywhere, and that is the responsibility to protect your fellow New Yorkers. You will be the guardians protecting the people of this city. Now, the sad truth is many people in this city will never know of your good works. There will be so many times when you help all of us and yet the story won’t be told. But I can tell you as your mayor that I know the story, I know what it takes, and I admire and appreciate the work you do. And I’ll continue telling the people of this city how much we have to respect New York’s Boldest for what they do for all of us.

[Applause]

You make a lot of sacrifices, you work very hard, and I want to make sure you never fail to hear from the person elected to lead this government those crucial words that too often our public servants don’t get to hear from those who lead. So I want to say those crucial words and it’s simple – it’s thank you. Thank you for what you do. Thank you for your commitment.

[Applause]

Now, you’re protecting all of us. You’re protecting each other – you have each other’s backs. And you’re also protecting some people who have made mistakes. And we’re not happy with some of the choices those individuals made, but they’re still our fellow citizens and we’re in the process of hopefully helping them back to a better path. So you have to protect every kind of person in this equation, and I know you’ll do it with great professionalism. But it’s also our obligation to protect you. It’s our obligation to constantly work to protect your safety, and we know how much we depend on you and we have to have your back in the process too. Now, when you succeed – and you will succeed often – you’ll make sure that people who took the wrong path get back on the right path, you’ll shepherd them on that pathway back to being productive members of society, and you will know as you do it that you have a distinction of being members of the finest corrections agency anywhere in the United States of America – that you belong here because you’re that good. And we depend on you and know you’re up to the mission. You have my pledge that I will think regularly of how we can help you do your work better, how we can support you, get you the best in training, in equipment, make sure you have the best leaders to support you, make sure you are safe and sound every day so you can continue doing this work that we depend on. You have my gratitude, you have my support, and today, I have to say, it’s a milestone in so many ways. It’s a milestone for all of you as individuals who have come so far and achieved so much. It’s a milestone for your families that feel such pride in you. It’s a milestone for our city because we are replenishing, we are reinforcing the strength of the City of New York by bringing such talented people into the service of our city. And we are all so very proud of you today, graduates, and we are all so proud of those being promoted today. And with that, I believe it is that special time for the oath of office.

[Applause]

[Mayor de Blasio delivers oath of office]

Congratulations.