Remarks as Prepared for Delivery by Commissioner O'Neill for Medal Day

June 6, 2018

Good morning, everyone. Thank you all for being here. It's important that we are here. Mr. Mayor, on behalf of the leadership team assembled on this stage, thank you for your gracious remarks and thank you for your continued support of the NYPD. And to our honorees as well as the families, friends, and colleagues here to participate in this ceremony welcome to One Police Plaza. This is one of the most significant days of the year for us.

Today, we honor those who gave their lives for the people of this city and we also recognize those whose remarkable courage, instinct, and skill carried them through situations that would have panicked most other people. But they're not "most other people," they are among the finest law enforcement officers in the world.

It's truly an honor and a privilege for me to work with the men and women of this police department who prove, each day, that they're truly the best at what they do. They have to be the best because lives depend on how they do their jobs, their lives, the lives of their fellow cops, and the lives of the people they’ve sworn to protect. It's a solemn responsibility and one that every cop faces just by coming to work.

But we can't forget that cops are regular people, too, people with families and hopes and fears just like everyone else. The difference is cops are ordinary people who, when faced with challenges, do extraordinary things. And for that, we celebrate all of our medal recipients here today. You are what American policing is all about. And you are the example of what all cops do every day across our nation: You go toward the danger and you never know what you're going to find when you get there. In an instant, what had been a normal day can become that day.

So you find yourself wondering: When that day comes, when that call comes over the radio, how will I respond? It's true that some police officers can work their entire career and not have to answer that question. But our honorees today did and they rose to the occasion with professionalism and bravery. But they didn't do it for thanks or praise and they certainly didn't do it for a medal. They responded the way they did because that's who they are. They're NYPD cops. And lucky for us, they're the very best at what they do.

So, to all of our medal recipients and your families: I say congratulations. And to the loved ones of those who made the ultimate sacrifice for the people of our great city: Thank you for being here. You will always be among the most respected and revered members of our police family. And each time you’re with us is another opportunity to honor the men and women who gave their lives in service to this department.

I am so privileged to stand here as your Police Commissioner, with the Mayor, with your colleagues, and with our community to honor you. We're all tremendously proud to count you among our ranks and among the many, many heroes of the New York City Police Department.

Read the press release from the event.