At a ceremony held at the Theatre at Madison Square Garden, 249 police officers graduated from the police academy. Equipped with the best training in the world, these officers will carry out the NYPD’s mission to continue driving down crime in NYC while connecting with the communities they serve. Mayor Bill de Blasio and Police Commissioner James O’Neill presided over the ceremony and offered words of gratitude and encouragement to New York’s newest protectors:
“I know it wasn’t easy to get here, and I know there are many different paths you could have taken in your lives, but you chose to become police officers and I want to thank you for that,” Police Commissioner James O’Neill.
During Police Commissioner O’Neill’s remarks, he recognized Police Officer Jillian Suarez, whose father died in the line of duty while evacuating New Yorkers trapped in the Twin Towers during the September 11, 2011 attacks. Officer Jillian Suarez will carry her father’s shield, and with it a sense of great pride and purpose. This is one of the many incredible stories of tradition, service, and sacrifice that have defined the NYPD since 1845. Within the October 2018 graduating class, officers are able to speak over 40 different languages and hail from 25 different countries. Thirty-seven of the graduates have honorably served our nation in various branches of the military.
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Written by Charles Fisher and Randy Fisher (@HHSYC).