Transcript: Mayor Adams Honors Three Officers Injured on New Years Eve With NYPD

April 5, 2023

Watch the video here at https://www.youtube.com/live/la8Vyi6jsEE?feature=share

Deputy Mayor Phillip Banks III, Public Safety: Good morning. Good morning everyone. I'm joined here today by the mayor of the City of New York, Mayor Eric Adams, NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell, the NYPD's first deputy commissioner, Eddie Caban, and the Chief of Patrol John Chell, and three police officers who exemplify what it means to be New York's finest: Officer Paul Cozzolino, Officer Mickel Hanna, and Officer Louis Iorio.

These three officers were on patrol just outside of Times Square on New Year's Eve when at approximately 22:00 hours, a 19-year-old man wielding a machete attacked. Mayor Adams can attest that the job of a police officer is challenging, even under the best of circumstances, but it is especially difficult when you're tasked with protecting hundreds of thousands of celebrators. This was a life-threatening situation and the way these officers and their colleagues responded was fantastic. Officer Hanna, who ultimately subdued the attacker, was on the job for less than one year, and Officer Cozzolino, who was struck in the head by the machete, had reported for his first day on patrol.

Their actions were undoubtedly a testament to their training, their professionalism, as well as their courage. They had the courage to put themselves in harm's way to protect others, and they had the courage even after surviving that threat to put their uniforms back on and report for duty. This takes a lot, a lot of strength, a lot of dedication, and we are here today to say thank you for your continued service to the city. With that, I'd like to introduce the mayor of the City of New York, Mayor Eric Adams.

Mayor Eric Adams: Thank you, Deputy Mayor Banks. And I am sure I speak on both the police commissioner and I to thank our three officers that are here today. We were together on New Year's Eve as we responded to the crime scene, and the video was extremely chilling, but the level of professionalism that not only the officers display, but all of our police officers on that day, Chief Chell and the senior leadership that was there, we still had a job to do even after the attacks. We still had a substantial number of New Yorkers and visitors who was down at the New Year's Eve celebration, and it is commendable to see the level of professionalism that was displayed by the men and women who was providing safety to those who attempted to bring into the New Year's. And we said this yesterday, we will continue to say: New York City Police Department must always be prepared.

There isn't a time when we can just look at the ball drop or we can just watch the confetti in the sky. We have to constantly be vigilant to watch those who are here to disrupt our public safety. Today we are here to salute three of our police officers who displayed the professionalism that we have known to see in the men and women of the NYPD. The courage they showed on New Year's Eve is a clear example of the courage that is showed every day.

When they were attacked by a machete wielding man near Times Square, they responded accordingly — Officer Cozzolino, the 50th Precinct, Officer Hanna, and Officer Iorio, also the 123rd Precinct. Being a rookie cop, we were just at your graduation, speaking at the graduation and watching as his family and loved ones were proud to see him become a police officer and able to withstand this attack, seeing him in the hospital with his family members, it was a moment of fear and trepidation, but to see him with the level of posture that I believe that's unique to the men and women of this department, really gave us all the courage we needed to continue to do our job.

When he and his fellow officers were attacked near Times Square, just outside the high security zone where attendees are screened for weapons, the officers knew and understood the importance of their role. Officer Hanna was also a rookie, having joined the NYPD earlier that year in April. The two wounded officers were hospitalized, one with a fractured skull, another with a bad cut. Thankful to all three. They're now back on duty, protecting the city that they love and the New Yorkers who depend on them. And today we're giving them the recognition they deserve and it's symbolic of the recognition of all the men and women of the NYPD deserve.

There's a reason New York City is the safest big city in this nation. It's because of the bravery and professionalism of each one of these officers, whether they were veteran officers or just starting their careers. They responded accordingly and they're representative of what it is to be a member of New York City’s Finest. And so I want to thank these officers for a job well done as they continue to serve and protect the people, the City of New York, and it is really great to see them back in uniform as they continue their careers. I want to now turn it over to Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell.

Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I too told them this morning how great it is to see them upright in those shiny uniforms. This incident that occurred during a world stage event in the highest profile city in the world reinforces what we all know about your NYPD officers. We often speak, as the mayor said, about them being placed in harm's way, them having to make split second decisions, and their valor. Well, once again, we saw all of these things this past New Year's Eve when a violent armed criminal attacked our officers just outside of the Times Square checkpoint.

Fortunately, that offender was quickly subdued and apprehended through the courageous work of our officers, Officer Hanna and the other officers who responded to that scene that day. Officers Hanna, Cozzolino, and Iorio returning to work is a welcome sight, but it is by no means surprising. They're back because their determination and dedication to keep New Yorkers safe requires it. On behalf of the entire NYPD and the people that we serve, thank you officers. You prove once again what the NYPD is about and who the NYPD officers are every single day for the people of this city. Our city is extremely fortunate to have one. They are our protectors. Congratulations on this honor. It is well deserved. Thank you once again for your exceptional work and welcome back home officers. Deputy mayor.

Deputy Mayor Banks: Now we'd like to present these officers with proclamations. Officer Paul Cozzolino. Officer Michael Hanna. Officer Louis Iorio.

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