Transcript: Mayor Adams Delivers Remarks at NYPD Academy Graduation Ceremony

April 24, 2023

Mayor Eric Adams: As I sat here, I could not help but to reflect on 1984, when I walked across the stage and took the oath of office to become a member of the New York City Transit Police at the time that eventually merged to become the New York City Police Department. And I thought about an analogy that was fitting of the moment that I wanted to share with you graduates. And I thought about the day that I was on a roller coaster, and I hate roller coasters. And when I sat down in the seat and the person sat down next to me, they put that gate across us and he closed his eyes and he held on and the roller coaster took off and it went to heights and twists and turns and deep dives as far as you could possibly see. And when we pulled to the stop, he said, "Is it over? Is it over?" But there was others on that ride, and as afraid as we were, we saw the highs and the low points. We saw the uncertainties, the twist and the turns. And when we pulled to the stop, we said, "What a ride. What a ride."

You are about to go on the ride of your life. Some of you are just going to go through the motion, maybe, and just hold on. And at the end of your career, you're going to ask the question, is it over? But those who saw the video presentation of what we do in this department and when you finish, you're going to say, what a ride. What a ride. And on this ride, you're not alone. I was so fortunate to ride this ride with some of the greatest people I've ever met, and one of them is here today and I want to ask him to come up here with me. Patty Lynch, the president of the PBA.

What a ride. What a ride. He fought hard for you. He spoke on your behalf during the contractual negotiation. He was very clear that when you are out there placing your lives on the line, you should not be at home worrying about if you could put food on the table for your families. As he concludes this phase of his career as the leader of your union, I was proud to be on this ride with him. And now you are on this ride and you are part of the 539 people who are part of your cohort class. The role of being a member of the New York City Police Department, the police commissioner stated it so eloquently. This is the best police department on the globe. And this is the best city in the most powerful country on the globe.

So because you are the best, your parents are the best, your sisters and brothers are the best, those who were here throughout the entire academy experience are the best. The men and women who line this stage behind me are the best. So those who are the best must produce the best. That means, as the commissioner stated, let's treat the residents the way we want our families to be treated. Let's make sure that we show the level of professionalism that's expected of a police department that sets the tone for global public safety across the globe.

And it's not always easy, trust me. There are going to be days you wish you did not get out of bed and days you wish you got out of bed earlier. There are going to be good moments and bad moments. There are going to be times that you're going to make a mistake. There are going to be those individuals who expect for you to be perfect. But you are in a good place because you have a mayor that's perfectly imperfect so he don't expect you to be perfect. He just expects you to be dedicated and committed and honest and forthright and serve and protect the people of the City of New York. And we got your back while you do it.

We won't send you on the front line to water the tree of freedom that we sit under the safety of the hot sun of violence, and then leave you alone. We will be there for you. We will give you the training, we will give you the tools, we will give you the support as you face a difficult job, but the most rewarding job of being a police officer. The only thing I could hope for you is that when you're done, you could join me in saying what a ride. What a ride. Thank you.

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