Transcript: Mayor de Blasio Speaks At The NYPD Swearing-In Ceremony

July 9, 2014

Video available here: https://youtu.be/gayQ3aXkCTU

Mayor Bill de Blasio: Thank you. Thank you so much. And I have a number of important responsibilities today, but one I always do is to thank our master of ceremonies. Let’s give a round of applause to Lieutenant Giorgio for running a wonderful ceremony.

[Applause]

It’s a very special pleasure to join you as you start out on this journey. This is a noble calling you have chosen. It really is. And this begins a path where you have an opportunity to do so much good for so many people. For me, looking around the room, I see not only the future of the NYPD, I see the future of New York City. And so for me, it’s a moment that’s really special to share with you, because I know what it means for all of our people.

Now, we are blessed to have the finest police force anywhere in this country, anywhere in this world. You’re joining an organization that no one has to wonder about its ranking or its meaning – it’s well established. Part of the excellence of this institution comes from its leadership. We are blessed in New York City to have the finest police leader anywhere in this world in Commissioner Bratton. Let’s thank him for what he does.

[Applause]

And I want to thank First Deputy Commissioner Rafael Piñeiro and Chief of Department Phil Banks, all the other chiefs, and all the other leaders of the NYPD here for all they do for us.

[Applause]

Wherever I go I celebrate the important role that our labor unions play, working with the city to make life better for all of us. You are well represented by the Patrolman’s Benevolent Association – and the president is here. And Pat, I believe you have a special interest in this ceremony today as one of your sons is in this class. So, congratulations to you.

[Applause]

And I’m sure a number of you are able and will rise through the ranks, and someday you’ll be able to be represented by the Captain’s Endowment Association – and Roy Richter is here. Roy, thank you for your leadership.

[Applause]

This is an amazing class. Just even at the starting point, you represent New York City at its finest. It is an incredibly diverse class. You hail from 56 different countries. 167 members of this class born outside the United States. Amongst you, there are 44 different languages that are spoken and available to help serve the people of this city. That includes languages that maybe are not the most typical, but there’s still who speak it and it’s a great value that you bring them to us, including Dari and Kazakh and Macedonian.

So we’ve got it all, here in this class. 28 of you moved to New York City specifically to fulfill your dream of joining the NYPD. It mattered that much to you. 101 of you – 101 are doing something that, to me, is particularly special and we all honor. You’ve already served your nation in our armed forces – now you’ll serve this city in the NYPD. And we want to say a special thank you to all them. Let’s give them a round of applause.

[Applause]

And the NYPD attracts the finest, including from our military. I want to say a special commendation to one of you – Matthew Caulfield, a decorated Special Forces officer, now on his way to the NYPD. Thank you, Matthew, for what you’ve done for this country.

[Applause]

So I want to thank you for being committed to serving your fellow New Yorker. It’s a big choice you make. And the six months ahead – I think everyone already knows, they will not be easy, they’ll be grueling – physically, intellectually – you’re going to be put through a lot, you have to learn a lot fast, you have to prove yourself time and again. And it takes hard work during the day. It takes late nights of studying and preparation. And we all know it’s necessary and we all know it’s worth it, because the job thereafter involves every conceivable scenario. One thing we can always predict in New York City is the unpredictable – and you have to be ready to handle it, whatever it is. And that’s why the training has to be as strong and rigorous as it is.

Now, what Chief Bratton– excuse me – Chief – I gave you a momentary title change, excuse me – Commissioner Bratton has achieved already, in this department, working to deepen the success that he started in his first tour of duty in the NYPD – is to strengthen the relationship between the NYPD and all of its members, and the communities we serve. And you'll see that in the training regimen at the academy. You'll see that there's an emphasis on the whole range of skills you need to be effective police officers, and there'll also be an emphasis on how to forge real, practical working relationships with community members, so they become your allies. They become people who share information you need so you can do your job most effectively, so you can get to the bad guys quickly. That partnership is going to be so crucial to your success, and at the academy, you'll get a strong sense of how to make it work. And you'll also benefit from a new approach the commissioner's put in place – which is the notion of, after the training, when you go out into the streets of this city, when you go out into communities that particularly need your help, you're not going out alone, you're going out with officers and – seasoned officers, and leaders, who are going to help you as you hit the ground to best do your job, to understand what works, and how to connect with the community, and how to learn from each experience. There's a really strong understanding of the kind of mentorship you need to be as effective as possible, as quickly as possible. That is the approach the NYPD is taking. It's already yielding results – literally, as we speak, with the class that's just graduated. It's going to yield results for you as well. And it's deepening. It's deepening the success of this fantastic institution.

You know, part of what makes an institution or an organization great is the ability to constantly innovate, to never rest on the laurels. When Commissioner Bratton was first commissioner of the NYPD, he brought us CompStat, revolutionized our approach, made policing so much more effective. But one thing I can tell you, after hundreds of conversations with this man – I've never seen him rest on his laurels once. He's constantly talking to experts, police leaders around the country, and everyday cops – trying to figure out what we can do better, every single day. That's why the academy keeps evolving. That's why we're going to want to see every one of you continue to evolve in your time in the NYPD, always striving to learn, and innovate, and bring great ideas forward. And that's why this organization is so extraordinary. It's the finest in the world, and it will always be the finest if we continue that commitment to innovation.

You are signing up for, literally, one of the toughest jobs there is. It's tough anywhere, to be a police officer. I think we can safely say this is one of the toughest venues, because of so much happening here, because of this extraordinary mix of people, because of the 24 hour life in New York City, because the unpredictable always happens here. And we know that you are willing to put your lives on the line, and that is something, I have to say – 8.4 million New Yorkers depend on you, and I hope you understand how many of them appreciate, and realize, that you're willing to do something that the average citizen doesn't necessarily have in them to do. But you do. You're willing to make so much of a difference that you'll even put your life and safety on the line. And that is something we honor.

And you're going to be part of some very, very rich traditions, because the NYPD has achieved all its achieved with a real reverence for each and every member over the years, and what it means to serve here. And you're going to see, as in today's class, generation upon generation that joins the NYPD and continues the tradition. So many of you have had family members who are on the job – mothers, fathers, and aunts and uncles, and grandparents – so many people who established that tradition that you now follow in the footsteps of. A couple of examples in this class, including the brothers James and Joseph Essig, sons of Deputy Chief James Essig, carrying on the family tradition, times two. That's something we appreciate. I want to commend John Capano, of this class, son of Special Agent John Capano of the ATF, who lost his life – lost his life in the line of duty, trying to stop a robbery in a drug store – gave his life to save others. And now his son continues that tradition. Let's thank these members of this class for continuing that tradition.

[Applause]

Now, I'll be brief, but I just want to say a couple more things. You're joining this department at a critical time. Over two decades, so many people in this city worked so hard to make this biggest – the safest big city in America. Becoming the safest big city in America – it did not happen overnight. It did not happen through just one effort; it happens with the effort of thousands, and consistently. But I just want to give you one statistic that I hope puts it in perspective. In the year 1990 – 1990, recent memory – there were 2,245 murders in New York City. Last year, there were 334. That's a breathtaking level of progress. You're joining an organization that achieved that, something people said literally couldn't be done, but people stayed with it every single day.  And now that we’ve achieved that status, we have to hold on to it, and deepen it.

And we know that there’s always challenges. We never take lightly a single shooting or a single robbery. We know our commitment is every day, to address each and every crime. So you’re joining at a point where we’ve achieved a lot, but now comes the hard work of deepening and consolidating those gains. And that’s where you come in, and that’s where we need you.

And you know, we’ve had a challenge in recent months. We’ve had a rash of shootings in some of our neighborhoods, particularly around public housing. And you’re going to be part of the solution, but in the meantime, we’re doing a number of other things that we announced yesterday. Over 200 million dollars in investments, in some of the most troubled public housing developments. To do some of the other things that help police do their jobs, like better lighting, so the bad guys don’t have a place to hide, and law-abiding citizens feel safe, and police can see the situation better, even in the dead of night. More programs for young people, to give them constructive alternatives keep them away from bad influences and gangs and crews and give them positive alternatives. All of these investments are being made for each and every community in need, but it’s also to support the work you will be doing. Because great police work requires also the support on so many other fronts that our city government has to provide. And I have to tell you, before I administer the oath, which is a tremendous honor to do––I have to tell you that in recent weeks, as I’ve gone around the city, talked to community residents in all sorts of neighborhoods about their relationship with the NYPD – I need you to know how many people are grateful, how many people know you are the solution, how many people know that you’re there for them through, thick and thin. You’re going to go out after six tough months. You’re going to have good days and bad days like all of us, tough moments, challenges. But you’re also going to have a lot of moments when people say thank you, because they know you’re there for them, and you’re there to protect them in a way no one else can – and to have that opportunity is truly a blessing. So with that, it’s my honor to administer the oath of office to you. Please stand and raise your right hands.

All right, repeat after me. I do hereby pledge and declare.

[Mayor administers Oath]

Congratulations!

[Applause]

Well done, and God bless you all.