Transcript: Mayor Eric Adams, Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell Deliver Remarks at NYPD Academy Graduation

July 1, 2022

Lieutenant Jack Conway, Police Department: It is now my honor to introduce the police commissioner of the City of New York, the Honorable Keechant Sewell.

Commissioner Keechant Sewell, Police Department: Good morning. Mayor Adams, graduates, family and friends, on behalf of the executive staff and the entire New York City Police Department, welcome to the 2022 Recruit Graduation. Congratulations on officially becoming NYPD officers, members of the most recognized, well-trained, highly respected department in policing across this country and all around the world.

Commissioner Sewell: Your training is internationally lauded. We are pleased to graduate our partners in the MTA and recruits from Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates. All of you are tested protectors of our city and others across the world. It is not for everyone. Not many can do what you will do, what you swore to do, what you trained for months to do, what this city is counting on the NYPD to do. None of us would be here if we didn't believe in right over wrong, good versus bad, in victims over violence.

Commissioner Sewell: You joined this profession during a time of significant challenges. We put you through six months of training, taught you critical tactics, increased your physical fitness, made you spend long nights studying for exams to give you the discipline, the tools, indeed the privilege to serve.

Commissioner Sewell: NYPD officers, you now have over 35,000 uniformed and over 17,000 civilian brothers and sisters already in this arena fighting crime and enhancing the quality of life. You will be expected to uphold the legacy of duty in this family, the storied history of 177 years, the great triumphs, notable accomplishments and great progress, and the tragic legacy of sacrifice of those who gave their lives in the service of this city. We honor them forever.

Commissioner Sewell: This profession takes integrity, compassion and courage, good judgment and restraint. This career also takes a great deal of scrutiny to go with your great responsibility. But you stepped forward to face the critics, to do what is right, to grab the baton and join the team to take this city back. I thank you for that.

Commissioner Sewell: We can strengthen neighborhoods, keep children safe and engage our youth while simultaneously holding those who do harm accountable, being fair and just, empathetic and brave. For the oath you took, we pledge you our own. There will be tough days, heartbreaking nights and great times of joy, and we will support you through it all.

Commissioner Sewell: We want to thank the Candidate Assessment Division for its tireless work and the truly unmatched, talented staff of the Police Academy. Importantly, we sincerely appreciate your family and friends who have supported you through this journey and who will continue to serve with you by your side in years to come. Please know that you are all part of the NYPD family now, too.

Commissioner Sewell: Officers, it does not matter where you are from. You belong to this city and it to you. Take care of it because the NYPD and New York City lead the way. Keep learning every day. This is a great day of celebration. Honor that shield. Deserve that shield. Be the people who the greatest city in the world need you to be because we have no intention of letting it down. We will always prevail because we never give up. We are the NYPD, and we are counting on you.

Commissioner Sewell: Congratulations, graduates.

Lieutenant Conway: Thank you, Commissioner Sewell.

Lieutenant Conway: It is now my pleasure to introduce the mayor of the City of New York, the Honorable Eric Adams.

Mayor Eric Adams: 38 years ago, I raised my right hand, I walked across the stage and received my award for my academic achievements in the Police Academy. At the end of the ceremony, I hugged my mother. She was excited and had a level of enthusiasm that her baby became a member of the New York City Police Department. 22 years of service, painful moments watching Robert Venable, a good friend of mine, lose his life. Joyous moments as we were here to protect the Pope and presidents, watching friends and colleagues move through the system and building relationships that still stay strong throughout the years.

Mayor Adams: Detective Mark Stewart, who's now the deputy commissioner of community affairs was in my graduating class. Ingrid Lewis-Martin, who has been at my side throughout my political journey, her husband and I were in the Police Academy together. John Miller, who's now in retirement, was part of an over 35 year relationship. Patrick Lynch, your president of your union who is fighting on your behalf every day. The relationships have been unbelievable. We were policing during the time when crime was out of control, over 2,000 homicides a year, almost 98,000 robberies and felonious assault. Our subway system was in despair with graffiti everywhere, and people no longer believed in the city.

Mayor Adams: There was a question mark that lingered over our possibilities, but the time was different. Every entity in the city was on our side. Everyone was with us. Prosecutors, lawmakers, journalists. Every neighborhood was with us. Everyone believed in the possibility of taking the police force to a level that it deserved so we can be safe. The prerequisite to prosperity is public safety and justice. There was a rallying cry from every neighborhood that we wanted to take our city back so that our children would not have to live in the manner they were living. 

Mayor Adams: That is the climate that I policed in. That's not the climate you're policing in. You're policing in a climate where everyone is against us. Every story seems to be negative about our actions and not see what we do every day. Laws are being passed that protect guilty people, and no one seems to care about the innocent people of this city or this country. You'll be told what not to do. There'll be those who will heckle you and call you names. There are those who don't believe we can take our city back.

Mayor Adams: That's the negative side, but let me tell you the good side. You have a police commissioner that gives a damn. You have a mayor that gives a damn. You have an agency that gives a damn. We know what we are made of, and you have become part of that family of who is the difference between a city of lawlessness and disorder or a city of law and order.

Mayor Adams: I am not going to put you on the front line to fight against the evil elements in this city and leave you out there. I am your general. I'm going to lead from the front as we take our city back and make sure we don't go backwards. This is a great moment for us. This is a great opportunity to be a member of the New York City Police Department.

Mayor Adams: Anyone can do this job during peaceful times. Anyone can do this job when social media and Twitter is not willing to acknowledge what you're doing. Anyone can do this job when the Supreme Court hands down rulings, but you have to do this job now. Well, you're no longer just looking for the bad guy that has a gun, but just everyone is going to carry a gun while you are policing. You no longer have to worry about when you're making an arrest, the person is going to stay inside jails. No. They're going to come out probably the next day because of a court system that just does not seem to understand the reality on the streets. You're no longer going to have the support you should have in all parts of the criminal justice system, but you have been trained. You will have the tools. You'll have the resources. You have the support. You were chosen to police during these times. This is the moment of showing why we are called the finest.

Mayor Adams: The proudest moments of my life was wearing that uniform. I am the mayor because I served in the New York City Police Department. What I've learned allowed me to be the leader of this city, and you are going to be the leader of how we keep our city safe. You are our ambassadors, but there's a nobility that's attached to public protection in the police department. You must be your brother's keeper. You must ensure that he or she never reaches the point where they tarnish the shield, because one officer could destroy all the work that we are attempting to do. Our actions will be watched all the time. And yes, there will be good days and there will be bad days. There will be when you will make a mistake and you just won't get it right, but that's okay. We understand that. We're not going to be judged or judge you on the worst stage. We're going to judge you on the totality of your career.

Mayor Adams: Study. Become promoted, and lean into the diversity of this amazing city. As I walked into Madison Square Garden, I saw the diversity of your family members that are here and the excitement that they have, knowing their first generations are becoming members of the police department of different languages and different ethnicities.

Mayor Adams: This is who New York is. That's our secret weapon, from those who speak all of the different languages and ethnicities. This is what makes us the finest, and this is how we're going to accomplish our task.

Mayor Adams: I say this over and over again. We're not going to win because of our buildings, our structures, our bricks and mortars. We are not who we are because of the Empire State building or the Statue of Liberty or Broadway. We are who we are. If I can borrow from the owner of the Snapple soft drink, we are who we are because we're made up of the best stuff on earth. We are New Yorkers, and we are the NYPD.

Mayor Adams: Congratulations to you.

Lieutenant Conway: Thank you, Mayor Adams.