Transcript: Mayor de Blasio, Police Commissioner Shea Deliver Remarks at NYPD Graduation Ceremony

December 29, 2021

Sergeant Kevin Heavy, NYPD: It is now my pleasure to introduce the Mayor of the City of New York, the honorable Bill de Blasio. 

[Applause] 

Mayor Bill de Blasio: Good morning, everybody. Good morning, and congratulations officers. You did it. You made it.  

[Applause] 

I want to tell you, every one of us up here admires what you have done to get to this moment. We really do. You put your heart and soul into it. You spent months and months fighting to get to this moment, and there's a lot of people who dreamed of being there, but you are the best of the best. You're the ones who made it. You did the hard work. You had the commitment. You had the drive, you made it. 

[Applause] 

Now, every single one of us, when we succeed in life, we also have to remember all the people who were there for us. All the people who supported us. All the people who believed in us and encouraged us. You've got your family here. You've got loved ones here, who are with you every step of the way, who told you, you could do it, who believed in you. And to all the family members, all the friends right here, look around this beautiful arena. Look at each other. You all are part of this day. You all help make it happen. Give your neighbor round of applause, it’s your day too.  

[Applause] 

And what a powerful moment for each and every one of you to join this police force because your city needs you. I want to express the thanks of all New Yorkers, we need you, and you're going to find as you go all over the city people who are so happy that you're there because after everything we've been through, especially these last two years, people appreciate deeply those who step forward to serve them, to protect them, to be there for them. You made a choice. You made a very noble choice. There are a lot of people go through their life never dreaming they could contribute as much as what you will do or reach the level you have reached already. A lot of people wish they could do something great, but somehow doesn't come together, or they don't put in that kind of level of commitment that you have, but you've done it. And you've not just joined any police force, you have joined, and people will tell you this all over the world, I talk to mayors all over the country, they'll say the same thing honestly, they know this is the finest police force in the world. That's what you're joining. 

[Applause] 

612 new guardians for this city graduate today. What a good day for this city. Think we're all getting a late Christmas gift here, and it is such a good feeling. And I want honor each and every one of you, but I want to say something that I think we all need to appreciate. There are 43 among you who are putting on the uniform for the second time, who have served this nation in the armed forces. Let's thank all of them for their extraordinary commitment. 

[Applause] 

And you reflect the best of New York City. You come from every part of this city, every part of the metropolitan area, you come from countries all over the world. You speak all the languages of this great city. You are us, you reflect the best of us, and it's so important that it's a time when we know we're all going to have to work together to get past the COVID era, we will do it, we can do it, we must do it. This police force is going to play a crucial role in that, and you're going to work with your colleagues in law enforcement. So, today we also celebrate 31 MTA police members and three Amtrak police members who are graduating. Congratulations to those officers. 

[Applause]  

One quick example that people come to this work, this sacred work, of protecting others in so many different ways. So many of you come from a wonderful family tradition, but some people, they are establishing that tradition for the first time, and one of them is your valedictorian, Mariana Khaimchayev. She has a story that really epitomizes what moves people to join this force. In her case, she was new to this country. She came here from the Ukraine and she was trying like everybody else was new to New York City to make sense of this place, she got lost one day, right around here, right around Penn Station, and a police officer helped her out, and that police officer to her was an example at everything and good about New York City and everything good about America. Someone was there for her, someone cared. She was so inspired that day, she was so inspired by that moment, that she decided she too would serve the people of this city by becoming a police officer. That's the American dream in action right there. Congratulations Mariana. 

[Applause] 

So officers I'll finish with this. It's the greatest city in the world and has gone through the greatest crisis in our history, these last two years, but you are going to be the leaders of our recovery because you're out there, you're going help this city back. We recover through safety. We recover by bringing the city together. When this city is unified, nothing can stop us. We know that. There's no stopping New York City. No matter how many times we have been knocked down our history, 9/11, the Great Depression, Hurricane Sandy, whatever you choose, no matter how many times we have been knocked down, New York City gets back up and we depend on you to lead the way it. So God bless you for making the choice you made. God bless you for running the race and getting to the finish line, and congratulations, graduates. You mean so much to this city. We appreciate you, we love you, and great things ahead. God bless you all. 

[Applause] 

Sergeant Heavy: Thank you, Mayor de Blasio. I would now like to introduce the Police Commissioner of the City of New York, the honorable Dermot Shea. 

Police Commissioner Dermot Shea: Got to say this is a little bit more rambunctious than I'm used to. I think we have a, a group of over there. We have several groups here. I think it's the holidays. 

[Applause] 

Before I start Rabbi Kass, thank you for the warm introduction, but you forgot one important person here, Ben, can you stand up a second, Ben?  My first Deputy Commissioner also finishing an illustrious career with the NYPD, a man of incredible integrity, a person that I could not have gotten through the last two years with without and a friend. So, Ben, thank you brother. 

[Applause] 

So on behalf of the entire leadership team assembled on this stage, Mayor de Blasio and the entire New York City Police Department welcome to our 2021 Recruit Graduation Ceremony, and to all the newest members of the NYPD sitting before me, welcome. Take a breath. I would say, how does it feel? But I know how it feels. I sat in that chair almost 31 years ago, and let me tell you, you’re just getting started. You are beginning today what I know to be the greatest job in the world. I speak often about the unforgettable moments over the career that you'll have, but I would say it again today. There's going be this day with a flag planted down and there's going to be everything before today, and then there's going to be your life after today. Soak it in. Relish it. You've accomplished a lot already getting here into these chairs, and let me tell you, I think everyone on this stage with the view we had would say the same thing. The city is in good hands as I look out at our newest members, 612.  

[Applause] 

Six months ago, you all walked into the police academy, probably not exactly sure what to expect, but as I said, as you sit here today, and when you walk out of Madison Square Garden today, you are just getting started. It's the beginning of a great story, I would argue. And as excited as we are to see you today, as the Mayor said, there's almost nine million people that are even happier to see you. In fact, they're thrilled to see you. They need you. Every corner of this city, every single corner of this city, I hear one unified message. We want more cops. They want you. They're going to appreciate you. 

[Applause] 

Just think about the fact that you will now be their guardians. A tremendous honor that's being bestowed upon you. You are now the protectors of people across New York City in so many different ways. Some of which I'll highlight. You're going to console a crime victim when they literally have no one else to call.  Everyone knows that number 911. And you are going to be the person that comes to console them, to take care of them, to shed some light on the darkest day that they're having. Maybe it's reassuring a frantic parent, who's just for a second and it seems like a lifetime lost track of their young child. You're going to be the one that grabs them and says, it's okay. We have your son. We have your daughter. Their life just changed overnight. People always think about, and you can turn on the TV and you can turn on Netflix and Hulu and everything else and stream whatever you want, cops and robbers and all the exciting bank robberies and car chases and all that never going to change. And it's always going to be a part of our story, but it's not the real story. 

Policing now more than ever is about so much more than that. It's about the everyday interactions that you are going to have over the next 20 plus years. Those are actually going to be the ones the that you're going to be remembered for. It's not the car chase. It's how you met somebody on a street corner and said, ma'am how you doing? What can I do to help you? It's answering those questions when you walk out of this building today, 50 times to the tourists, asking you the repetitive questions that after the third time, you're going to shake your head and say, yeah, show some patience with them. Maybe it's going to be the person that calls 911 for the first time in their life. Hopefully, the only time in their life because they had a minor fender bender. They're going to call for assistance. For you, it's another job. But for them it's the most important job. Maybe the only interaction they're ever going have with a New York City police officer. Maybe they're fine, but their child in the front seat has a bump on the head or maybe they have to go to the hospital. Who's going to take care of my child. You're going to make an impossible situation, okay. That's the honor that's being bestowed on you today.  

I could go on and on, but I think you get the point. Never underestimate the impact that you can have on other people's lives. Not for a second. Your simple presence on a dark street when somebody gets off the subway at night, we know we have some issues with crime. We're going to tackle it. You're going to get it turned on the right road. When they get off that subway at night and they're looking over their shoulder, think about what goes through their heart when they see you standing there, when they see that shield reflect off the light pole. I'm okay, I'm going to get home to my family.  

[Applause]  

That's the impact you're going to have on people's lives. Remember that you now represent something much, much bigger than yourselves. Think about the impact you're going to have responding to the rooftop of a building and literally talking somebody off a ledge. Not just the person's life that you're saving, multiply a tenfold, their family, their kids, their friends, their coworkers. That's who you're really having an impact on. Someone in this room, I hate to tell you, is going to deliver a baby and it's not going to be your own.   

[Laughter]   

That's traumatizing enough, trust me. I'm speaking from the male point of view right now.  

[Laughter]  

In just two days, I'm going to be finishing up three decades with the greatest police department on the face of the planet.   

[Applause]  

I hope, I hope it is a fraction of rewarding as it has been for me as it will be for you. Someone I know who agrees with me on this point, Frank Vegas, stand up please.  

[Applause]  

Frank and I came on together in April in 91. 30 years with the NYPD now, Frank is our Staten Island Borough Commander. Frank is definitely heading into retirement the right way. What do I mean by that? Well, tomorrow he will be spending his final tour as the Citywide Duty Chief, checking in on precincts across the city. The most interesting part of the story is that his son, Frank, who ordinarily is a detective assigned to our Central Robbery Division will be driving with him. That's not good enough because driving both of them will be his other son, Steven, who graduates with you today.   

[Applause]  

Now, Steven, you can break ranks for a second. Where are you? Just stick your hand up.  

[Applause] 

Steven, when he starts complaining about you driving, as we know is going to happen, just tell him I said this, relax. I got this, I was trained by the best. All right. Beyond immediate relatives, each of our graduates sitting here today must by now realize that your members of a family that literally goes back 176 years. Hundreds of thousands strong. And at this moment you now have 35,000 brothers and sisters. The mission is very clear. Keep people safe. Remember be their guardian. Be a servant of the people. 20 years from now, 30 years from now, God willing, how do you want to be remembered for the everyday interactions? That's your legacy as well. It's also your job to build on everything from the great men and women that have put on that uniform before you have accomplished. You're going to build on it. You're going to make the city a better place, a safer place for everyone.   

There are going to be many, many great days. I think the greatest gift this job has and I think many of the people sitting behind me would agree. You love coming to work. What more really could you ask for? Not every day, but most days.  

Yeah, I know by the way, you're all working Friday.   

[Laughter]   

There will be some bad days. There is no doubt. Days when the pain of the grief, may temporarily push you down. Rely on each other, console each other, fight through it with each other. You'll get back up. I know you will because the work is never done. That's how we honor our fallen heroes. Those who we have lost. We honor their devotion to service and their sacrifice. And I want you to never, ever forget as you walk out of Madison Square Garden today and it sinks in that uniform that you are wearing, those patches on your arms, that shield on your chest is the same exact patches, uniform and shield that those heroes wore too. That's who you're working for. You carry on their legacies. Whatever difficulties arise, always remember that. And nothing will be more meaningful than that.   

Lastly, something else's been alluded to already once today, but we can't say it enough. You all have absolutely something in common. The people sitting in those seats behind you are what got you here. What got you through those days in the Academy studying, some of you probably ironing your shirts and everything else. Thank you for what you do.  

[Applause]  

Lastly, I want to thank the entire executive staff for the ride of a lifetime, thank you. I want to thank all of the men and women of our Training Bureau, the Academy staff that got these recruits ready today. Thank you for the next generation sitting before me today. This city is built on a very rock-solid foundation and you are the foundation that the city is built on. I know we're in great hands. God bless each every one of you have a safe and happy New Year and have a long and healthy happy career. 

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