Transcript: Mayor Adams Delivers Remarks At NYPD Recruit Graduation Ceremony

May 6, 2024

Police Commissioner Edward Caban: Good morning. On behalf of Mayor Adams, the leadership team assembled on this stage and the entire New York City Police Department, welcome to our recruit graduation ceremony and to all of our newest police officers, welcome to the NYPD.

Just a few days ago, I spoke to our latest recruit class at the academy. I told them that their city needed them but considering that they have six months of training to complete and you take your post tomorrow, I think it's fair to say New York City needs you even more. And that's a good thing because you're well prepared. You're ready to go out there and you are New York City cops.

Thirty-three years ago, I sat where you're sitting now. I stood up, raised my right hand and swore that I would dedicate my life to serving others. I promised to make a difference and be part of something much bigger than myself. I'll tell you, it's the best decision I ever made because there's nothing like a job in the NYPD. Every second is memorable, and you'll have many great days when your pride in this department will lift you up like nothing else. But there will be hard days too, days like we had six weeks ago when pain and grief will try to push you down, but I promise you will get back up. You'll get back up because Detective Jonathan Diller's work is not finished and now it is your job to finish it.

As we continue to honor Jonathan's service and his ultimate sacrifice, remember today you wear the same uniform he did. You carry on his legacy and the legacy of all the heroes we have lost and through it all, the good, the bad and everything in between, you bring hope to the people of our city. Everywhere I go, New Yorkers tell me how grateful they are for the work our officers do. They need you. They support you. And now more than ever before, they see themselves in you.

You are part of a global police department safeguarding a global city. This graduating class speaks 34 different languages. You represent every race, culture and creed and on top of that, more than 60 percent of you are New York City residents. You reflect the people you protect and that's a very important part of this job. It makes you better cops. It makes the NYPD a more effective department and it makes our communities even safer and, in the end, that's why we're all here.

For you, officers, today is day one and I know it took a lot of hard work to get to this point and no one understands that better than the people sitting behind you. To all the family members and friends here, thank you for everything you do. Being a police family is not always easy. There are missed birthdays, anniversaries, and holidays. There are last-minute schedule changes, canceled plans and some sleepless nights. Through it all, your support makes it all work. And the love and pride you feel for our graduates today is the reason they are here. It is my honor to welcome all of your families to our family. Thank you and let's give them a big round of applause.

I also want to thank the dedicated staff of our training and personnel bureaus. Year after year, we rely on you to turn recruits into cops, and no one does it better than you do. Thank you. And finally, to our newest officers, welcome to the greatest job in the greatest police department in the world. This is special work done by special people. Right now, your 34,000 brothers and sisters in blue are waiting for you out there. Together, we can all make New York City better tomorrow than it is today. Congratulations again. Stay safe and God bless. Thank you.

Mayor Eric Adams: Thank you. It's such a significant and important day for all of us. As the commissioner stated many years ago, I too sat among you, sworn in to be a member of the New York City Transit Police Department, later to join the New York City Police Department.

A few hours from now, this building will take a new display. The New York Knicks will take the court. They will start the process of bringing us home a ring. The reason they are playing the ball that they are playing is because Jim Dolan built out a farm team. He built out a league of players that had to be prepared to perform on the big stage, the big arena. And the quality he poured into those younger players gave them the possibility and opportunity to now to play in the finals. Our farm team means everything. You are our farm team.

I read a poll the other day that shook me to my knees. Only 18 percent of 18 to 34-year-olds are extremely proud of this country, America. This is our flag. This is our flag. It's not merely just a piece of cloth. It's not merely just a symbol. It is who we are. It is what we represent. It is what 19-year-old [inaudible]. It is what those young men who recruited to go abroad. It is what 19-year-old Joe, my uncle, who died in Vietnam defending this. It is what Jonathan Diller died defending this. This is the symbol of our strength, and you are the farm team that must protect this.

There are those who are going to attempt to demonize and ostracize and define your valor, define your strength. There are those who are going to attempt to be our voices. There are those who won't appreciate the NYPD until they need them. All of the governmental agency phone numbers in this city, there's one that everyone knows, 911. 911. That's the number that calls you. That's the number that you respond to, and you will prove them wrong every day. No matter what they say, no matter what they Facebook, no matter what they Instagram, no matter what they tweet, you're going to make New York City have the safest streets in America like we have done generations after generation.

As you go out there to patrol, as you go out there to serve and protect, remember this city sits under the tree of freedom because you and officers like Jonathan Diller watered that tree with their blood. This is the greatest country on the globe, and we're the greatest city on the globe. I've traveled across the globe, and there are no lines to leave America. There are lines to come in America, and we should never be ashamed of who we are.

I'm proud to be the mayor of the City of New York, and I'm proud to be the commander-in-chief of the greatest police department on the globe. Our talents and skills are global, and I'm proud to have men and women from the UAE and the consul general to join us today, because we are an international commodity. The skills that we acquire and learn, we share across the globe to push back against hatred across the entire globe. We have an obligation and responsibility to continue to fulfill the commitment and dedication. That is how we bring home the public safety ring, by continuing to build out our bench.

Let's turn that 18 percent into a 100 percent. This is America, and no matter what bombs will burst in air and their rockets' red glare, it will always give proof through the night that this flag will always be here. Thank you.

Public link

Please use the above public link if you want to share this noodl on another website.