On Thursday, May 8th, 600 new police officers graduated from the New York City Police Academy, becoming the fresh force of the largest police department in the United States. It is worth noting that at the graduation ceremony held at Madison Square Garden (MSG), a Chinese-American female student was selected as the recipient of the “Mayor’s Award” for this year with the best overall performance in the class and represented the new police academy graduates in her speech.
The student, named Jenny Pan, achieved the top spot in this year’s graduating class with an average score of 99.6%. In her speech, she looked back on the unforgettable six months of rigorous training and expressed her gratitude to her mother and family.
“Since I was young, my mother always reminded me that as the eldest daughter, I have a responsibility to lead by example, to be a role model for my siblings, a leader, and a guiding light,” Jenny Pan said. “I hope that every one of us standing here today can be that role model, providing a figure for the next generation to look up to and learn from.”
New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch warmly congratulated and welcomed the 600 new police officers. She introduced that these new officers come from 33 different countries, with two-thirds of them residing in New York City.
“You are a reflection of this city and the source of power for us to connect with every community,” said NYPD Commissioner Tisch.
Tisch quoted Mayor Eric Adams’s consistent stance, stating, “Public safety is the top priority of the city government, and you – along with 50,000 uniformed and civilian personnel – are the core to achieving this mission.”
She encouraged that the work of the New York City Police is “noble.”
“You are entering a results-oriented workplace, where your work can mostly be quantified in terms of crime data, clearance rates, or response times,” she said. “But what truly makes the NYPD the world’s finest police force is not just the data, but the sense of nobility of this profession, the will to remain focused and persistent under pressure, and the resilience to move forward in adversity.”
Lastly, Tisch expressed her sincere hopes for all the graduates.
“The greatness of the NYPD lies in each of you carrying out the mission. The badge you wear on your chest is not just a symbol of authority, but a responsibility – a responsibility to the city, to the citizens, to the noble profession of policing,” she said, concluding with a concise yet powerful statement, “Most importantly, always prioritize safety!”