On Thursday, May 12, 2022 the Rotary Club of New York hosted for the 50th year the Celebration of NYC finest, Police Recognition Day. The event took place in the Library of the Union League Club and was attended by a large crowd of Rotarians, guests and friends of Rotary and of course most importantly by the leadership and members of NYPD.
After the singing of the Star Spangled Singer and presentation of the flag by the Ceremonial NYPD unit, NYPD Commissioner Keechant L. Sewell was introduce by President Gerard.She is a FBI trained hostage negotiator and was a negotiator for over twenty years, eventually becoming the lead Chief Negotiator and Commanding Officer of the department’s prestigious negotiation team.
Sewell was requested to participate in the NYPD sponsored Women in Policing forum in 2018 and was invited to return to address the NYPD’s Women’s History Month celebration at the New York Police Academy, in College Point, in 2019.
Sewell has commanded two detective squads, was the Deputy Commanding Officer of the Fourth Precinct in Hewlett and was the Commanding Officer of the Seventh Precinct in Seaford. Sewell started and commanded the police department’s Major Case Bureau which included the Robbery, Electronics, Burglary, Crimes Against Property, Gang Investigations, Special Investigations and Narcotics/Vice squads. She then went on to start and lead the department’s new Professional Standards Bureau with a focus on police accountability and procedures. In September of 2020, she was promoted by Nassau County Commissioner of Police to the position of Chief of Detectives.
In her remarks she outlined the importance of organizations like the Rotary Club of New York and the collaboration with the NYPD and thanked RCNY leadership for making a difference and for the “Service Above Self” in NYC.
She was presented with Honorary Leadership by our club and furthermore was presented with a beautiful peace of art in remembrance of 9/11 by friends of our Rotary Club.
RFNY Foundation presented the Commissioner with a check from the Foundation and outlined the importance of the work of the NYC Police Foundation.
After that the Hero of the day, Det. Sumit Sulan was recognized for his heroic deed. Det. Sumit Sulan has been selected for this year’s hero award. Det. River and Det. Mora of the 32nd Precinct were assassinated during a domestic violence dispute on January 21, 2022. Det. Sumit Sulan also responded to the call. He was in the apartment with the mother and in the line of fire, when Det. Mora and Det. Rivera were shot. Det. Sulan fired at the suspect striking the individual several times stopping his forward advance out of the apartment. As a result of his action he saved countless lives as the individual was armed with a high capacity handgun. Search of the apartment also produced and full loaded AK 47 under his bed. The suspect, Det. Mora and Det. Rivera died as a result of the exchange and Det. Sulan was the hero cop the put a stop to his actions. These young cops were in harm’s way attempting to address a domestic incident- one of the most dangerous assignments police officer handle every day.
The meeting adjourned at 1.15PM after presidential remarks outlining the COVID era and the many Zoom meetings that held the club together and indeed made it “Flourish”.
