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Finest of the Finest Luncheon

113 Pct     

Hero police officers pose at "Finest of the Finest" awards luncheon with PBA President Pat Lynch (center).
Photo by Robert Kalfus

  
The PBA held its "Finest of the Finest" awards luncheon June 23. It was the first since the NYPD lost 23 officers in the Sept. 11th World Trade Center terrorist attacks.

At the luncheon at Manhattan's Water Club, 35 police officers, one sergeant and one detective, accompanied by friends and family, were feted and presented with plaques commemorating feats of valor, compassion and resourcefulness ranging from daredevil rescues to deadly shootouts. There was even an instance of charitable weight-lifting — by a body-builder cop who raised more than $11,000 for the Widows' and Children's Fund in bench-pressing competitions.

"For almost a year now, attention has been focused on the heroism of those lost in the World Trade center attacks — and that's as it should be," said PBA President Pat Lynch. "But the amazing acts of bravery and daring performed by New York City police officers are with us everyday.

“Popular culture has desensitized the public to the routine perils of police work," he continued. "We should never take the heroic acts of our cops for granted. We at the PBA never do. That's why cops value these awards more than any other. They're given to them by their peers."

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