Orthodox Jew Samuel Winsbacher Named NYPD Academy Valedictorian

 New police officers take oath during New York Police Academy Graduation ceremony at Madison Square Garden in 2019. Samuel Winsbacher, a recent NYPD Class Valedictorian urged his fellow future officers to work with “integrity and professionalism.” LEV RADIN/PACIFIC PRESS/LIGHTROCKET VIA GETTY IMAGES.

NEW YORK — The New York Police Department’s Police Academy valedictorian this year—25-year-old Orthodox Jew Samuel Winsbacher—gave a seven-minute speech at Tuesday’s ceremony which was held in Madison Square Garden as he also received a number of awards.

“25-year-old Samuel Winsbacher won two of the eight awards given out at the graduation.  With an overall average of 99.59 percent, the highest in the class of more than 500 students, Winsbacher was honored with the academy’s top award, the Mayor’s Award, in addition to earning the First Deputy Commissioner’s Award by besting his classmates with an academic average of 99.3 percent,” said VINnews.