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.
“It is important that we stay true to ourselves and, above all else, continue to demonstrate the integrity and professionalism that embodies this great department,” said the native of Monsey, N.Y.
Winsbacher was tapped with the Mayor’s Award, the top honor bestowed by the academy. He led his class of 500 with an academic average of 99.3%.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams was on hand to congratulate Winsbacher and all the new graduates.
The valedictorian, who wears a kippah under his police cap, recalled the intensity of training, describing doing push-ups in 90-degree heat and full uniform. He said of the drill instructor-style approach that “the more they yelled at me, the higher I achieved.”
Winsbacher described his motivations in going into law enforcement, saying, “I wanted to be able to go after criminals and not just pull over law-abiding citizens who roll through stop signs.”
Samuel Winsbacher, 25, urged his fellow future officers to work with “integrity and professionalism.”
The new officer will begin his career at Transit Police District 11, the region around Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, N.Y.
“Taylor was part of the delegation that met with Israeli president Isaac Herzog just last week, touring the NYPD’s joint operations center and Hall of Heroes. The delegation also met in the police commissioner’s executive conference room, to discuss crime trends and concerns in New York City and how they relate to Israel,” said VINnews.
Produced in association with Jewish News Syndicate
Edited by Judy J. Rotich and Newsdesk Manager
