A seasoned NYPD detective was promoted on Thursday after he helped save the life of a Russian tourist, who was stabbed during a trip to Los Angeles nearly ten years ago. His promotion came after he urged his colleague, the highest-ranking detective, to “be a helpful person.”
Albert Ramos, who is 58 and has been with the NYPD since 1994, recalled the intense situation when he was elevated to Detective First Class alongside five other officers at One Police Plaza back in November 2015.
“We did our job, but the most surprising moment was when I got home, and my son—who was just 11 then—said, ‘Dad, I’m so proud of you,'” Ramos shared. “That’s when it hit me. You don’t really need recognition; helping people is what truly matters. I can’t imagine leaving this line of work.”
“I love it, and I’m thrilled to keep progressing,” he added, along with his wife, Lori, and their son, Albert, who is a baseball player at Adelphi University.
Ramos and his now-retired partner, Detective Dan Mulligan, were off-duty and relaxing at a Starbucks while in Los Angeles to extradite a suspect for a different case, when they suddenly heard screams nearby.
“I heard screaming and saw two young girls rushing by and two men fighting,” Ramos explained. “One had a knife, and the other was trying to defend himself.”
As Ramos drew his gun to intervene, the attacker managed to slash the tourist’s throat and aimed the knife back at him.
“The training kicked in,” Ramos noted. “My partner was right there. It was just the right timing for us to be present. We saved his life, and it’s gratifying.”
A local construction worker, noticing that Ramos and Mulligan were without handcuffs, came over to assist.
“This guy, he looked like a carpenter, just walked up and asked, ‘Hey, do you need some zip ties?'” Ramos recounted.
“I said, ‘Absolutely,'” he continued. “We got the zip ties, called 911, and the police arrived.”
The suspect, identified by local media as 54-year-old Donald Offerman, was arrested and charged with attempted murder, with bail set at $500,000.
After the incident, the victim’s daughters sent heartfelt letters to Ramos and Mulligan.
“Because of you, he is alive now,” they wrote beside a drawing of an angel, emphasizing the importance of their actions.
“That’s what it comes down to,” Ramos said. “You should think broadly. To be just a cop who helps isn’t enough; you must be a person who helps. That’s what makes you a better cop.”
A Manhattan native now living in Queens, Ramos has worked in various precincts across North Brooklyn, including stints as a narcotics agent, before joining the Manhattan 6th Precinct Detective Squad. He currently serves as a detective in the Queens Attorney’s Office.
“I’ve experienced a lot on the force, and it’s been rewarding,” he expressed. “I’m dedicated and work hard every day.”
On Thursday, a number of officers, from detective to sub-inspector ranks, received promotions.
Commissioner Jessica Tisch remarked that these promotions “reflect the highest standards of qualifications in our profession, their judgment in critical moments, their leadership under pressure, and their commitment to a mission larger than themselves: protecting New York City’s residents.”
