NYPD Detective Promoted in Honor of Late Father

An NYPD detective named his dog “K9” as a tribute to his father, who was killed in the line of duty nearly 30 years ago. On Friday, he celebrated a promotion, with his late father’s father expressing pride in the moment.

Katrina J. Narvaez, 38, was among 11 individuals from New York’s Finest promoted to detective second class during a ceremony at One Police Plaza, led by Chief Jessica Tisch.

Narvaez was just a child—only 9 years old—when her father, Lt. Frederico Narvaez, lost his life responding to a domestic incident in Flatbush on October 18, 1996.

“I think he would have been proud of his position in the NYPD and the camaraderie he had with his fellow officers,” Narvaez reflected. Now married and expecting her first child, she has found a deeper connection to her father’s legacy.

It was only after her father’s passing that she became close to his former colleagues, who shared stories and helped her understand the meaning behind serving New Yorkers.

“Before he passed, I didn’t truly grasp what it meant to be a police officer. Meeting these officers opened my eyes to their dedication to the community and their genuine desire to help people,” she noted. “This inspired me to want to be part of that world.”

Narvaez joined the NYPD police academy in January 2013, starting her career in Brooklyn’s 70th Precinct, first as a patrol officer and later in a domestic violence unit. Her passion for animals led her to a role with Vaporwake K9 dogs, trained for detecting firearms and explosives, in the emergency services unit.

She underwent two months of training in Alabama to work with her new canine partner, a wire-haired pointer-Labrador mix.

“Joining the NYPD was a dream come true, especially wanting to be in the K9 unit,” Narvaez shared. “Once I got in, it transformed my life.”

Naming her K9 Freddy after her father added a special significance to her work. “He’s my best friend; I spend more time with him than with anyone else,” she remarked.

Yet, a bittersweet reality is on the horizon, as Freddy, at 9 years old, nears retirement age for the K9 unit. Narvaez will have to prepare for a new dog soon.

In the meantime, she and her family are savoring the joy of her promotion.

“I’m very thankful,” Narvaez expressed. “This really means so much to my family and me. I always hoped for this, but the timing is just incredible.” She added, “I owe this moment to the support of my mother, husband, family, and friends, both in and outside the NYPD.”