NYPD chief Aaron Edwards, who jumped a fence to apprehend a bomber, receives a standing ovation at MSG

New York’s Arena Honors Its Heroic Cop

Madison Square Garden recently celebrated NYPD Chief Aaron Edwards, a veteran officer who gained recognition for his brave actions during a tense situation outside Gracie’s mansion.

During a Knicks game against the New Orleans Pelicans, the crowd of nearly 20,000 applauded as the announcer introduced Edwards, saying, “Please join us in honoring Deputy Chief Aaron Edwards, a 23-year veteran of the New York City Police Department.”

On March 7th, an explosive device was tossed into a protest outside the mayor’s residence. Edwards, without skipping a beat, jumped over a police barricade and rushed toward the danger, showcasing what it truly means to embody the spirit of New York.

Video footage captured the moment when Edwards, donning a Knicks sweatshirt, pointed to the logo as the audience rose in recognition of his courage.

Edwards was on duty during a loud anti-Islam demonstration when two young men, Emir Barat, 18, and Ibrahim Qayumi, 19, hurled homemade bombs, one nearly hitting the mayor. Shortly after, Edwards leaped into action to help apprehend Barat, completely unaware that the makeshift bomb was non-functional.

A photograph of him vaulting over the barricade quickly went viral on social media.

In a follow-up with the press, Edwards downplayed his actions as just fulfilling his duty. “No matter your rank, no matter your life, no matter your position, you are a police officer first,” he reflected. “Once you’re a cop, you’re always a cop. When you see danger, you have that cop in you. You react to it.”

Barat and Qayumi, hailing from affluent families in Pennsylvania, later confessed to being inspired by extremist groups and expressed a chilling desire to cause harm exceeding that of the Boston Marathon bombings.