Retirement of Beloved NYPD Union Official
A respected police union official, who played a significant role in supporting NYPD families during their grief following the 9/11 attacks, is set to retire on Thursday.
Danny Tyrelli, 62, the first vice president of the New York City Police Compassionate Association, reflected on his more than 42 years in service while adjusting his hat.
He contributed to improving officer welfare by extending police shifts to 10 and 12 hours, which, in turn, reduced pension eligibility rules for 2022-2023. This change allowed thousands of officers to spend more quality time with their families.
“One of the highlights of my career was helping countless police officers,” he remarked. “I feel like I represented them and addressed the issues they often faced.”
A Long Island native, Tyrelli followed in the footsteps of his father, a detective with the Nassau County Police Department, and joined NYPD in 1983.
“I never thought I’d still be a police officer after 42 years,” he shared. “I can’t say I’m getting faster, but I’ve enjoyed every single day.”
After spending 12 years in Astoria’s District 114, he was elected to the PBA board and quickly became first vice president.
In the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center, Tyrelli was there for the families of fallen officers at Ground Zero.
He mentioned that one of the toughest parts of the job was supporting families on that tragic day and witnessing fellow officers suffer from 9/11-related illnesses.
“Dan Tyrelli was one of the first to help us navigate the pain after my husband was murdered,” recalled Barbara Talty, a widow of Paul Talty, who died in the attacks.
Tyrelli encouraged his son, Andrew, to join the NYPD, but Andrew eventually chose to work with the Suffolk County Police Department instead.
“The major challenge we face is attracting good candidates and keeping them,” Tyrelli explained. “If other agencies offer better pay and shorter shifts, it complicates things.”
As a father of two daughters—Bianca and Taylor—and a grandfather to three, Tyrelli plans to take his wife, Dawn, on a dream vacation to Italy after retirement.
He summed up his feelings about retirement with, “When officers retire, many say they don’t miss the job, they miss the people. For me, it’s the job itself I’ll miss because it was about helping officers. That is what made this the best job in the world.”
