Reunion at NYPD Ceremony

A child who was once kidnapped has now joined the New York City Police Department, and during a recent ceremony, he reunited with two retired officers whose efforts in tracking down his kidnapper inspired him to pursue a career in law enforcement.

Steven Johnson, now 30, was emotional as he embraced former detectives Richard O’Brien and James Rice, who were there for him right after the incident and later arrested his abductor during the department’s Gun & Shield Day celebration.

Johnson was taken from a playground in Chelsea by Tony Sanchez, a convicted child molester, when he was just four years old. Reflecting on this traumatic experience, he mentioned how the detectives’ support helped him feel safe, ultimately motivating him to become an officer himself.

“They made me feel at ease when I really needed it,” Johnson expressed, turning to one of the officers to say quietly, “Thank you.”

“Having people to look up to during such a tough time was crucial,” he shared at the ceremony highlighting the conclusion of his police academy training.

“We’re incredibly proud of you,” O’Brien said as emotions ran high during their heartfelt reunion.

Back on October 23, 1999, Johnson was simply playing at Chelsea Park when, for a moment, his mother, Michelle Montez, lost sight of him. In an instant, Sanchez, a 39-year-old park ranger, abducted him.

“He just grabbed me and pulled me away. Before I knew it, I was on a train headed to the Bronx,” Johnson recalled of that terrifying day.

Sanchez took him to a pizzeria, dressed him in pajamas, and slept next to him, but police confirmed there was no sexual abuse involved.

Following public outcry and extensive media coverage, a citywide search was initiated. This prompted Sanchez to feel alarmed and abandon Johnson at a Bronx subway station the next morning, where he was quickly found.

Johnson remembered a surreal moment where he saw himself on the news while held captive. “I could see myself and my mother on TV, and I just kept asking to go home. That’s when he eventually dropped me off at the station,” he recounted.

Detectives Rice and O’Brien facilitated the reunion with his mother at the hospital and encouraged him to speak out about his ordeal to aid in solving the case.

Interestingly, Sanchez had previously pleaded guilty to sexual offenses against children, which led to his arrest for kidnapping and other charges.

“Their encouragement and kindness made me want to replicate that for others. I aspire to be a community officer, making everyone feel valued like I did,” Johnson remarked.

O’Brien, now retired, shared that the case and its surprising resolution would remain etched in his memory. “When he was reunited with his mother at the hospital, it was an emotional moment for everyone involved,” he said. “Seeing how far he’s come makes me so proud.”

Johnson was among the many recruits celebrated during the Thursday ceremony.