The hero police officer who was injured while hunting an attempted murder suspect last year was one of a group of brave officers promoted at the NYPD ceremony on Friday.
det. Matthew Mauro, 37, bumped into a sophomore detective after a wild incident in which he was shot in the foot after pursuing the suspect at a hotel in New Jersey in June.
“I'm really grateful,” he said after the ceremony. He and dozens of other NYPD members were officially raised in rank by Commissioner Jessica Tish.
“It deserves all the hard work.”
Mauro and other NYPD detectives discovered 46-year-old Carl Gregory when they fired fire near an elevator on June 13th at the Raritan Hotel in Woodbridge, New Jersey.
The officers traded a shootout and eventually killed Gregory. Gregory was hoping in connection with the June 7 shootings on 102nd Avenue and First Avenue.
During the attack, Woodbridge Police Department officer Justin Nernie was also injured by a bullet in the back.
Mauro says he had surgery from the NYPD with “a lot of support.”
“[I’m] You're so grateful, be here and come out of there,” he said. “I get a lot of support from the police department and my family, so it's easier to deal with.”
It was found among other officers promoted at an event that took place at the NYPD Police Academy in Queens. Christopher Welch, 51, was involved in undercover Fentanyl Bust in November 2022, erupting into a shootout in Manhattan's Inwood section.
Welch was promoted from third to second grade detectives and was awarded a combat cross for his work during stabbing, resulting in the death of an armed suspect and another person being detained.
“For my family, it's a happy moment for me, who spent all my time as detectives,” Welch said of the promotion.
det. Kevin Canavan, 44 – was awarded 10 years ago for the medal of courage as part of a team that dismantled a pipe bomb placed by a suspect in a Brooklyn warehouse – has been promoted from sophomore to first-year detective.
Canavan said his father, who died before joining the NYPD, was a retired detective.
“It feels like an important achievement. The bombing squad detectives are the highest ranks that detectives can achieve at the police station. “I came to the police station because I wanted to be a detective, and it's not even higher. And I rarely get to the first grade rank.”
At the event on Friday, husband and wife police duo inspector Neil Zuber, 48, and detective Rady Zuber, 41, were both promoted together for the first time.
“I'm very proud to share that day. [my wife]said Neil Zuber, who was promoted from assistant inspector to inspector.
“I didn't expect that, he didn't expect it, so it was just a huge surprise for our family,” said Leiddy Zuber, who was promoted from third- to sophomore detectives.
Police Commissioner Jessica Tish praised the dedication and courage of the promotion as she stood before them on Friday.
“There's an incredible amount of talent, skills and heroism between this group. I'm really proud of the work you're doing,” Tish said.
“No promotions are given in the NYPD. They're earned. It's earning through long periods of difficult decisions and through moments of pressure not only to test your skills but also to test your character.”
