Often overlooked, they wear uniforms and fight crime in a different way.
Recently, members of the New York City Health Bureau Police Department were honored during their first medal ceremony in Brooklyn. This event recognized their efforts to combat fraud without using firearms or pepper spray.
“The idea is that everyone is doing great work, staying safe, and ultimately, the criminals end up in prison,” explained Vincent Martinos, a former NYPD detective and now chief of the South Brooklyn Hospital Forces. “This ceremony aims to honor their commitment to the community.”
“We only patrol hospitals, and while we don’t carry guns or pepper spray, we still have the authority to make arrests similar to the NYPD,” added Martinos, who oversees operations in the borough.
Things can get a little hectic in the hallways of a New York hospital.
Officer Stephen Cummings received recognition for apprehending a wanted suspect as he was being discharged. A nurse, who’d been assaulted by the individual, spotted him and alerted Cummings.
“I tried to talk to him to de-escalate, but he just started hitting me in the face,” Cummings recalled. “I noticed the blood and thought, ‘Where’s that coming from? Who’s hurt?’ then my partner said, ‘Hey, that’s you!’”
Cummings mentioned that this suspect has outstanding cases in Queens related to attacks on women, including incidents involving a nurse.
Officer Matt Bay Gornack also received a merit medal for his quick thinking in administering Narcan to a patient in distress, effectively saving the person’s life.
However, he said that wasn’t the wildest experience he’s had in his career. “The craziest thing was about ten years ago when an ER patient jumped out the window. He was mentally unstable and crashed through the glass outside. I ended up chasing him down Ocean Parkway while he was naked and bleeding from cuts,” Gornack recounted.
Officer Collins Daly was also honored for his exceptional service, specifically for assisting in a childbirth.
“As a dad myself, when I saw the mother’s face, I knew I had to stay with her and move quickly,” he shared. “I stayed by her side until she gave birth.”
In total, 30 hospital police officers were celebrated for their service during the event.
Most New Yorkers might not realize there are police officers dedicated to patrolling city hospitals, but both the NYPD and FDNY are well aware of their crucial roles and regular collaborations.
“This partnership isn’t just beneficial; it’s essential,” emphasized FDNY Lt. Colonel Marat Nurilov. “We manage patients who can sometimes become violent. The hospital police ensure our officers can concentrate on providing care.”
