The NYPD chief who vaulted over a barricade to chase down ISIS-inspired wannabe bombers exterior Gracie Mansion earlier this yr was awarded the division’s distinguished Medal for Valor Monday.
Assistant Chief Aaron Edwards – the commanding officer of Patrol Borough Manhattan North – was amongst 5 heroes in blue who acquired the NYPD’s third-highest honor for his or her efforts taking down the suspected terrorists as unruly warring protests raged exterior the mayor’s mansion again in March.
“As we speak was very particular,” Edwards mentioned with the blue and gold medal round his neck. “It was actually vital that we bought an opportunity to get acknowledged by the mayor, by town, by the division — however not for me, actually — for all of the cops that had been working at Gracie that day.”
Edwards was on responsibility exterior the Higher East Facet residence throughout a rowdy March 7 anti-Muslim rally when two counter-protesters — Emir Balat, 18, and Ibrahim Kayumi, 19 — tossed do-it-yourself bombs into the gang.
Edwards swiftly hopped a barricade and helped chase down Balat — with out realizing that the crudely made gadgets would fail to detonate.
“We had been working a reasonably contentious protest,” the 23-year veteran recalled. “We knew there could be some backwards and forwards between the 2 teams.”
“I definitely wasn’t anticipating what occurred, however….[we] noticed a person gentle what we now know was an IED and instantly began working in direction of him – simply an try to get his consideration, scream at him, apprehend him, do one thing, simply do something, you understand,” he mentioned. “He drops his gadget and he begins to flee. He jumps over the barrier, I give chase behind him.”
The standard hero credited Sgt. Luis Navarro – who initially noticed Balat – for alerting him to the risk. Navarro additionally acquired a Medal for Valor.
Each suspects – who mentioned they had been impressed by the unconventional terror group — have since been turned over to the feds and are being held on terror prices.
Edwards grew to become one thing of a family identify after the NYPD’s X account featured a photograph of him mid-leap, with the caption, “Some heroes put on capes — Chief Aaron Edwards wears blue.”
The picture made the duvet of The Put up, with the headline, “SAVING GRACIE.”
Edwards recalled that Mayor Zohran Mamdani personally referred to as him to thank him for his efforts in protecting New Yorkers protected.
“He was very grateful for what I did, with the work all the cops did that day, on behalf of himself, but additionally on behalf of town,” Edwards mentioned.
And his bravery didn’t go unnoticed by his two sons, Aaron, 11, and Carter, 8.
“I do know that he’s completed rather a lot for town, and I’m actually, actually happy with him, and I’m actually proud that he’s my dad,” Aaron mentioned. “My buddies have been saying, ‘I want I had that dad.’”
“I thank him for his service and he’s one of the best dad ever,” Carter added.
Edwards mentioned the viral barricade-hopping second gave his children “slightly recognition in school.”
“It’s good to know that you simply’re the youngsters’ hero, and I definitely really feel that method,” he mentioned. “But in addition, I hope they heard a number of the different tales of the members being honored right here…and so they know that it’s not simply me on the market – [it’s] 30-plus thousand in uniforms.”
These honored on the 1 Police Plaza ceremony additionally included Det. Didarul Islam – who posthumously acquired the division’s highest recognition, the Medal of Honor – after he was randomly slain by a deranged rifle-toting madman whereas guarding a Midtown Manhattan skyscraper final summer time.
His widow, Jamila Akhter, accepted the glory on his behalf whereas carrying their child, Arham.
Addressing the ocean of blue, Mamdani referred to as Islam “a person of humility, integrity, generosity, and kindness, who was senselessly murdered final summer time within the largest mass capturing our metropolis has seen for the final 25 years.”
Det. Brett Boller, a rookie cop shot within the leg whereas making an attempt to arrest a Queens gunman who bolted off an MTA bus in 2023, was additionally awarded the Medal of Honor.
His companion, Officer Anthony Rock, acquired the Police Fight Cross for leaping to his help.
“I feel right now is a celebration of how far I got here, how far we got here, and all of the individuals who helped us get right here, as a result of it was undoubtedly an extended street, bodily, emotionally, for us,” Boller mentioned.
“We simply spent a ton of time collectively, particularly within the months throughout my restoration,” the detective added. “And he was coping with the feelings of being concerned in one thing like that, and we bought to undergo that collectively….And now I feel we’re each in fairly good spots.”
