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TV COPS PRAISE REAL POLICE AT TR BIRTHPLACE CEREMONY
Jerry Orbach and Christopher Meloni Join Commissioner Ray Kelly at 2002 Theodore Roosevelt(TM) Police Award in New York City
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On Wednesday, November 6, 2002, Jerry Orbach of NBC television's Law & Order and Christpher Meloni from Law & Order: Special Victims Unit were on hand with NYPD Police Commissioner Ray Kelly for the annual Theodore Roosevelt(TM) Police Award Ceremony, held at Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace National Historic Site, 28 East 20th Street, New York City.
Lt. Robert Martin of the NYPD, winner of the award for 2002, is hospitalized with cancer, and was unable to be present. His award was accepted by his children, John, 15, and Christen, 12. Lt. Martin is the 20th person to win the NYPD award, which was the first of the Theodore Roosevelt(TM) Police Awards now given in many cities and counties. In honor of this 20th anniversary, new commendation bars were given to previous recipients of the Theodore Roosevelt(TM) Police Award, and the TRA and Verizon, sponsor of the NPYD award since 1992, hosted a gala luncheon in the auditorium of the birth site of the only President of the United States born in New York City, Theodore Roosevelt, who was also New York City's most famous Police Commissioner. Jerry Orbach and Christopher Meloni made a special appearance at the ceremony to honor both Lt. Martin and the entire NYPD. Both actors, of course, portray members of the NYPD.
The Theodore Roosevelt(TM) Police Awards go to police who have overcome physical challenges, handicaps, injuries, and illnesses and remain on active duty, as TR overcame the health problems of his boyhood, and who have rendered outstanding service in police work, as TR did as President of the Board of Police Commissioners of New York City, 1895-1897. The award consists of a special silver medal, the work of famed contemporary sculptor Marc Mellon; a check for $1,000; and a small bust of TR. This year, through the generous donation of Simon Roosevelt, a great great grandson of TR, new commendation bars were added to the award. The Marc Mellon medal is suspended from a ribbon, and is designed to be worn on a dress uniform (or suit) for special occasions; and the new bars are for street uniforms/clothes and everyday wear.
Cordelia Roosevelt was this year's chair of the Theodore Roosevelt(TM) Police Award in New York City. (Two of Cordelia Roosevelt's great grandfathers were first cousins of TR ). Verizon, the phone/communications company, was represented at the ceremony by Vice President Patrick L. Byrne. TRA President Norman Parsons, TRA Executive Director John A. Gable, and Manhattan Sites Supervisor Joseph Avery of the National Park Service also attended the ceremony on November 6. Theodore Roosevelt(TM) Police Awards are currently given in Dallas; Nashville; Nassau and Suffolk Counties on Long Island; the Buffalo, NY area; New Orleans; and elsewhere.
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Is there a Theodore Roosevelt(TM) Police Award in your area? Do you think there should be one? The Theodore Roosevelt(TM) Police Awards are run by local TRA committees and funded by local sponsors. Sponsors seem easy to find for this worthwhile and inspiring program, honoring police who have faced a physical challenge and remained on active duty, and who have outstanding records in police work. Contact the TRA Office for further details.
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