After five decades of waiting, the legendary police whistleblower finally got his proper police Medal of Honor and its accompanying certificate on Thursday.
The certificate finally arrived in a large package at Serpico’s doorstep after Mayor Adams stepped in and said he’d make sure Serpico got the accolade.
Serpico is very happy that he finally got his certificate.
I want to thank @NYCMayor, Chris Dunn @NYCLU, @PeterGleasonEsq &@lmcshanenydn for their efforts in facilitating my receipt of this long overdue honor awarded to me by the NYPD over 50 years ago 👍🏽🙏 pic.twitter.com/UtPPDYxXkm
— frank serpico (@SerpicoDet) February 3, 2022
“I want to thank @NYCMayor, Chris Dunn @NYCLU, @PeterGleasonEsq & @lmcshanenydn for their efforts in facilitating my receipt of this long overdue honor awarded to me by the NYPD over 50 years ago,” Serpico tweeted.
Serpico, 85, a Brooklyn native, has been waiting for formal recognition ever since he was shot in the face in February 1971, nine months before his Knapp Commission testimony exposing corruption in the department.
According to reports, when he originally got his medal in 1972, it was unceremoniously handed to him over a countertop, without any fanfare or the accompanying certificate.
Sources said Serpico was shot just below the eye after he forced open the door to a Brooklyn drug den.
He returned fire and wounded the gunman, and has always maintained that the cops with him never made an “officer down” 10-13 call.
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