As strains of “Blue Christmas” rang through Colston Hall’s Lower Level, it was a blue Christmas indeed at BCC’s Second Annual NYPD Appreciation Luncheon. Held on Friday, December 21, the event celebrated the selfless service of police officers from the 42^nd, 44th and 46th Precincts, Police Service Area 7, Transit District 11 and Bronx Community College’s Department of Public Safety. New York City Police Commissioner James P. O’Neill was the guest of honor.

“Having an NYPD Appreciation Luncheon is to show support for what the officers do every day, “ observed Council Member Vanessa L. Gibson, organizer of the afternoon. “A lot of the work they do goes unnoticed and unrecognized, but they do it anyway. When you look at where the city has gone in terms of crime, they’ve been doing an incredible job.”

In addition to food and drink, officers from each of the precincts received awards for outstanding service. New York State Senator José M. Serrano, Assemblyman Victor M. Pichardo and New York City Council Members Fernando Cabrera and Ritchie Torres co-sponsored the festivities, which was supported by the New York City-based HealthFirst insurance company.