Alliance for Downtown New York Commends Seven Public Safety Officers for Distinguished Service

 The Alliance for Downtown New York honored seven public safety officers for their exceptional service at a ceremony on Wednesday. The ceremony, a long-standing tradition at the Alliance, took place for its 29th time on Wednesday afternoon at Giardino d’Oro on Gold Street. The officers were honored for a variety of distinguished acts, from protecting the safety of a special needs child to arranging emergency medical aid for a sick woman.

Downtown Alliance president Jessica Lappin presented the awards, together with vice president of operations Dave Harvin and director of public safety Ed Drivick. Each of the officers honored has been with the Downtown Alliance for at least 10 years. 

“Through blizzards and heatwaves, and everything in between, our public safety team is made up of the friendly faces that greet residents, workers and visitors in Lower Manhattan and help to keep the neighborhood safe every single day,” Lappin said. “This group of honorees represents the courage and integrity that our city is known for.”

The Public Safety Officers received recognition from the Downtown Alliance for the following:

Security Officer James Paige— On Saturday October 28, 2025, Officer Paige was on routine patrol when he was stopped by a confused elderly  driver who told him that she had gotten lost in New Jersey while driving to church and wound up in Lower Manhattan. Sensing she was disoriented, Officer Paige asked if there was a relative he could call to help her. She gave him the contact number for her niece. Officer Paige contacted her niece, who responded to the location by Uber. Officer Paige remained with the woman until the Uber arrived.

Security Officer Victor Garcia — On August 9, 2025, Officer Victor Garcia, assigned to Post 101, was assisting with morning drop-off operations for Hawthorne Country Day School at 233 Broadway. As a school bus was unloading students, a special needs child broke away from their paraprofessional and ran into oncoming traffic on Barclay Street. Officer Garcia immediately observed the situation and pulled the child to safety moments before an oncoming vehicle could have made contact. The child was safely returned to their classroom without injury. Principal Randal Glading was present on scene and expressed his gratitude for Officer Garcia’s swift and decisive actions. 

Following this heroic act by Security Officer Garcia, the Downtown Alliance established a collaborative program with Hawthorne Country Day School, allowing students to shadow members of Public Safety and Information Services staff to learn employment and workplace skills in preparation for graduation.

Security Officers Nathan Turner and Victor Garcia — Officer Turner was assisting in training Officer Victor Garcia in the Bowling Green Park area when they were approached by a frantic woman reporting that her three-year-old son was missing. The woman stated that she and her child were visiting from Washington, D.C., and were unfamiliar with the area. Officer Turner immediately contacted dispatch who notified 911, providing the child’s description and last known location. The mother was also able to provide a photograph of the child, which was promptly forwarded to dispatch. Rather than waiting for 911 to arrive, Officers Turner and Garcia immediately began canvassing the surrounding area. While proceeding northbound on Broadway, they observed a child matching the provided description in front of 39 Broadway. The officers immediately made contact with the child and notified dispatch to have the mother brought to their location for positive identification. Upon the mother’s arrival, the child was positively identified as her son, and the two were safely reunited without further incident.

Supervisor Shawn Soto and Security Officers Jennifer Rios, Ronald Washington and Destiny Pena — On October 17, 2025, Officer Rios observed a 39-year-old woman lying on the ground in front of 1 Liberty Plaza and experiencing severe abdominal pain on her right side, indicating a need for immediate medical assistance. Officer Rios promptly radioed dispatch to request a 911 response and additional support. Supervisor Soto and Officer Washington responded to the location via mobile patrol. After approximately 10 minutes with no EMS arrival, Officer Pena used her personal cell phone to contact emergency services again to request an expedited response. Supervisor Soto then directed Officer Washington to proceed to FDNY Ladder 10 on Liberty St. to request immediate assistance. FDNY personnel subsequently arrived on scene rendering aid until EMS arrived. The woman was subsequently transported to N.Y. Presbyterian hospital for further medical treatment.

The Downtown Alliance’s team of over 50 public safety officers is ever present on the streets of Lower Manhattan, helping to ensure that the neighborhood remains safe. Known for their bright red uniforms, the team operates in close collaboration with New York City Police Department’s 1st Precinct and the Patrol Borough Manhattan South Scooter Task Force. In addition, the team partners with the Bowery Residents Committee to assist with homeless outreach. These proud men and women also help locals and visitors alike with general information, directions and personal recommendations on how to best experience Lower Manhattan.

This year’s awards ceremony was hosted by our partners Quality Protection Services, a leading provider of security services.