“HELPING AN ELDERLY WOMAN CROSS THE STREET IS NOT A SMALL THING. WE’RE HERE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN PEOPLE’S LIVES.”

Assemblyman Dov Hikind (D-Brooklyn) will present citations today to Officers Igor Smolyakov and Joseph Droge of Brooklyn’s 66th Police Precinct for distinguished service. The officers were recently seen stopping traffic and exiting their vehicle to personally escort an elderly woman across the street who was fearful because of traffic.

“One of my staff members called me to say that he’d watched two policemen stop their car in the middle of the street, get out, and help an elderly woman cross the street,” said Assemblyman Hikind. “I immediately thought of my own mother and anyone who I shared this story with thought of their own mother or their grandmother. It may sound like a small thing but it’s not.

“The NYPD gets a lot of criticism these days and people too rarely speak of the fine and important work they do. But this one example is a solid illustration of officers at their best. No one asked these policeman to help this woman. They were out on patrol, doing their jobs and they noticed that she was standing on the corner so they stopped and helped her. That is not a small thing: It shows sensitivity and concern. It’s all about making a difference in people’s lives and these two officers demonstrated that with their actions.”

The citations will be given today at 3:00 pm the 66^th Precinct in front of the officer’s peers.

00000