Contact: Colleen Roche (212) 788-2958 or Jack Deacy (212) 788-2969
The Department's highest award for the prevention of family violence was posthumously awarded to the officer for whom the award is named, Police Officer Vincent Guidice. Officer Guidice died on May 21, 1996 of injuries he sustained when he and his partner intervened to protect a woman who was being attacked by her husband in a Bronx apartment. The award was accepted by Officer Guidice's mother, Eileen Guidice. The officer's father, Vito Guidice, was also at the ceremony.
"While all of today's honorees have devoted their lives to combating domestic violence, Police Officer Vincent Guidice sacrificed his life for the same goal," Mayor Giuliani said. "Vincent Guidice is a true hero whose bravery and courage in the line of duty serves as an example of the highest degree of commitment to public service. That is why it is fitting that the Department's highest honor for domestic violence intervention be named The Vincent Guidice Memorial Award for the Prevention of Family Violence and that this first award be posthumously awarded to Officer Guidice."
"New York City Police are often the first and most critical contact for domestic violence victims and that is why we have done so much to improve police response to domestic violence incidents," the Mayor continued. " We have instituted a 'must arrest' policy and implemented recording and tracking systems. In every precinct, there are now domestic violence officers and detectives who work with victims and investigate batterers. Since 1993, arrests for domestic violence and related offenses increased by nearly 65 percent."
"Working alongside the dedicated officers and investigators of the NYPD to combat domestic violence are the civilians who are also being honored today," added the Mayor. "These dedicated people work at agencies throughout the city, in the District Attorney's offices, in the Office of the Criminal Justice Coordinator and in the New York State Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence. All of these professionals do an outstanding job of working together with the NYPD to implement our aggressive strategy to combat domestic violence."
Commissioner Safir said, "Today we honor those who have worked so tirelessly to put the New York City Police Department, under the leadership of Mayor Giuliani, in the forefront of the fight against domestic violence. Each and every day these men and women work to insure that domestic violence is no longer viewed as a family problem, but as a serious and dangerous crime. No one knows that more than the family of the late Vincent Guidice whom we honor today for making the ultimate sacrifice as he tried to help a victim of domestic abuse. New Yorkers will never forget his sacrifice and the sacrifice of all those who continue to fight in the name of victims of domestic abuse."
In addition to the The Vincent Guidice Memorial Award, the Department awarded other domestic violence prevention service awards to 12 members of the Department and civilian awards to 11 individuals.