New York State’s first Indian American Senator Kevin Thomas presents Sulan with a Proclamation recognizing his bravery
New York police’s Indian American detective Sumit Sulan has been presented with a Proclamation recognizing his bravery and heroic actions during the fatal Harlem ambush in January that claimed the lives of two of his colleagues.
The Proclamation was presented by New York State Senator Kevin Thomas, who in 2018 became the first Indian-American in New York history to serve in the State Senate, at the NYPD Desi Society’s General Meeting on Feb 27.
Sulan, 27, then a rookie cop had been assigned just to observe officers Wilbert Mora and Jason Rivera in responding to a domestic call on the night of Jan 21 when his colleagues were ambushed and fatally shot. Sulan pushed the mother and brother to safety, and returned fire on the gunman as he attempted to flee.
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“We will always remember our heroes who risk their lives to protect us. Thank you, Officer Sulan, for your selfless service and bravery,” Thomas said.
Sulan, an immigrant from India, became an active-duty officer last April and joined the 32nd Precinct two months before the tragic shooting. He was recently promoted to detective for his brave actions.
NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell proudly handed Sumit Sulan a new detective shield during a brief ceremony held at Police Headquarters on Feb 15.
“The actions of officer Sulan likely saved the lives of the other officers responding to that apartment,” Sewell said. “Like his partners, he is an example that police officers are ordinary people who are called upon to do extraordinary things and they often do, risking everything.”
Sulan was presented with shield No. 332, “symbolizing three brothers from the 32nd Precinct,” Sewell said, according to New York Daily News.
While he’s been repeatedly hailed as a hero, he spent the weekend after the shooting struggling with what he did, his family told the Daily News after the incident.
“He did his job — that’s his job,” his sister said. “[We’re] trying to be there for my brother. That’s their priority, right now. Everyone in the family is here for him. Everyone in the department is here for him.”
Read: Rookie NYPD Officer Sumit Sulan Hailed A Hero For Quick Actions In Deadly Harlem Shooting (January 24, 2022)
Even before January’s fatal clash, Sulan had been hailed by the NYPD for his police work, the paper said.
On Jan 2, the 32nd Precinct tweeted a pic of Sulan with a handgun he and fellow officers seized during another domestic dispute call. “#OneLessGun off the streets of #Harlem, hopefully preventing future violence,” the department tweeted.