[VIDEO & PHOTOS BY HILLEL ENGEL IN EXTENDED ARTICLE]

At a City Hall ceremony yesterday, Council Member Mark Treyger honored NYPD Officer Albert Mammon of the 60th Precinct for saving the life of a drowning teenager while off-duty and on vacation in Florida. During the ceremony, Council Member Treyger presented Officer Mammon with a City Council proclamation and thanked him for his unwavering efforts to keep the public safe and for representing the NYPD in such high regard. Several other Council Members including Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito and members of Officer Mammon’s family also took part in the ceremony.

Officer Mammon was on vacation in Bal Harbour last month when he heard screaming coming from the ocean. He ran towards the water and saw 17-year-old Christopher Tran struggling to stay afloat far from the shoreline. Officer Mammon jumped into the choppy water and swam towards the teenager, along with several other rescuers. They helped get Christopher onto a surfboard and then used the momentum of the waves to get everyone safely back to the beach.

“Officer Mammon did not hesitate to run into the water and help a complete stranger, despite the clear danger and risks he faced. His actions have once again shows that the men and women of the NYPD truly are never off-duty and are always ready to assist someone in need. Officer Mammon has represented the NYPD and his community with professional and class throughout his distinguished career, so nobody who knows him is surprised by this heroic act. My sincere thanks to Officer Mammon for bringing well-deserved praised to the NYPD and for going above and beyond the call of duty,” said Council Member Treyger.

Officer Mammon is the child of immigrants who came to Brooklyn from Russia to escape religious persecution. He grew up in southern Brooklyn and is a graduate of Sheepshead Bay High School and John Jay College of Criminal Justice. He started his career with the NYPD in 2001 as an officer with the 62nd Precinct, and has since earned a number of honors and accolades, including the NYPD Exceptional Merit Police Award for returning fire on an armed robbery suspect and taking him into custody several years ago. He is currently assigned with the 60th Precinct in Coney Island, where he is credited with revitalizing the Auxiliary Officer program.

“It was very touching to have my proclamation read aloud in City Hall. I became an officer to help our city and to help everybody I could, and every officer I work with would have done the same thing. There is so much that every officer does that doesn’t come to light, so I appreciate this honor. I would like to thank Council Member Treyger and the City Council for this great award,” said Officer Mammon.

The City Council proclamation noted that, “For New York’s Finest, their commitment to protecting the public does not end with their shift and is not limited to our five boroughs. Officer Mammon demonstrated this when he was not only off-duty but on vacation and saved the life of a drowning teenager. His actions brought well-deserved praise and acclaim for himself and the entire NYPD and once again show that the men and women of the NYPD are stellar public servants, both in and out of uniform.”

(YWN Desk – NYC)