by NYCD Columbia Association

Police Officer Nicholas Brando was honored yesterday with the Theodore Roosevelt Association's 2016 Police Valor Award, which recognizes police officers who have overcome a major physical challenge and have gone on to continue serving their Departments and the public. On January 5, 2014 Police Officer Brando was in Queens for the arrest of a subject who committed a robbery and burglary in Hicksville a few days earlier. The subject attempted to evade arrest and intentionally drove his car at Officer Brando, pinning him between two cars and crushing both of his legs.

Officer Brando spent six days in the hospital and then faced a long and painful recovery process to overcome his injuries. These included a fractured fibula, loss of nerve and circulatory function, and the development of extremely dangerous blood clots in his leg. He also later fought off a painful infection.

Unable to walk without the assistance of a walker, Officer Brando spent a grueling five and a half months in physical therapy doing everything he had to in order to get back to work. After spending just two weeks on restricted assignment, in July of 2014 he was back on full assignment.

Police Officer Brando joined the NCPD in July of 1992 and is assigned to the Bureau of Special Operations, which is a unit that requires a special skill set and an incredibly high level of physical fitness. For Officer Brando to persevere through such serious injuries and a difficult recovery and then return to BSO shows how much courage, determination, and strength he has.

Please join us in congratulating Police Officer Nicholas Brando!