NYPD cop injured on the job hailed as hero at hospital ‘strike’ ceremony

A Bronx cop injured on the job early Tuesday received a heroic salute at the traditional NYPD “strike” ceremony at St. Barnabas Hospital – a partner who may have helped save his life rolled him out to applause.

Police Officer Paul Lee, a three-year police veteran, became the first New York’s Finest member to be shot dead in the line of duty in 2023.

Lee, a member of the 48th Precinct Public Safety Team, was escorted out of the hospital by partner Antonio Martinez in front of dozens of other officers on Tuesday afternoon.

It was Martinez who dragged Lee into his squad car and rushed him to the hospital after he was shot in the arm around 3 a.m., even as Lee tried to go after the suspected teenager and his accomplice.

“What we just saw was a cop being pushed out of this hospital by his heroic partner,” Patrick Lynch, president of the NYPD Benevolent Association, said outside the Bronx hospital. “When we looked at this body camera and video from the stores, we saw that the policeman, realizing that he was shot, is still running towards danger – running after the person who shot him.

“The partner, realizing that his partner had been shot, rushed into action, started the car with the headlights on and the sirens on the radio, gave a description, called for help and notified Barnbanas Hospital,” Lynch said. “Professionals to the End”.

Two police officers were patrolling East 183rd Street and Prospect Avenue around 3 a.m. when they spotted two men wearing dark ski masks, police said.

The cops drove up in their patrol car to talk to the duo – when one of them opened fire, hitting Lee in the left shoulder, NYPD Chief James Essig said at a briefing.

According to Essig, the shooter fired “at least six times” before the couple fled.

The police returned fire and Lee, though wounded, began chasing the fleeing couple before Martinez grabbed him and rushed towards St. Warnabas, police said.

About 75 police officers lined up outside the hospital to pay tribute to the wounded officer.

48th Precinct Deputy Inspector Joseph Deleon said the intersection where Lee was shot was known to be a problem area in the area.

“In this place, we had certain incidents with robberies, with gang activity, so they are actively deployed in this place,” Deleon said. “They arrested a lot of people with firearms in this place.”

He said that Lee and Martinez “did their job to the fullest.”

Last month, a 38-year-old Brooklyn police officer was shot during a domestic argument.

Veteran NYPD Orlando Adorno was handcuffing a suspect when the man freed his hand and shot at the cop, injuring him.