Christian Leon’s inspiration to don the NYPD uniform stemmed from an extraordinary encounter in 2021. The harrowing event occurred when an off-duty detective, whom he would later aspire to emulate, came to his rescue from a burning car, marking a pivotal moment that influenced his career path.
Just this past Wednesday, the 24-year-old Leon celebrated his graduation from the police academy. This milestone came less than five years after the life-altering evening on November 18, 2021, when Detective James Fares sprang into action as smoke started to billow from Leon’s vehicle on the Grand Central Parkway.
During the chaos, Leon noticed Fares’ identity as a detective by the distinctive shield he carried. However, it wasn’t until a Gun & Shield Day ceremony, organized by the department, that he finally learned the name of the man who had intervened in his hour of need.
Reflecting on that fateful encounter, Leon expressed deep gratitude, telling The Post, “I’m almost speechless to a certain point, because I only get to say thank you, because… he just saved my life, and it’s been like four years later. So I’m really happy he’s here with me, and I’m gonna pay it back by being of help and service to others and the community.”
At the time of the crash, Leon, a native of Corona, Queens, was pursuing pre-med studies. Yet Detective Fares’ selflessness prompted him to reconsider his future ambitions. Inspired by the heroism he witnessed, Leon chose to serve his community by following in the footsteps of the detective who changed his life.
“I remember I had finals during that time for one of my bio classes. I was heading back home, and it was during rush hour, my car was stopped — no cars were moving — and all of a sudden I see a car behind me rear-ends me,” he said.
“Detective Fares…acted immediately,” the rookie cop recalled. “He took me out of the vehicle, he said everything was going to be fine. He called an ambulance, and I’m here because of him — because I needed someone to help me at the time, and now I want to help people when they need help.”
Leon was not seriously hurt in the crash — only shaken because his airbag exploded — and was checked out at the hospital.
“I hardly remember that,” he said of the impact. “But all I remember is this detective, his shield, and just stuck with me and my memory forever.”
Fares, who is assigned to the Queens Auto Crime unit, said he was driving home from work when he spotted Leon’s car veering off to the right, with smoke coming from it.
“I just pulled over as quick as I could, and ran over to make sure he was OK, and pulled him out of the car,” Fares said. “It was just instinct training [that] came together, and I’m happy that he’s here with us today, and everything’s good.”
Seeing Leon again – a day before he officially joined New York’s Finest – was a special moment for Fares.
“So I feel like the good deed is coming full circle, and it’s a very great feeling, and I’m happy that I can share this with Christian and everyone else,” said Fares, 42.
The 9-year department veteran, who grew up in Bayside and has since moved to Mineola, said he had the chance to share advice with Leon – who hopes to become a detective some day, too.
“I basically said, ‘Work hard,’” Fares said. “I said, ‘Work really hard, and do whatever you can to help people out, and I guarantee you, [at the] end of the road, you’ll get your shield.”
Leon’s journey to the NYPD, inspired by Fares, earned the attention of Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch as she addressed the sea of blue Wednesday.
“It meant the world to Christian and his family that a complete stranger would take that kind of risk to save him, and the two would remain strangers until yesterday,” the top cop told the sea of blue. “The two were reunited yesterday on Gun and Shield Day, and Christian was finally able to thank Detective Fares in person, and to tell the detective about the career choice that he had inspired.”
The newest officers to hit the streets also included Casey Kloepfer, 29, whose father, Officer Ronald Kloepfer – of ESU Truck 7 – was killed 25 years ago while attempting to rescue those trapped in the World Trade Center on 9/11.
Casey will also be taking his dad’s shield number – 22403 – which he describes as an “honor.”
The younger Kloepfer, who was only 4 years old when his father died, said the NYPD quickly became his “extended family.”
“I always picture my dad as a superhero,” Kloepfer said. “Being in ESU, he had a really cool job. So it was something that you know I always looked up to and inspired to be.”
Erica Tierney, 26, whose uncle, Officer Stephen Driscoll, assigned to ESU Truck 4, also died while rescuing victims from the World Trade Center, is set to follow in his footsteps.
“I was only one [year old] when he passed,” Tierney said. “But I meet people to this day who recognized the last name Driscoll, and they always say he had a positive impact on their lives.”
“I always grew up around officers and it was always a positive environment for me and my family,” she added. “They do a lot for the families, and it’s nice to see everyone come together.”
Tisch recognized the legacy families during the packed Wednesday ceremony.
“Thank you for your lineage of service to this city,” the commissioner said.