# NYPD Police recruit wants same shield number as slain grandfather **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 9, 2015, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nypd-police-recruit-wants-same-shield-number-as-slain-grandfather/734098 "2015-10-09T23:14:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2015, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nypd-police-recruit-wants-same-shield-number-as-slain-grandfather/734098/1 "2015-10-09T23:14:20Z")
I admire families that continue the legacy of serving as police officers. Especially after someone died in the line of duty. We owe the police so much for responding to crises situations and keeping the public safe. Can most new recruits get their father or grandfather’s badge number? Assuming its not assigned? Or is this only for families of slain officers? > **[NYPD recruit wants same shield number as slain grandfather to honor his...](https://www.nydailynews.com/2015/10/09/nypd-recruit-wants-same-shield-number-as-slain-grandfather-to-honor-his-memory-i-just-want-to-follow-in-his-footsteps/)** > > NYPD recruit Jennifer Gitter has no idea where she will be assigned when she hits the streets but she knows for sure she wants shield number 24227, just like the mini-gold one she wears around her … > [@](#): > > Gitter, who is 24, knew from when she was in high school that police work would be her calling. > > "I want to become a police officer because even though I never got to meet my grandfather my mother and my family tell me such wonderful stories about the person he was — personally and on the job,‘’ Gitter said after she and 677 other recruits were sworn in at the Police Academy in College Point. “I just want to follow in his footsteps and in the footsteps of my family.” > > That would include her cousin, Det. Matthew Ryman, who as an officer wore the same shield number when he joined the NYPD in 2006. ---
**Author:** ![donkeyoatey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47c2d/32.png) [@donkeyoatey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/donkeyoatey)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2015, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nypd-police-recruit-wants-same-shield-number-as-slain-grandfather/734098/2 "2015-10-10T03:12:11Z")
I don’t know how many others here are tired of your schtick, but i sure am. Any tiny amount of searching will tell you retired officers badge numbers are available, killed in the line of duty are not. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2015, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nypd-police-recruit-wants-same-shield-number-as-slain-grandfather/734098/3 "2015-10-10T03:42:26Z")
[Officer Harry Ryman was off duty.](http://nypost.com/2006/09/29/nypd-avenger-haunts-duo-who-killed-his-grandpa/) ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2015, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nypd-police-recruit-wants-same-shield-number-as-slain-grandfather/734098/4 "2015-10-10T05:15:38Z")
I wonder why Mathew is already off the force? He was a rookie cop in 2006 and wearing that number. Now 9 years later the badge number is unassigned. I guess he found other work. Ryman was off duty but confronting a robbery suspect. I guess that still counts as dying in the line of duty? I know my uncle in DC always carried his service gun. He was required too and expected to respond to a crime off duty or not. Thankfully he never had a shooting incident during his 35 year career. > [@](#): > > The 43-year-old officer – wearing his pajamas, armed with his service revolver and carrying his shield – identified himself as a cop before confronting a car thief. > > A shot rang out, and Harry Ryman returned fire, hitting suspect Paul Ford, 46, in the head. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2015, 11:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nypd-police-recruit-wants-same-shield-number-as-slain-grandfather/734098/5 "2015-10-10T11:53:33Z")
If you have a problem with this poster, take it to the pit. Otherwise, please dial it back. No warning issued. Note: **donkeyoatey** you’ve racked up a number of mod notes for inappropriate personal jabs. You need to stop doing this or Warnings will ensue. > [@donkeyoatey](#): > > I don’t know how many others here are tired of your schtick, but i sure am. > Any tiny amount of searching will tell you retired officers badge numbers are available, killed in the line of duty are not. ---
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2015, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nypd-police-recruit-wants-same-shield-number-as-slain-grandfather/734098/6 "2015-10-10T16:45:44Z")
> [@donkeyoatey](#): > > I don’t know how many others here are tired of your schtick, but i sure am. > Any tiny amount of searching will tell you retired officers badge numbers are available, killed in the line of duty are not. This is hilarious! ---
**Author:** ![Billdo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/billdo/32/315_2.png) [@Billdo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Billdo)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2015, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nypd-police-recruit-wants-same-shield-number-as-slain-grandfather/734098/7 "2015-10-12T02:29:17Z")
I understand that it is a tradition honored in the NYPD to request and receive if available the shield number of a family member who was killed in the line of duty. Here’s an example from the [NYPD Website](http://www.nyc.gov/html/nypd/html/pr/pr_2010_recruit_shields.shtml). I don’t know how the department handles requests for special shield numbers from family members of officers not killed or injured in the line of duty.