STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Special Assignment Sergeant Michael Peruggia, who became the number one seniority officer in the New York Police Department, ended his 42-year career with an honorary walkout at the 121st Precinct. Graniteville borough last week.

The station was filled with friends, family, former colleagues and active duty officers. Acting Police Commissioner Thomas Donlon and First Deputy Commissioner Tania Kinsella were joined by Staten Island’s top brass.

Rep. Michael Reilly (R-South Shore), a retired NYPD lieutenant, presented Peruggia with a certificate of merit.

Peruggia grew up in South Beach, the son of a factory worker and insurance company secretary, and attended Holy Rosary School. After graduating from Monsignor Farrell High School in 1979, he studied business management at Pace University in Manhattan.

“Although I admired my father’s character and work ethic, I did not want to follow in his footsteps, working long hours as a shipping manager at the old Glissen factory in Brooklyn,” Peruggia said.

“My father always had two jobs, except when he had three. So, on a whim, I took the civil service exam to become a police officer,” he added.

He entered the police academy in January 1982. Six months later, he began roaming the 122nd precinct, which covers the east and south banks, without ever imagining that one day he would become the highest-ranking officer of the entire police force.

During his next assignment with the Staten Island task force, he heard about an opening for a clerk position with the Early Intervention Unit, the predecessor to today’s Emergency Assistance Unit. employees.

Six weeks after joining the unit and spending his days entering data, he accepted an offer to become a peer counselor, a decision that would change his life.

When Peruggia joined the early intervention unit, it was not clear who officers could call for help dealing with mental health issues, post-traumatic stress disorder, suicide prevention and other personal problems.

As the New York Police Department worked to address these issues with a dedicated unit, Peruggia found itself on the ground floor.

He has received specialized training in many areas, including critical incident trauma reporting, mental health and suicide prevention.

After training at Florida State University, he became professionally certified as a field trauma surgeon.

In 1992, Peruggia was promoted to sergeant and assigned to the 120th Precinct in North Shore, where he worked as a patrol sergeant.

Because his training and specialized skills were needed by the Early Intervention Unit and he was asked to return to the unit, it would become a labor of love.

Peruggia’s dedication and hard work earned him another promotion in 1999 when he was designated a sergeant on special assignment.

When the department suffered catastrophic losses during the September 11, 2001, attacks, the New York Police Department, along with other law enforcement agencies, were overwhelmed trying to help first responders.

“Only a few of us were trained to handle such a catastrophic incident, and we were called upon by the NYPD and many other agencies. We didn’t have the time or ability to deal with our own trauma and grief, but we used great teamwork to be effective in a very difficult job,” Peruggia explained.

A Springsteen concert on the first date

While patrolling Westerleigh in 1985, Peruggia stopped at Diane Tramontanas’ home to ask her out.

“My grandmother opened the door and asked to see me. As my father let him into the house, she asked my father, “Are you going to let him in to meet your daughter?”

“But he’s a policeman,” my father said. “If I can’t trust him, who can I trust?” “, explained Diane.

That first date at a Bruce Springsteen concert led to their marriage in 1989, followed by the births of two children, Michael Jr. and Alexa.

Perugia’s retirement will be bittersweet. He says he has loved every minute of his role as a police officer, but after working the equivalent of two policing careers, he has plenty to keep him busy.

He plans to spend more time managing Great Escapes Tripsa business that he and his wife have owned for many years.

His wife Diane is one of the four founding members of The GRACE Foundationa Staten Island-based organization dedicated to supporting, educating, and improving the quality of life for children, adults, and their families affected by autism spectrum disorder.

Despite his always busy job with the police department, he always found time to support and help the Grace Foundation.

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Peruggia said he looked forward to spending time with his wife, Diane, and children and promised friends he would improve his golf game, “if that’s possible.”

In a moving ending, Peruggia directed her remarks to her daughter: “Alexa, I’ll have breakfast with you tomorrow, and you can make it.” And one more thing, I don’t have to get up early anymore.