A representative of CIE Tours has told the annual Irish Law & Order Awards in New York that her own experiences as the daughter of a police officer cemented her respect for the "brave men and women who do important and dangerous work" to protect the community.
Mary Capella, Director of Digital and CRM at CIE Tours International said she was a five-year-old during the Newark, NJ disturbances of 1967. "I was born and bred in Newark, NJ where my father was a police officer in the 1960s into the 1980s," she told the 300-strong audience at the View at the Battery on Friday past.
Nice touch: @NYPDnews sent a police watercraft to salute this year’s honorees at the annual Irish Echo Law & Order Awards. 300 officers and families attending biggest-ever gathering - 15th annual award presentation. pic.twitter.com/QjDIcggjBG
— Irish Echo Newspaper (@IrishEcho) January 26, 2024
"When I was five-years-old, my dad left for work," added Capella. "I was too young at the time to know that the Newark Riots had broken out. I just knew that my father didn't come home for three days. When my father finally came home after three long days, my mother held him for a long time. I knew that hug was different. It made me realize that my mother had been scared. I realized I had been scared also. And I realized deep down that my father's work was dangerous — important but dangerous." WATCHING THE DETECTIVES: Mary Capella presents an Irish Law & Order award to Joseph Kenny, Chief of Detectives, NYPD
Since that date, said the CIE representative, she has held "a deep, loving respect for his and for your profession". She concluded: "I am honored to join the Irish Echo to recognize all of you, the brave men and women who do the important and dangerous work that keeps a five-year-old girl, and all of us, safe. My deepest thanks to you all."
CIE Tours, premier partner in the 15th annual policing awards, has launched a special discount offer for serving law and order and military members to mark its sponsorship of the gala evening. To access the discount, which also extends to CIE tours beyond Ireland to Scotland, Italy and Iceland, go to the special 'heroes' page on the CIE website.
We were delighted to join the brave women & men in law enforcement who were honoured at the @IrishEcho Law & Order Awards last Friday. Many generations of Irish Americans have a long & valued tradition of contribution to law enforcement in New York. pic.twitter.com/YHLv6oKF90
— Irish Consulate NYC (@IrelandinNY) January 29, 2024
