Christian Leon, 24, graduated from the police academy Wednesday, fulfilling a new career path inspired by an act of heroism he experienced four years prior. On Nov. 18, 2021, off-duty Detective James Fares rescued Leon from his burning vehicle on the Grand Central Parkway.
Leon, then a pre-med student, was rear-ended in rush hour traffic when his car began smoking. Fares, driving home from work, noticed the vehicle veering and smoke emanating from it. He pulled over, extracted Leon, and called for an ambulance. "He just saved my life, and it’s been like four years later," Leon said. "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."
The incident prompted Leon to reconsider his future. "I needed someone to help me at the time, and now I want to help people when they need help," he stated. Though shaken and his airbag deployed, Leon was not seriously injured. The encounter left a lasting impression, particularly the sight of Fares' detective shield.
Fares, who is assigned to the Queens Auto Crime unit, described his actions as instinctual, a product of his training. "It was just instinct training [that] came together, and I’m happy that he’s here with us today, and everything’s good," Fares said. The two were reunited Tuesday at the department's Gun & Shield Day ceremony, where Leon was able to thank Fares in person and share his career choice.
"I feel like the good deed is coming full circle, and it’s a very great feeling," Fares, a nine-year department veteran, commented. He offered advice to Leon: "Work 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."
Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch acknowledged the reunion and Leon's inspiration during the graduation ceremony. "It meant the world to Christian and his family that a complete stranger would take that kind of risk to save him," Tisch said. She also recognized other officers graduating, including Casey Kloepfer, whose father died on 9/11, and Erica Tierney, whose uncle also died during the 9/11 attacks while serving as a first responder. Kloepfer will carry his father's shield number, 22403, and Tierney follows in her uncle's legacy. "Thank you for your lineage of service to this city," the commissioner told the legacy families.