Earlier this week I was honored to receive an award from the Latino Officers Association during their installation as an "official" fraternal organization representing police officers in the New York City Police Department. 

On the stage of the main auditorium at Police Headquarters were the founding members of this group, a few Latino Judges, an NYPD chaplain and an NYPD Ceremony Sergeant.  Missing from the stage was the NYPD’s new commissioner Bernard Kerik and/or any of his representatives. 
Clearly it was a snub to the group that has clawed and scratched its way to get the "official" recognition even though the group also celebrated its five-year anniversary.

The LOA has taken the city to court numerous times related to their rights as cops and as Latinos. They so far are 4 and 0 in court decisions.  In the group of people in the crowd that night were my family and friends who came to see me be honored. 

But also in among the faces were so many other people who should themselves be rewarded. 

Officers who continue to hang in there despite the pressure to leave or give up. 

Lawyers who fight the windmills of New York City beaurecracy, not only for profit but also for principle.  Victims of Police brutality and the relatives of those who didn’t survive their run-ins with cops. The snub by the top brass of the NYPD, to me, is a clear indication of what is to come from them in the future. 

There will be a lot of "camera" speak about race relations while behind the scenes there will not even be a "fake" showing of cooperation.  

Many, including myself were disappointed at the lack of even a superficial showing from the "new" Police administration... It spoke volumes. What I told the group gathered there was that I only had two words for the senior officers seated in front of me – hold on. 

 I asked many of them, mostly Latino but many who are African-American, to hold on and keep working despite the temptation to leave and get out from under the pressure. 

They should remain as an example to young kids of color who might not have a reason to become a cop if they don’t see people like them on the job and in positions of power. 

They should also make sure there are people qualified to replace them.  

In keeping with part of my theme from last week, I say leaders are obligated to provide "heirs" or "heirs-apparent".
That would apply to just about every job I can think of. 

Doctors, lawyers, bus drivers, sanitation workers, clerks, news reporters, whatever — we are obligated to make sure our spots in life are maintained. 

We should hold the ground we have until help arrives. I can’t help think about the movie "Saving Private Ryan." 

That stunning first 15 minutes is really no different from our struggle on a professional level. 

Some of us will fall, others will move ahead even if only slowly but we all only advance when ground is held and not given up.

In the commute many of us take from the havens of Laurelton, Cambria Heights, Rosedale and the like, it might be easy to forget that it wasn’t long ago when living in neighborhoods like these wasn’t possible.

If you feel like giving up what ever it is you’re doing because it feels like it’s not worth pressing on, hold on.

Part of the inscription on the plaque from the Latino Officers Association read "service to the community." I’m grateful they believe me to be that kind of a person but Police officers who go against the grain despite the pressure to stay silent are really the ones who serve us.

And all can serve in some way by simply holding on until help arrives.

If not, all the effort and sacrifice will be for naught.