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This NYPD hero is retiring his wheels.
Legendary NYPD highway sergeant James Gatto took his last ride on the hog Thursday after more than 40 years as a motorcycle cop who escorted hundreds of dignitaries through the streets of New York City.
The 62-year-old was celebrated with a traditional NYPD “walkout” ceremony at the 122nd Precinct in Staten Island — where family, friends and colleagues cheered as he took one last ride on his trusty bike.
“At a young age, I always looked up to law enforcement,” Gatto told The Post on his final day in uniform.
“As I became a New York City police officer … the people I worked with were in World War II, I worked with Korean War veterans, Vietnam veterans. I worked with people who had a love for the country, a love for the city, public service. I felt a calling to that,” he continued.
“When people say, ‘Why do you join the police department?’ I can tell you this, it’s not for the money.”
Gatto escorted hundreds of VIPs during his tenure — including eight presidents and three popes — but the most satisfying job he was ever tasked with was leading the families of NYPD officers who had fallen in the line of duty to the funeral.
The retired officer and his colleagues felt a strong responsibility to go the extra mile and bring comfort to the grieving loved ones on the hardest day in their lives.
“They will always remember the escort and how they were treated by the NYPD, especially the highway patrol,” Gatto said of the families.
“That was where I received a good feeling because it’s way the families are treated. It’s how you deal with their grief. The families are grieving and things that are said things that are done that people don’t really know about how families feel that gave me the most joy out of my escorts.”
Gatto had plenty of fun memories, as well — he most looked forward to working the New York City Marathon every year and riding in the midst of the overwhelming joy of the runners and their dense cheer squads.
The son of a mechanic, Gatto was elated to meld his passion for public service with his love for motorcycles.
As a youngster, he rode mini-bikes and then dirt bikes until he was old enough to handle street bikes.
“When I came into the police department and I said, ‘Wow look at these guys on a motorcycle!'” Gatto recalled.
“I didn’t know what Highway Patrol was about. All I knew was that they had motorcycles. They were Harley-Davidsons and I could ride them and get paid for them. If I get paid to ride the motorcycle, I’m in!”
Gatto joined NYPD’s Highway 2 in south Brooklyn in 1987, and retired this week from Highway 5 in Staten Island.
His two sons followed in his footsteps — one of whom is also a sergeant for the highway patrol and the other is a robbery detective in Staten Island.
Gatto is leaving the line of duty behind to serve on the Sergeants’ Benevolent Association board, continuing his passion and lifelong call to serve as an officer of the law.
“I love my job and I love what I do. If there wasn’t a law, it’s a law to retire by your 63rd birthday — I’m gonna be 63 on October 11 — I’d still be doing it,” he said.
English (US)