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- Polish NYPD Sergeant Sebastian Hajder was seriously injured while rescuing a child in Glendale – he was bitten multiple times – on the knee, hand, and index finger.
- Monika Adamski, Editor-in-Chief of Radio RAMPA, asked New York City Mayor Eric Adams about his reaction to the incident during a recent press conference.
- Sergeant Hajder was born in Łańcut, Poland, but grew up in New York and attended the Polish school of St. Queen Jadwiga in Ridgewood.
The Queens District Attorney, Melinda Katz, announced charges against Feliz Enrique, a 31-year-old from Glendale, who is accused of, among other things, first-degree assault. According to the prosecution, on May 10, between 4:10 p.m. and 4:30 p.m., Enrique approached a 9-year-old girl near the intersection of 67th Place and Central Avenue in Glendale and started a conversation, asking for her name. When the child responded, Enrique struck her forcefully in the face, causing her to fall to the ground. An off-duty police officer and two bystanders intervened.
The officer who responded to the attack on the child was Sergeant Sebastian Hajder. As confirmed by Radio RAMPA, Sergeant Hajder was born in Łańcut, Poland and immigrated to the U.S. with his parents as a child. Since 2019, he has served as a sergeant at the 79th precinct. He previously worked at the 67th precinct and has been with the NYPD since 2013. Raised in Polish culture and tradition, he attended the Polish school of St. Queen Jadwiga in Ridgewood, New York.
At the time of the incident, he was off-duty but did not hesitate to react when he saw a 9-year-old girl being brutally attacked. Together with two bystanders, he rushed to help and attempted to apprehend the attacker.
During the struggle with Feliz Enrique, Sergeant Hajder sustained serious injuries. He was bitten multiple times – on the knee, hand, and index finger. The most severe injury was the loss of the tip of his index finger, which could not be saved despite medical intervention. According to the DA, the officer also suffered lacerations and abrasions on his legs and arms.
Hajder was publicly praised for his quick and courageous actions by District Attorney Katz, who emphasized his dedication and immediate response.
NYC Council Member for District 30, Robert Holden, hopes the Polish officer will be formally honored. “There is absolutely no justification for striking a child. When NYPD Sergeant Sebastian Hajder, who was off-duty, stepped in to stop it, he was brutally attacked — and had his finger bitten off,” Holden stated, adding that he spoke with Sergeant Hajder, “a brave constituent deeply committed to our community.” “I look forward to welcoming him to my office or City Hall to honor his bravery in the face of such a heinous act,” Holden concluded.
Radio RAMPA’s editor in chief, Monika Adamski, asked the mayor of New York about the officer’s actions on Tuesday.
Eric Adams described the incident as “horrific” and expressed concern about the growing wave of violence and the lack of respect for officers and the uniform, which he called a symbol of public safety. He stressed the need for accountability and expressed support for the prosecutor’s actions in the case. “When there is a lack of respect for the uniform, it means a lack of respect for the symbol of our public safety – and for what we hold dear.”
Queens Supreme Court Judge Toni Cimino ordered the suspect to be held in custody and to appear in court on July 10. If convicted, he faces up to 25 years in prison.
Watch the video of the mayor’s remarks:
Monika Adamski
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