Honors for an MTA cop who helped to capture the man accused of killing a city emergency medical technican. NY1's Shannon Ferry filed the following report:
An EMS station was filled with gratitude Monday, for Officer Daniel McDade. The MTA K-9 cop helped to catch the man accused of fatally driving over beloved EMT Yadira Arroyo last month.
"I know it's an honor for me to be here but the true honor and the true heroism goes to Yadi," McDale said.
McDade was driving to work in Manhattan on March 16 when traffic forced him to take a detour and he came upon the murder scene, where 25-year-old Jose Gonzalez allegedly had just stolen Arroyo's rig, and run over Arroyo twice.
McDade dragged Gonzalez out of the driver's seat and held him with the help of bystanders until police arrived to take the suspect into custody.
McDade was presented with two plaques at Monday's ceremony, which was attended by dozens of Arroyo's FDNY colleagues at EMS Station 26 on Boston Road, where she worked.
“When officer McDade stepped up and stopped him, he saved others just as Yadi did countless times," Fire Commissioner Dan Nigro said.
The love and respect Arroyo's co-workers have for her were clear. A wall of the EMS station has been transformed into a makeshift memorial decorated with Puerto Rican flags and photos of Arroyo.
McDade says he just wishes he had the chance to meet the fallen first responder, a 14-year veteran of the FDNY who was raising five sons.
"She was an amazing, amazing person, and all I'm hearing about is good things, and it's sad about it because I'll never get to know her," he says.
Arroyo's family members say they're forever grateful to McDade.
"Because of you chose not to look the other way, this case, did not become a cold case," said Ali Acevedo-Hernandez, an aunt.
Gonzalez is due back in court in August. If convicted on the top charge of murder, he faces a maximum of life in prison.