St. John's Coach Rick Pitino Joins 'Thank You, NYPD' Campaign Ahead of March Madness

The campaign encourages New Yorkers to express gratitude for the city's police department.

Mar. 21, 2026 at 2:09am

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St. John's University men's basketball head coach Rick Pitino has joined the 'Thank You, NYPD' campaign in New York City, which is an effort to show appreciation for the city's police department. Pitino recorded a video message thanking NYPD officers for their work in keeping the city safe, just hours before St. John's first-round NCAA Tournament game. The campaign has also led to an upcoming concert at Madison Square Garden featuring a star-studded lineup to further honor the NYPD.

Why it matters

The 'Thank You, NYPD' campaign comes at a time when there have been calls to 'defund the police' in some circles, and the organizers hope to show that many New Yorkers still have a deep appreciation for the work of the city's law enforcement. As one of the most prominent figures in New York basketball, Rick Pitino's participation lends significant visibility to the campaign.

The details

The 'Thank You, NYPD' campaign has encouraged New York City residents to upload videos expressing their gratitude for the police department. Pitino recorded a message saying 'I want to give a sincere thanks to the NYPD officers who do such an incredible job to keep our city safe. Thank you so much.' This came just hours before St. John's faced Northern Iowa in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The campaign has also led to an upcoming private concert at Madison Square Garden on March 28th, featuring a lineup that includes Cyndi Lauper, John Fogerty, and rapper Fat Joe. Uniformed NYPD officers and civilian staff members will be invited to attend the event, which MSG Entertainment is hosting and covering all costs for.

  • Pitino recorded his video message on March 17, 2026, just hours before St. John's' NCAA Tournament game.
  • The 'Thank You, NYPD' concert is scheduled for March 28, 2026 at Madison Square Garden.

The players

Rick Pitino

The head coach of the St. John's University men's basketball team, who participated in the 'Thank You, NYPD' campaign by recording a video message expressing gratitude for the city's police department.

Madison Square Garden

The iconic New York City arena that is hosting the 'Thank You, NYPD' concert featuring a star-studded lineup to honor the city's police department.

Jim Dolan

The CEO and Executive Chairman of MSG Entertainment and MSG Sports, who said the 'Thank You, NYPD' event is a 'sincere' show of gratitude for the NYPD and not a political statement.

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What they’re saying

“I want to give a sincere thanks to the NYPD officers who do such an incredible job to keep our city safe. Thank you so much.”

— Rick Pitino, St. John's Head Coach

“There are times in our culture today when the dissenter's voice is louder than that of the majority. Such is the case with law enforcement, and, in particular, the NYPD. Cries of 'defund the police' and other negative statements do not reflect the true feelings of New Yorkers. If that is what our cops are hearing and no one steps up to say otherwise, that can be disheartening. This concert to say, 'Thank You, NYPD' is designed to let our police know that we New Yorkers need, respect and appreciate their effort and service.”

— Jim Dolan, CEO and Executive Chairman, MSG Entertainment and MSG Sports

What’s next

The 'Thank You, NYPD' concert at Madison Square Garden is scheduled for March 28, 2026, where uniformed police officers and civilian staff members will be invited to attend.

The takeaway

The 'Thank You, NYPD' campaign represents an effort by prominent New Yorkers and institutions like Madison Square Garden to counter the narrative of 'defunding the police' and show that many in the city still have a deep appreciation for the work of the NYPD in keeping the community safe. Rick Pitino's participation as a high-profile basketball figure lends significant visibility to the campaign.