Madison Square Garden Hosts 'Thank You NYPD' Concert

15,000 NYPD members and their families attend event honoring city's police force.

Mar. 29, 2026 at 5:09am

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Madison Square Garden hosted a 'Thank You NYPD' concert on Saturday, March 28, 2026, recognizing the service of New York City's police force. The event invited 15,000 members of the NYPD, including officers and civilian employees, and their loved ones to enjoy an evening of live music and comedy.

Why it matters

Recognizing the dedication of law enforcement through events like this can be a vital step in fostering positive relationships between police and the communities they serve, particularly during times of increased scrutiny and debate surrounding policing strategies.

The details

The concert featured performances by music artists Fat Joe and Cyndi Lauper, as well as comedy acts. Madison Square Garden provided the venue rent-free and donated all production and operating costs for the event. The event also included a call for all New Yorkers to submit videos expressing their gratitude to members of the NYPD.

  • The 'Thank You NYPD' concert was held on Saturday, March 28, 2026.

The players

NYPD

The New York City Police Department, which is responsible for protecting the city's eight million residents.

Fat Joe

A music artist who performed at the 'Thank You NYPD' concert.

Cyndi Lauper

A music artist who performed at the 'Thank You NYPD' concert.

Enissa Perez

A retired NYPD officer who emphasized the importance of community support for the police force.

John Starks

A former New York Knicks player who noted the difficulty of police work and the value of showing appreciation for their commitment.

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What they’re saying

“It's encouraging to have support from your community and also makes the cops who join motivated to stay. Gives them good purpose.”

— Enissa Perez, Retired NYPD officer

What’s next

The event organizers plan to make the 'Thank You NYPD' concert an annual tradition, continuing to show appreciation for the city's police force.

The takeaway

Events like the 'Thank You NYPD' concert demonstrate the importance of fostering positive relationships between law enforcement and the communities they serve, especially during times of increased scrutiny. By recognizing the dedication and sacrifices of police officers, these types of initiatives can help build trust and understanding between the public and the officers who protect them.